How to Teach a Cheerleading Dance

• 1). Secure a practice facility and schedule practice sessions. The use of cheerleading mats is recommended if conducting tumbling and building in the routine.
  
  
• 2). Hire a choreographer or secure the services of an experienced college cheerleader to create a dance routine. It is common to charge each cheerleader a fee to attend a dance clinic with an experienced college cheerleader of professional choreographer. Hosting a team fundraiser before the dance training sessions help to defray the costs for the cheerleaders.
  
  
• 3). Select dance music for the routine. The instructor can provide the music, or music can be downloaded for a nominal charge from cheerleading resource websites. The LimeWire free music sharing website offers dozens of cheer dance mixes free of charge. Burn a copy of the dance music for each cheerleader to use when practicing at home.
  
  
• 4). Roll out cheerleading mats if available. Stretch and allow tumblers to warm up prior to the start of the dance clinic or training session. Practice sessions should not last longer than two hours. When the cheerleaders get tired, it is dangerous to continue jumping, tumbling and building activities.
  
  
• 5). Practice the first eight counts of the dance until all cheerleaders know the routine. Teaching the eight counts slowly, while counting to eight allows the routine to be learned slowly and committed to memory by the cheerleaders. Repeat this process until all eight-count sections of the dance routine are learned. Practice the jumps, tumbling, and building as it fits into the routine design.
  
  
• 6). Practice the jumping, tumbling, or building aspects of the dance routine separately. Perfecting the timing and clarity of motions used during this section of the dance routine is necessary for a solid performance.
  
  
• 7). Videotape the cheerleaders after the dance routine is perfected. Allow the cheerleaders to watch the routine as a group, with the choreographer and advisor pointing out areas, which need further practice. Burn a copy of the routine to a DVD for home practice.