Cheerleading And Dance

Cheerleading and Dance

When people think about cheerleaders and dancers they are categorized as total opposites. But in reality cheerleading is based on dance. Like dance they both have physical and mental requirements, their preparation and techniques are similar. However, they have many differences including their body motions and one major difference which is that cheerleaders cheer.

The first thing that both cheerleaders and dancers have in common is their attitudes. Both dance and cheerleading requires positive attitudes. Ballerina Margot Fonteyn wrote:

A dancer should be determined, receptive, patient, and possess a strong sense of self-awareness. He or she must be able to accept criticism readily, for this is a common element in a dancer's life. Above all it may seen obvious to state this, a dancer should love to dance. (Paters, pg 22)

Having a positive attitude is what lets a dancer be what Fonteyn says a dancer should be. This can also be said about cheerleaders because they also have to deal with criticism and they have to be determined to do good in their dances. Their attitude lets both dancers and cheerleaders deal with criticism and allow them to take this advice and improve their mistake. Also having and showing a positive attitude goes a long way toward improving both cheerleaders and dancers performance. (Peters. pg 19). It allows them to keep their energy up and helps them show everyone that they're serious about what they are doing (Peters. pg 22), because if one false move, or one wrong step is done, the consequences could be serious (Peters. pg 20). Some consequences could lead to injury or low scores at competition. Positive attitudes let people see their energy and enthusiasm. This can be shown in many ways. For example, smiling and making eye contact is very important. They're two

ways in which cheerleaders and dancers make connection with the fans in the stands or the judges at the competitions (Peters. pg18). If they let their positive attitude shine trough, their smiles and facial expressions will be genuine (Peters. pg 19). Martha Graham, the world-famous dancer and choreographer, says "Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique; they are great because of their passion." (Peters. pg 15)

The second thing that both cheerleaders and dancers have in common is their eating habits. Balancing diets and the right exercise with getting enough sleep can only improve their body's condition. They can also improve by staying hydrated and by knowing how to prevent injuries. Diet and exercise alone will most likely keep them healthy before tryouts or big performances. Nutrition is also a very important part in the cheerleaders and dancers condition (Peter. pg 6). Without the proper nutrition, they won't have the energy to practice or perform their best in competition. It's especially important for cheerleaders and other athletes to eat plenty of healthy food (Peter. pg 51). Many cheerleaders think avoiding sweets and getting enough rest alone are enough to get them through, but its not! Athletes' eating frequency is crucial to them. To keep energy consistent through out the day and to ensure the fuel is there when the muscles need it, cheerleader and dancers should eat small but frequent meals and snacks that are about three hours apart. Carbohydrates, calcium, and high quality protein is also very important when it comes to eating habits. Performances are full of burst of intense action. That kind of work requires carbohydrates- the key source to providing fuel to one's working muscles. A person's body needs calcium to help ones bones grow strong and dense- especially for teenage athletes who are still growing. After a long workout or practice, one's body needs protein to help their active muscle stay strong and healthy.

To be healthy, cheerleaders and dancers need to be hydrated and have enough sleep. Making sure their body is fully hydrated is also very important, but often placed on the back burner. Signs of

dehydration include thirst, fatigue, nausea, light-headedness, and dark urine. Studies have shown that by the time an active person becomes thirsty, he or she is already dehydrated; and active person who drinks fluids and maintains hydration can last up to thirty three percent longer, compared to when not drinking any fluids during a workout. "A good night of rest will help in recovery the next day.", and "Seven to eight hours of sleep is the best recommendation." according to Conditioning Coach, Mike Curtis. (Peter. pg 6)

Physical and mental techniques are both essential in cheerleading and in dance. Stretching, exercise, and injuries are all part of physical techniques. When stretching, muscles becomes less flexible, this is exactly the opposite of why they're stretching in the first place. Muscle experience very tiny tears, which may heal with scar tissue. Stretching too far will cause what's called Ð''micro trauma' to the muscle. Condition Coach Mike Curtis said, "The actual warm-up should serve to elevate core temperatures of the muscles, not fatigue them. Your main purpose is to prepare the neuromuscular system for what it has to do. A lo-zo minute dynamic warm-up including movements like bodyweight squats, lunges, light jumps, and stretching would be bent" Christine Dior once said, "Dancers stretch endlessly. But don't stretch too far- pushing your muscles beyond their normal range of motion can be harmful." (Peter. pg 33)

Some stretches that Cheerleaders and dancers do are, standing stretch, (Peter. pg 7) leg circles (Peter. pg 28), calf stretch (Peter. pg 33), and a sitting stretch (Peter. pg 7). "All dances start with warm-up exercises," wrote Cheryl Tobey in Modern Dance, "stretching helps your range of motion and avoid injuries." (Peter, pg 26) "It is important to ensure that before going on to stretch the various muscle groups, the dancer gently mobilizes each of the joints through their full range of movement," says David Slade, a writer for the web site CriticalDance.com. (Peter. pg 27).

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