How to Learn Competitive Cheerleading & Dances
While cheerleading originated as a way to show spirit and support for other athletic teams, it has developed into a competitive sport with squads and individuals competing for championship titles and prize money. At the high school level alone during the 2008-2009 school year, there were more than 4,700 competitive spirit squads with approximately 117,000 participants, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. You too can become part of this sport by learning competitive cheerleading and dance.
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Instructions
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Take lessons. Enroll in dance classes to learn timing and rhythm as well as how to complete different types of dance moves. Find a dance class that teaches a variety of dance routines, since competitive dance competitions consist of exhibiting a choreographed routine. Participate in gymnastics to develop tumbling skills as well as increase your flexibility.
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Attend camps. Spend your summer attending competitive cheerleading and dance camps held at colleges and universities across the U.S. Visit the website of the National Cheerleaders Association or Universal Cheerleaders Association to see camps in your area for your age group or skill level. Focus on the information being taught at camp as well as socializing, since it's important to get to know people whose squad you might join.
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Hire a private instructor. Employ a former competitive cheerleader or dancer to serve as your private coach. Find a gym or facility to meet at regularly, and allow them to instruct you on competitive cheerleading and dance moves. Understand that the feedback and instruction they provide is important since they know what it takes to get to a competitive level.
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Join a competitive squad. Find a squad or group in your area that competes in competitive cheerleading and dance competitions. Learn what is required to make the team, since most squads have tryouts consisting of cheer and dance tasks. Ace the tryouts to get a spot on the team, and participate in competitive cheer and dance with your squad by showing up to all practices and events.
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Form your own squad. If no competitive cheerleading and dance groups exist in your area, start your own. Hold tryouts to find others in your area with dance and gymnastics skills. Hire a choreographer to develop your cheer and dance routines, and practice them many times before entering any competitions. Start out with local and state competitions before advancing to ones held nationally by the Universal Cheerleaders Association and other similar groups.
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