Cheerleading routines are meant to entertain and to provide the audience with that element of shock and awe. Your goal is to pump up the audience. Therefore, cheer dances often consist of intense tumbling and stunting formations that are set to fast-paced music to engage and inspire the viewer. Cheer dances are fun to watch. It can be difficult, however, to choreograph a winning routine without proper dance knowledge. The formations used in a cheer routine can be combined successfully with hip hop, a form of dance.
Step 1
Study different hip hop dances. Begin to search online for hip hop routines and study the moves of the dancer. The Internet is full of free material and choreography. Enroll in a hip-hop class to learn some new moves to put into the routine. DancePlug.com has online classes and choreography available; YouTube.com is another source for choreography. Hip-Hop-Dance.net also provides information and step-by-step instruction.
Step 2
Stick to a structured hip-hop style such as classes or choreography that contain "studio hip-hop" or "street hip-hop." This style has come about to bring the hip-hop culture into the mainstream dance classroom. It will be more conducive to the look you are trying to create in a cheer routine. Use hip-hop movements that mimic the desired motion of a cheerleader. For example, try movements that require straight arms and tight motions.
Step 3
Break the routine down into sections. Determine where and how you will incorporate your hip-hop dance among the stunt-and-tumble sections that are already a necessary part of the routine. Though you will have cheerleaders doing hip-hop movements throughout the routine, it is advisable to have a single section where your entire squad will dance together.
Step 4
Add your personality. The key to a successful cheerleading routine is to show your spirit and amp up your attitude. Hip-hop dance is all about attitude -- so give it everything you've got. Hip-hop was created out of individual stylistic expression, so if you are giving it your best, you can't go wrong.
Tips and Warnings
- Hire a choreographer if you have trouble visualizing how to incorporate the hip-hop movements into a large group. When using hip-hop tricks, such as "freezes" or "b-boy/b-girl" moves, use tricks you find that mimic cheer tumbling.
- Be aware of the age of the cheerleaders performing in the group. Booty shaking, among other things, does not mean you are doing hip-hop and to incorporate that may be offensive to viewers based on the participants' ages.
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