If you have never participated in team dancing or seen it performed, you might assume that team dancing is the same thing as cheerleading. While both are very challenging sports, there are several key differences between the two.
Like other forms of dance, team dancing is something you have to train for. It is a very competitive area of dance and you have to have experience. There are tryouts, and the dancers are expected to have knowledge of dance, and to know what it takes to become a team dancer. There are many things that are required for a person to know in order to be considered for a spot on a team.
People who participate in team dancing usually have many years of dance training under their belt. Team dancing is not a sport you just decide to try out for one day and get picked to join the team. Team dancers have been practicing their art since they were children, just like hockey, golf or any other sport.
It’s actually quite easy to tell the difference between cheerleading and team dancing, once you know what to look for. For example, team dancing has heavy jazz and hip-hop influences. In cheerleading, there are more flips and cheers. Ultimately, it really depends on the choreographer and whether they were influenced by dance or cheerleading. The Boston Celtics have dancers and not cheerleaders while the Dallas Cowboys have a cheerleading squad.
There are specific schools and teams that focus solely on dance or cheerleading, and different philosophies and outlooks for each sport. Team dancing is a team sport, and is never about an individual, everything is about unison. With cheerleading, there are opportunities to express your talents individually. It really depends on what style a person is looking for.
So the next time you’re watching a game on TV, and the cheerleaders take to the floor or field, pay particular attention to what they’re doing. Are they dancing? Are they doing flips and kicks? You’ll be able to say with confidence what that squad is actually doing.
Photo: ZenMama
