Cheerleading Forever!

Some call it an art; others consider it a sport. While dancing includes many of the same factors that sports do yet involves art and expression, the question may not have a clear answer.

By Ansley Vanover

Speed, power, concentration, endurance, balance, discipline, physical demand. Believe it or not, these are all characteristics of not only sports but dance as well.  When asked if dance is a sport, many dancers would agree that yes, dancing is a sport (if not beyond one). Others may reply that no, dancing is an art. I am here to argue that dance is, indeed, a sport. In fact, dancing goes far beyond athleticism.

I have been a dancer since age two. Around the age of five, I began picking up tennis, baseball, soccer, and swimming. Between all of my sports and being the younger sister of a dedicated baseball player, I have been around sports my whole life. It was not until age 9 when dance became my passion, and I dropped most sports so I could devote all of my time towards dancing. For me, dance was not just a hobby or a fun thing to do during the week. I spent about eight hours a week at the studio. When I got older, I did competition team, which involved practices during the week and competitions on the weekend. It was at that point when I realized dance is very similar to the sports I had participated in and been around all my life.

Dancers are athletes in a special way. Serious dancers must watch their nutrition, stay fit, follow certain routines, and practice, practice, practice. We are goal oriented; just like athletes, we want to perform at our top level. When we perform, we want it perfect. We are hard on ourselves because we know they can always do better. On dance teams, we rely on each other and must work as a team to be successful. While dancers and athletes share all of these things in common, dancers take it a step further: we must look glamorous while doing it.

In the studio, however, things are not so glamorous; in fact, there is a lot of sweat and pain involved.  Just as athletes must be open to criticism from their teammates and coach, dancers are expected to listen to criticism and apply it to their dancing. Demands such as “Point your toes! Straighten your legs! Elongate your neck! Round your elbows! Pull your stomach in! Relax your face! Look like you’re having FUN!” are common. While having to perfect technique, such as pointing toes, and remember multiple dance routines (sometimes of different styles), dancers must also perform with their face: smile, look sad, look angry, etc. Since practice makes perfect, dancers must practice the technique, steps, and personality at all times so that once it’s time to perform or compete, they are ready to go.

At performances and competitions, dancers have a disadvantage to athletes. During games, athletes can hear their coach scream plays and corrections from the sidelines, take time-outs, be swapped out for a different player, and most importantly, not worry about how they look while doing it. Dancers, however, do not have it as easy. Once they are out on stage, they must hope that all of their practices pay off at that very moment. Dance instructors cannot call out in the middle of the dance, “Fix your lines!” No one can be swapped out for another dancer in the middle of the piece. There are no time-outs. The team must make the dance look effortless while praying that their costume straps do not break and that their peripheral vision is enough to stay in sync and in line. Dance is definitely not as easy as it looks.

Out of 60 sports, researchers have concluded that the “toughest sport” is ballet! In hopes to improve flexibility and grace, famous athletes such as Lynn Swann (Pittsburgh Steelers in the 70’s and 80’s) and Herschel Walker (Dallas Cowboys running back) have practiced ballet and yoga regularly. “Dancing with the Stars” TV show has featured former wide receiver Jerry Rice, former running back Emmett Smith, boxing champion Laila Ali, and Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, to name a few.  At first, they struggled with the steps and performance aspect, but they found their athleticism to be a major help in dancing since dancers must be physically fit. Emmett Smith, who won “Dancing with the Stars” season 3, inspired many men to pick up dancing after seeing someone as manly as Emmett enjoy and succeed in dance.

Dance and sports share many qualities. So why isn’t dance considered a sport? At Ponte Vedra High School, the dance team was denied a Varsity letter and funding from the Booster Club because the state of Florida refuses to call it a sport. Audiences may think dance looks easy, which it should- that is part of a dancer’s job. However, dancers go through all the pain and practice that most athletes go through (52% of dancers suffer a chronic injury by age 18).

In addition to all of a dancer’s hard work and physical strain, they must go beyond athleticism and remember to express themselves, and that is where the art aspect comes in. So the question remains, is dance a sport or an art? I guess it depends on whom you ask.

