Cheerleading Forever!

               STAY IN SHAPE THIS SUMMER WITH DANCE FITNESS CLASSES

Who hasn’t been guilty of indulging in the occasional summer treat…ball park hotdogs, mom’s apple pie, ice cream cones that melt all over your hand or my biggest weakeness – Pillsbury sugar cookies! My lack of willpower has led to a couple of extra pounds and I am determined to take it off with my FAVORITE form of exercise, dance fitness classes. This is the perfect solution for those of you who hate the repetitiveness of running on a treadmill for 30 minutes or who are tired of your mom’s 1992 step aerobics classes! Dance fitness is just that – one hour classes of cardio intense dance choreography!

I first learned of these classes over the radio when I heard an ad for “Dance Trance,” a studio in Jacksonville that offered dance focused aerobics classes. I was especially drawn to the term “club style lighting” and tried my first class roughly two years ago! Of all the dance and aerobics classes I have taken in my life, I have to admit that I have never enjoyed a workout so much. The lights were dimmed, the illuminated disco balls came on, the temperature in the studio was increased and then the music started pumping. A host of very talented dance instructors lined up across the front and the dancing began! Each song, from Usher to Beyonce to Seether, had its own choreographed dance and with very little instruction, the idea was to just catch on! It’s normal to stumble thru an eight-count at first but once you master the routine, it’s an amazing feeling and an even better workout. I started making the hour long journey out to the beach each week and was in the best shape of my life – it’s the perfect dancer’s workout! Soon after, I got certified to teach Zumba, the Latin inspired dance fitness craze, but quickly found myself busy with a new job and fell of the dance fitness train.

Well I’m back! After receiving an email from Dance Trance about their latest class, “Urban Ballet” that starts next month, I’ve decided to reboard the fitness train and get back to my dancing roots! (If nothing else, my mother will be delighted that I’m in my toe shoes again.) Urban ballet is apparently the “funked” up version of traditional ballet that incorporates Top 40 music with choreography, stretching and strengthening exercises. This is exactly what I need to jump start my dancing again! If you’ve seen one of my favorite movies Center Stage, I’m sure you remember the scene where a host of dancers all come together in perfect choreographed sequence to split leap across the floor to the song “Higher Ground.” Stay tuned to see if I become a prima ballerina or if the Pillsbury Dough Boy becomes my late night dance partner!

Top Ten Professional Cheerleading Uniforms
By Chelsea Overhage and Jennifer Corace

1.    Dallas Cowboys – The most famous cheerleaders in the country take first place! The Cowboys Cheerleaders have sustained their popularity by keeping with the same shorts and vest combo since the early 70’s!   The blue and white looks great together and the white vest over the royal blue is very eye catching. This uniform has been at the top of the list for decades so if “it ain’t broke, why fix it?”

2.    Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The Bucs uniforms are very popular because this NFL team knows how to work with a theme! The jagged edging on the skirt and the non-traditional, almost Halloween looking top definitely gives this crew a pirate look that’s first rate!

3.    Atlanta Falcons – Although simple, these uniforms pack a presence! The glitter for these Dirty Birds really shines under the stadium lights.  The black jackets with the white trim look great over top of the red tops and give A-Town something to be proud of!

4.    Jacksonville Jaguars – Grrrr….the Jacksonville Roar takes 4th on our list! The feminine twist on the football jersey makes these uniforms a real crowd pleaser. The black against the teal is very sharp and not a common color combo. Add in a little animal print and jaguar belt buckle and we have a winning combination!

5.    Miami Dolphins –The Miami Dolphins cheerleaders, another All-American classic, represent the sunshine state well! These uniforms are very bright with their white and orange highlights and are somewhat flirty to boot.  Speaking of boots, the Dolphins are famous for those white knee high uniform staples they have sported since the 70’s! The Dolphin girls certainly know how to make a SPLASH on the field!

6.    New England Patriots – There’s not much too them, but the Patriots uniforms certainly live up to their name! Not much bigger than a bathing suit, the red, white and blue uniforms make one proud to be an American! Nothing says patriotic like stars and stripes!

