The Original Purpose of Cheerleading Is Still Relevant in Today's World, Even With The Increasing Popularity of Competition

Cheer leading History
Cheerleading’s roots are closely tied to American football’s. The first intercollegiate game was played in
1869, between Princeton University and Rutgers University in New Jersey, and by the 1880s, Princeton
had formed an all-male pep club. A graduate of Princeton, Thomas Peebles, took the Princeton cheers to
the University of Minnesota, where football and fight songs were becoming very popular. In 1898, U of
M was on a losing streak, and a medical student named Johnny Campbell assembled a group to energize
the team and the crowd. Johnny picked up a megaphone and rallied the team to victory with the first
organized cheer: “Rah, Rah, Rah! Ski-U-Mah! Hoo-Rah! Hoo-Rah! Varsity! Varsity! Minn-e-so-tah!
Cheerleading grew from there. It wasn’t until 1923 that women were allowed to cheer for the first time,
at the University of Minnesota. During this decade, cheerleaders added tumbling and acrobatics to their
routines, and a University of Oregon cheerleader used flashcards for the first time. Although women
were joining teams in the ‘20s, it wasn’t until the ‘40s that they joined in large numbers, since so many
college-aged men went off to fight in World War II.
In 1948, Southern Methodist University cheerleader Lawrence “Herkie” Herkimer held the first summer
cheerleading clinic at Sam Houston State Teacher’s College (now State University), and went on to
develop his signature “Herkie” jump, the spirit stick and the pom pon, all cheerleading staples to this
day. In 1961, he incorporated the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA).
By the 1960s, cheerleading could be found in virtually every high school and grade school across the
country, and pee wee and youth leagues had developed as well. In 1974, Jeff Webb (who had been
general manager of NCA) founded Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA), which taught higher level
skills. The ‘80s decade brought the launch of many more event companies, as well as AACCA (American
Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators), in 1987, the first association devoted to
teaching safety to coaches and advisors. UCA has grown into Varsity Spirit Corp., today, encompassing
17 cheerleading event, apparel and service companies.
All Star cheerleading started in the late ‘80s, and grew rapidly through the ‘90s. All Star cheerleading
focused on athletic training and competition performances, as opposed to school-based cheerleading,
which still encompassed leadership and spirit qualities. Today, many companies offer both scholastic
and All Star categories, and some companies focus primarily on All Star cheerleading.
The original purpose of cheerleading is still relevant in today’s world, even with the increasing
popularity of competition.
Cheerleaders are the promoters of their schools and communities. They are a key marketing tool to the
athletics programs that they support, and they create the community patriotism we call “school spirit.”
Most importantly, they are tomorrow’s leaders who through the development of athletic skills,
leadership, and teamwork will be vital members of the community in the future. Be a cheerleader and
become a leader.
What Is Contemporary Dance?
Contemporary dance is a common form of dance that is often misunderstood. Unlike traditional
dance methods, it is a raw form of dance that does not follow any rules. Popular to audiences and
dancers alike, it portrays the world through the eyes of the dancer, their experiences, stories, and
emotions. Here we look closer at what exactly contemporary dance is and how it is performed.
What is Contemporary Dance?
Contemporary danced emerged in the 20th century as dancers strived to exhibit more personal
expression in their dancing. It was a way to stray from the more traditional and structured styles.
Breaking the conventional style of dance, contemporary focuses on the freedom of movement.
When performing, dancers focus on connecting their mind and body through fluid dance moves.
This allows dancers to explore emotions, and use their natural energy to portray personal
expression in their dance techniques.
There is no rule of thumb to what type of elements their performance can include, but you will
find a combination of techniques often ranging from ballet, jazz, modern, break dancing and
even yoga and Pilates.
How is it performed?
Most dancers prefer using their bare feet or soft ballet slippers, and often costumes as well that
will express their story and allow for easy movement on stage. The studio and performance
theatre will usually be large and open, where the dancers can focus on floor work and are free to
move about.
Dancers love performing contemporary as it pushes against traditional boundaries and commonly
incorporates versatility and improvisation. They are free to create their own moves or routines,
from sharp and abrupt to flowing and long movements.
As it incorporates different styles, it is also performed to a variety of music genres. The music
will be important to help tell the story and set the mood. Some performances may even be silent
or have voice overlay.

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Cheer leading History

What is Contemporary Dance?

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