Growing up in the South, I’m no stranger to four wheelers and a little dirt! I’ve been stranded in a field of bulls at midnight and have even flipped one a time or two. However, nothing I have experienced on any Polaris would equate to my off road adventure thru the desert in Arizona.

After scouring several internet sites for “quad adventures,” I landed on the site that allowed you to “roam free” on their four wheelers. Nothing like turning loose a group of potential non-experienced riders to experience the desert alone! After signing my life away, our group was given our gear – Fox goggles and a bonafide motocross helmet! If any of us didn’t know how to ride, at least we looked like it! The only exception to this might have been the father of two of the riders who thought Velcro white tennis shoes and tight jeans were appropriate riding clothes!

After we were led down a dirt road, we arrived at a stopping point and were told, “See you back here in three hours!” Just like that…”here’s the desert, you have your water, have fun!” So…off we went and ripped through the desert paths and mountainous bases in 4^th and 5^th gear at speeds of 35 mph. Having never really experienced the desert, I felt like I was at Disney’s Big Thunder Railroad or in a Wild West movie scene….only the cacti were real and the sun was a huge obstacle at times. I now understand the reference to “sun devil” because when the sun shines off the sand that is kicked up, you are completely unaware of anything in front of you – no visibility whatsoever! The blinding sun almost caused a severe accident when I didn’t see the fork in the path and stopped about a foot short of careening over a very steep cliff that would have certainly sent me to the emergency room. This is in addition to the 80 degree vertical climb that I made in 1^st gear and the alternate descent on the other side that had me preparing to bail off the quad at any moment. This is really the only part of the ride where I thought to myself, “You have no business being out here!”

At the base of the mountain, we came to a beautiful river that took me right out of adventure mode and straight to tourist mode…snapping pictures for a good 15 minutes. Why not test the limits of my four wheeler against the power of Mother Nature? These things are made to go in the water so why not give it a whirl? The answer to this question would be because your quad will then stall, your quarter panel will float away downstream and you will be stranded with a waterlogged machine that will only power to idle! Not to mention the disapproving stares of the rest of the group when two people return on one four wheeler. Like they didn’t enjoy the extra free hour back down the mountain where the crew had to literally tip my ride upside down to drain the water!

Like nothing had happened, my quad and I (although both of us a little beaten and weathered), made it back to base camp and sheepishly parked behind the trailer. So she wouldn’t start up again…maybe she just needed a little rest? I expected to get a little heat from the owner but he looked right at my dirty face and said, “I’ve had to ride up and down the mountains for some of the girls we’ve had out here! You’re pretty good…for a girl!” Story of my life!

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!

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?

While thumbing through a catalog recently, I came across a selection of “CHEER MOM” t-shirts and bags and pondered, “Would I actually wear that?” Saying that you’re a cheer mom in the south can actually work for or against you. Amongst the cheerleading community, being a cheer mom represents dedication and support of your child. It means spending hours at cheer practices several days a week, participating in fundraisers on Saturday afternoons and of course financially supporting the endless supply list of corker bows and bloomers!

Being a cheer mom also has its negative stereotypes… no thanks to the Texas cheer mom who was jailed for attempting to hire a hit man to kill the mother of another cheerleader! Some women seem to lose focus of their children being part of a team and instead attempt to make their child, or in many cases, themselves, the star of the cheer program. At the local tanning salon, it is common practice for mothers of cheerleaders to sign their elementary school daughters up for spray tans or tanning packages before competitions. There is a nine year old girl in my community whose mother signed a wavier to allow her to tan against salon recommendations…and apparently this little girl is not the only one. At practices, I have seen five year old girls in sports bras and tiny cheer shorts which I feel is a bit much for girls in kindergarten. Last time I checked, sports bras were there to support things that girls in kindergarten and first grade do not need to concern themselves with… so it’s a bit odd to see a five year old and an 18 year old wearing the same thing.