7.    San Diego Chargers – The Chargers uniform is an electrifying variation to traditional cheer gear. These girls wear the flirty pleated skirt popular three decades ago. With their white jackets over the minimalist Charger sports bra, it’s easy to see why this is a fan favorite!

8.    Indianapolis Colts – The ever popular blue and white uniform makes this team an NFL standout! Although similar to the Cowboys uniform, the team’s added detail to silver sparkle, especially when they’re wearing their alternative chaps and sports bra get up, is a Mid-West success!

9.    New Orleans Hornets – The “buzz” about these uniforms is that the Hornets shy away from the traditional cheer skirt in favor of thigh highs and hot pants.  The striped socks give the dancers that added sting!  The white vest with teal accents over top of all black is a knock out look!

10.    Lakers – The Lakers constantly keep things fresh by changing their uniforms!   From their shiny silver jersey dresses to the two piece ensembles that made them America’s favorite dancers in the 80’s, the Lakers round up the Top 10 list. These NBA cheerleaders know how to rock the yellow and purple and score a fashion SLAM DUNK!

The Top 5 Best College Cheerleading Uniforms

1. University of Southern California – USC certainly went against the grain and have traditionally sported the classic All-American cheerleader look! With the classic pleated skirt and long sleeved sweater, these girls rank at the very top of my list! Whether it’s the classy conservative look that makes it a winner or the popularity amongst male fans, USC takes first place in my play book!

1. Florida State – The Seminoles are my second pick for their diagonal, one shoulder uniform choice. Not every squad can pull this look off, but the girls at Florida State do a great job! I really like the angled NOLES lettering against the white background with garnet and gold trim! It’s tasteful yet trendy all in one! Maybe it reminds me of summer because it has a certain bathing suit quality to it or maybe it’s just because I went to FSU, either way, GO NOLES!

1. University of Miami – Having never been a huge fan of the Hurricanes football or baseball uniforms, strictly for font reasons, I am a big fan for their cheerleading uniforms. Let’s be honest, green and orange are not the most complimentary of colors but the uniforms incorporate just the right amount of color splash. I also like the style of the top and skirt…shows just enough without being over the top! My male friends would also like me to add that they feel that Miami has some of the best looking cheerleaders in the country…perhaps due to the fact that many of these girls go on to cheer for the Dolphins!

1. University of Oklahoma – I think the Sooners’ cheer gear is classic, flattering and maybe the most female friendly of all uniforms. Having been a cheerleader, I can certainly appreciate the angled top that compliments the abs in just the right places but yet hides any hint of a love handle. I also like the straps that highlight the shoulder muscles but avoid that weird upper armpit fatty area! OU looks great!

5. University of Georgia – The Dawgs red and black uniforms round up my selection for the nation’s best cheer uniforms. Not usually a huge proponent of the halter top for cheerleading, this high V style looks great on all of the girls. There is nothing here that doesn’t work – great vibrant color, tailored style and classic appeal! I’ll also vote for any team that plays and beats Florida!

In the ever popular world of athletic apparel, it is perfectly normal to see the names of teams, schools or mascots written across the backside of cheer shorts. In the cheerleading community, it is not unusual to even see these names printed on the backs of bloomers. So why did a high school team in California get suspended by administration for their surprise conclusion to a cheer routine that spelled out the school mascot on the backs of their bloomers?

The location of the letters I-N-D-I-A-N-S on the behinds of Ripon Valley High’s bloomers created a media whirlwind in the Sacramento suburb. The vice principal suspended the team, with mixed reviews, for two days after seeing the unapproved ending. He felt that the move was too suggestive and that it went against school board policy. Although many cheerleaders agreed that it perhaps wasn’t appropriate, many felt the punishment did not fit the crime. Other students and parents felt that the VP made the right decision. Was it poor judgment on the part of the cheerleaders? Sure. Did it warrant a suspension that will now be included on the college application process? I don’t think so. I would hate to think that a college admission would be contingent over the ill-fated placement of the letter “I” on the backside of someone’s bloomers.

