How to Choreograph a Mascot Routine

The term choreography does not just refer to dance moves, although they may be a part of your mascot routine. Any stunts, skits or actions you may perform should be carefully worked out and thoroughly practiced before you attempt them in public. Otherwise, you are at risk for not only embarrassment, but injury as well.

Things You'll Need

• Mascot costume
• Props as needed
• Music as needed

Instructions

Choreograph All Elements of Your Mascot Routine

1. Make an exciting entrance. Whether you usher the team onto the court or playing field, warm up the crowd before the team appears or arrive on the sidelines just as the game begins, you should work out an entrance routine that will make the crowd excited to see you. Now is a good time to bust out some acrobatic moves, but don't expend too much of your energy right at the start. Remember, you've got a whole game to get through.

2. Choreograph a dance routine to go with your school's fight song. You might want to choreograph several different routines in differing styles so the crowd never knows what you're going to do.

3. Study choreography software and videos to get ideas that you can adapt to suit your mascot's personality and abilities. Find instructional materials at DanceCheerNet.

4. Celebrate every score with a great victory dance. The athletes aren't supposed to do it, so you do it for them. You might want to develop different moves for easy scores, cliffhangers and game-ending scores.

5. Work with the cheerleading squad to choreograph some joint routines. Talk to majorettes, twirlers, drill and dance team members, musicians in the marching band and other performers to get ideas as well.

6. Work with the band. Choreographed routines gain extra excitement from having the music performed live rather than simply playing a CD.

Tips & Warnings

• If you think you might need to wear a cooling vest for your performance, be sure to practice your choreography while wearing it. The vest can be heavy and may throw off your center of balance.

• Be sure to practice every element of your choreography while wearing your costume. You need to know how the outfit is going to affect your safety and your ability to complete a move. You can't use a springboard, for example, if the limited vision through your head piece prevents you from seeing where it is.