The biggest surprise to me as been the hierarchy of cheer mom status within the cheer community. There is no doubt a competition amongst the mothers..whether it be about the skills of their child or the mother’s own appearance at the gym. It seems to be that there are three distinct groups of “cheer moms”:

1) The “team mom-fundraising-crying in the stands” parent – These moms are the ones who sit through every practice in the non-air conditioned gyms to see their child genuinely succeed in their sport (and yes it is one.) These are the moms that carry the cheer mom bags with the team sponsored water bottles in them and the moms that spend hours making bows for the team! In my opinion, probably the most neutral of all species of cheer moms.

2) The “former cheerleader-glamour queen” parent – Many moms of cheerleaders participated in the sport themselves so often times there is a sense of almost entitlement there…as if their daughter should be the flyer or front and center in the dance routine. There is definitely a group of moms who congregate together in the cheer gym who stereotypically would probably have been the prom queens and captains of their own high school squads. There are no shortages of heels, expensive jeans or lip glosses in this group. (I have to admit that I feel a bit of pressure to “clean up” before taking my daughter to practice.) I actually saw one of these mothers at the beach one afternoon in HIGH HEELS and a bikini asking her daughter to cartwheel in the sand.

3) The “high pressure-you will do a back tuck” parent – I am specifically thinking of the mother who I saw stand over her daughter yelling on a tumble mat after her daughter could not get her back tuck. After a two hour practice and a full day of school, I can’t imagine why a 6^th grader would have difficulty failing throwing herself into a back flip after attempting it and exhausting herself 42 times earlier in the night! This is the mother who refuses to leave practice until the extra set of ab exercises is performed or whose child perfects the latest tumbling pass. This species of cheer mom tends to be the parent that most often fights with coaches over technique or who becomes the coach’s best friend in an attempt to push their child to the top of the cheer world. I can’t help but think that “crazy Texas cheer mom” fell into this category or if David Archuletta from American Idol was a cheerleader, his father would DEFINITELY be in this group!

It boils down to this…do I buy the cheer mom shirt or simply promote the cheer gym??? I’ll let the audience decide!

Read more on the Cheerleading scene LINK

Over my years I have seen a lot of good and bad in cheerleading. I’ve seen horrible spills, fantastic spins, jumps, and landings, as well as both positive and negative behavior that affects one’s cheer ability. Now I feel it’s imperative for me to show you the best ways to make sure you make the team you want to be on. Surprisingly to some, athletic ability is not the major attribute of a successful cheerleader. Positive mental attitude, a good look all mold the perfect cheer(excuse the Will Ferrell SNL reference). Here are five ways to ensure you make the team!!

1. Confidence Breeds Success- Be proud of your abilities as a cheerleaders and be confident in every move that you make. When a difficult stunt is thrown at you, be confident that you are the right person for the job and that you can complete the task at hand. Make sure you talk the talk and cheer the cheer.

2. Smile!!- No one wants to see a sad cheerleader. That’s why the word cheer is in the word, ok maybe not but smiling is key to putting the crowd in a good mood. Also make sure your smile is genuine. Don’t over-do it and make sure it’s relaxed so that you can prove to the judges that you truly love what you’re doing and not just faking it.

3. If You Don’t Stick the Landing…Keep Going!- Just because a landing didn’t go as planned and everything didn’t turn out perfect doesn’t mean you should just give up. Judges like to see perseverance in a cheerleader and seeing that you can overcome a mistake and still put on an awesome performance says a lot about your character.

4. Ask Questions- Don’t be shy or embarrased that you don’t fully understand a routine or what is going on in a tryout. Make sure you make yourself heard and fully comprehend what is going on. If you don’t you will look lost and confused and more embarrassed than if you asked the question.

5. Stand Out!!- Make sure the judges and instructors can see just who you are and how good you are. Don’t fade in the back where you’re best moves won’t be showcased. It doesn’t matter if you make some mistakes that probably wouldn’t be seen in the back, instructors are looking for cheerers who show that character that they love to be seen and perform well in the spotlight.

So there you go, my tips on being the best you can be. So now, go out there with the right positive mental attitude, proper physical shape, and perform you’re best!

By Sean Connolly

Dipali Patel was recently named the head cheerleading coach of the Clemson University Cheerleading Squads. Patel, who was hired in the summer of 2007 as the coach of the All-Female Basketball Cheer squad, has now taken over the reigns of both the All-Female Squad and the Co-Ed Squad that cheers at football games.

