Cheer dance, also known as cheerleading, is a physical activity involving organized routines that is over 100 years old. It started with all-male cheerleaders and the first organized cheer dance occurred at a 1898 Princeton football game led by Johnny Campbell. Cheer dancing helps develop a healthy lifestyle by performing routines that build teamwork while pumping up crowds to support sports teams and entertain audiences.

1. Cheer Dance or
Cheerleading
Lesson 1

2. Essential Question:
How does cheer dancing help
you develop a healthy lifestyle?

4. Cheer Dance
It is referred to as cheerleading, is a team
physical activity using organized routines
for the purpose of motivating a sports
team, entertaining an audience, or
participating in a competition.

5. History of Cheer Dance
It is over 100 years old that started when all
cheerleaders were men.
The first cheer dance in US were organized by a
Priceton graduate named Thomas Peebles.
In the November 2, 1898 football game between
Priceton and the University of Minnesota. They were
led by Johnny Campbell and this was considered the
birth of cheerleading.

6.  It was reported that Campbell’s first cheer was, “Rah, Rah,
Rah! Ski-u-mah, Hoo-Rah! Hoo-Rah! Varsity! Varsity! Varsity,
Minn-eSo-Tah!” This apparaently led to the popular “sis boom
bah” cheer.
 In 1903, the Gamma Sigma fraternity was founded as the first
cheerleaders.
 Women joined cheerleading squads in 1923. During World
War II, the shift to mostly female cheer squads began.
 In the 1900s, megaphones came into play. Pom poms,
originally called “pom pons,: were invented in the 1930s.
 The National Cheerleader Association (NCA) was founded by
Lawrence “Herkie” Herkimer in 1948.

7. Purpose of Cheer Dance
To perform and cheer for the team
To show you have spirit for the team
To develop sense of camaraderie and
teamwork
To pump up the crowd to support the team