This is a rather mundane incident amongst the several that I have seen or heard about on the news. Several years ago, Texas lawmakers attempted to pass a bill that reduced funding to schools who displayed sexually suggestive cheer routines. The San Jose State University Dance Team appeared in the national spotlight after getting suspended for the remainder of the year after performing a routine that was deemed inappropriate. Hip thrusting and “horizontal dance moves” on the floor are unfortunately all too common in all ages of cheer. Many cheer and dance teams are inspired by music videos and incorporate the exact choreography from the video directly into the cheer routine. As a former dance coach, I remember girls coming to practice with Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back” video choreography perfected down to the eight-count. I am guilty of watching NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” at least 50 times to copy the boy band moves (although not suggestive I might add.) However, I also recall my mother pulling me from my fourth grade jazz class after our teacher wanted to use the slightly suggestive song “Mercedes Boy” for our recital. Although brutally embarrassing then, I now applaud her decision to not include her daughter in a somewhat evocative routine.

What is the feeling in the cheer community regarding these routines? Am I showing my age when I say that I am saddened that girls feel the need to be “cool” by continuing to test the limits of suggestive dancing? Do we need stricter rules and definitions of dance moves to clearly spell out what is and is not appropriate? Or do I need to Ti-Vo the latest Ciara or Huey video and practice my “Pop, lock and drop it?

“I want you to think of what you ate today. Got it? Now cut that in half, this is called a diet, people, everyone start one today! Darcy, you should stop eating. You see, when you skip a meal, your body feeds off its fat stores. And if you skip enough, maybe your body will eat your big behind!” Bring it On made a joke out of the stereotypical cheer coach “pep talk,” however do the latest trends in cheer uniforms subliminally put the same pressure on young girls to look a certain way?

It is no secret that female cheerleaders and dancers succumb to body image issues. With many squads setting certain height and weight requirements, it is easy to see why so many young girls feel the pressure to be thin. Add in the developing trend of midriff uniforms and hot pants and it is no wonder why image can be just as important as athletic ability in the cheer world. I have been to many cheer competitions this year and have seen enough rear ends to last me a life time. I know that hot pants are gaining popularity over skirts due to the fact that they are easier to tumble in and don’t flip up during routines. Although I don’t really see how cheering with a wedgie and all that is exposed with that look is any more appealing.

As a former cheerleader and dancer, I can surely relate to image concerns! My sports physical my freshmen year of high school read “4 feet 11 inches, 86 pounds.” I had been a flyer since my Mighty Might days in fourth grade and was nicknamed “Peanut” by the neighbors because of my size. Puberty set in and by senior year, I was no longer in the coveted flyer position but a base at 5’7” and 117 pounds (what I would give to be that size today!) I struggled with my growth and change of cheer position – I went from being front and center in the dance routines and at the top of the pyramids to being the tall girl in the back and the base in every basket toss. I vividly remember doing the Cindy Crawford work out tapes in my living room; focusing on my hips and stomach to make my cheer uniform fit better. Thank goodness I cheered at a Catholic school where our uniforms were conservative – I don’t think I could have handled the pressure of bearing my stomach in front of a crowd of people at 17!

Even NFL uniforms are decreasing in size which unfortunately rubs off on the teen cheer culture. I can not think of one NFL team that does not show their stomachs on the field. When I first heard that Vera Wang, famous for her wedding dresses and popularity amongst celebrities, would be designing the Seattle Seahawks cheerleaders’ uniforms, I was secretly excited for the unveiling. However, when they came out, I was disappointed to see that it was nothing more than a black and white sports bra and boy shorts – surely something more tasteful and attractive could have been designed. (Sorry Vera..I still love your wedding dresses!) Outfits like these leave nothing to the imagination and no room for forgiveness in the ab and hip area. It also doesn’t help that some NFL teams come out with lingerie calendars and when doing research for this story, numerous adult websites popped up with cheerleaders as their stars!
Of course cheerleading uniforms put pressure on girls to be thin and look a certain way! My question is this…what can parents, coaches or the media do to help reinforce positive body image if you cannot change the uniform?