Patel, who is a Clemson graduate, has 12 years of cheerleading experience. She has worked for Varsity Spirit as a choreographer and a camp instructor. She has judged competitions across the country and even taught cheerleading internationally. Patel has also taught safety, nutrition and coaches seminars throughout the southeast. “I am extremely excited to be the head cheerleading coach at my alma mater,” said Patel. “I look forward to continuing Clemson’s great cheerleading tradition and helping make all of our venues even more spirited.”

Listen to Dipali in her podcast above.

Who could think of a better job assignment for a former cheerleader and beach bunny than to attend the NCA Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida? Kudos to NCA for combining college cheer, a great venue on the beach and tanning!

Driving down A1A, I was afraid that I would somehow miss the hotel or venue and get lost amongst a sea of tacky t-shirt shops or biker gear stores. Those fears were quickly replaced with a rush of excitement as I rounded the corner to see hundreds of uniformed cheerleaders on both sides of the street! The USC Game Cocks flag was in full display as South Carolina’s team proudly cheered on their school while crossing the street. Reigning champs, University of Louisville, waved their flag in the grassy practice area on the other side of the street as their co-ed team pulled out some impressive stunting routines. Post continues below slide show>

I attended this event to meet the Clemson co-ed team and quickly founded them cheering in their tiger sports bras and bright orange shorts out in front of the ocean. It was hard to miss their oversized purple flag and the team of supportive parents sporting the Clemson cheer t-shirts! The Tigers were excited to compete but were also tired from a morning of practice and tumbling in the Florida sun. I was most impressed to meet Dipali Patel, the youngest coach of a D1 collegiate cheer team, who at only two years older than a good portion of the cheerleaders, commanded respect and authority from the team! At all of 5ft tall and a size 00 (way to rub it in), she was hard to see but her voice could not be mistaken! Clemson ended up finishinfourth overall but certainly made their presence known!!!

The cheer practice and intimidation sessions were the most fun to watch!! Teams would gather in the grass before the preliminary event to warm up their routines and practice stunts..some of which were not legal in the competition but completely legal when trying to upstage another team! I have to give credit to Hawaii Pacific University and Stephen F Austin University out of Texas who put on quite a stunting show. I also vote these two teams “BEST CHEER ABS!” I don’t think I have ever seen more ripped stomachs on young girls than I did at this event! Certainly makes me want to hit the gym a little harder! It also made me want to start tumbling again!

After spending the day at this event, I had some final thoughts and some mental awards I wanted to present……Cheerleading has come such a long way in the last 10-15 years! When I was in high school in the late 90′s, college cheer requirements were basically a height requirement of under 5’5″ and the ability to do a standing back tuck! We didn’t have too many cheer gyms around and all star teams were just getting started! Now, kids are doing standing fulls and working out at cheer and dance centers after class. I’ve seen tumbling passes that could easily place these kids on the gymnastics team rather than the cheer team. Many of the male cheerleaders I met were former football players who found it easier to obtain a cheer scholarship than a football scholarship but said that the intensity of how they perfromed did not change. I met one girl who was both on the soccer and cheer teams for Clemson! To anyone who thinks that cheerleading is not a sport, I would invite you to attend any of these events and see the athletic ability on display!

Now to the awards….
1. Best hair and tan – Oklahoma State University
2. Most in need of a little color splash – Georgia Tech (too much white and maybe in need of a little Florida sun)
3. Best abs – Hawaii Pacific University
4. Most unique practice uniforms – SFA University. Red and purple ripped up sports bras and a guy in a plaid Paul Bunyan shirt with chops!
5. Most in need of a more appropriate war chant – USC Game Cocks (some felt perhaps a bit too crude.)
6. Most parents in team shirts – Radford University
7. Loudest team – Louisville (reigning champs..they had a reputation to protect)
8. Most creative use of music – University of Maryland (Turtle Power, Hannah Montana, Super Hero theme)
9. “Where is that college?” award – Azuza Pacific University
10. Best dance team intro – UNC Chapel Hill