Cheerdance and Street Dance Vocabulary

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering key definitions, basic cheer motions, and street/hip-hop dance styles from the Senior High School Cheer Dance lecture.

To Cheer

To shout out words or phrases that may help motivate and boost the morale of a playing team and perform better during a game.

Dance

A physical activity where one expresses emotions or gestures while performing bodily movements usually in time with rhythm.

Cheerleading

Performance of a routine, usually dominated by gymnastics skills such as jumps, tumbling skills, lifts, and tosses combined with shouting of cheers and yells to lead the crowd to cheer for a certain team during a game or sport.

Cheerdance

A routine composed of yells and cheers, gymnastics skills (pyramids and tosses, stunts, tumbling skills, arm and hand positions and jumps), and dance (fusion of different dance genres).

Beginning Stance

A basic cheer position with feet together and hands down by the side in blades.

Cheer Stance

A basic cheer position with feet more than shoulder width apart and hands down by the side in blades.

Clasp

A basic cheer motion where hands are clasped at the chin with elbows in.

Clap

A basic cheer motion where hands are in blades at the chin with elbows in.

High V

A basic cheer motion where arms are extended up forming a 'V' with shoulders relaxed.

Low V

A basic cheer motion where arms are extended down forming a 'V'.

Touchdown

A cheer motion where arms are extended straight and parallel to each other with fists facing in.

Low Touchdown

A cheer motion where arms are extended straight down and parallel to each other with fists facing in.

Bow and Arrow

A cheer motion where one arm is extended to the side with the other arm bent at the elbow in a half 'T' motion.

Overhead Clasp

A cheer motion where arms are straight above the head in a clasp and slightly in front of the face.

Tabletop

A cheer motion where arms are bent at the elbow with fists in front of shoulders.

Low Clasp

A cheer motion where arms are extended straight down in a clasp and slightly in front of the body.

Punch

A cheer motion where one arm is extended straight up and one arm is on the hip in a fist.

L Motion

A cheer motion where one arm is extended to the side with the other arm extended in a punch motion.

Diagonal

A cheer motion where one arm is extended in a high 'V' and the other arm is extended in a low 'V'.

T Motion

A cheer motion where both arms are extended straight out to the side and parallel to the ground with shoulders relaxed.

Half T

A cheer motion where both arms are parallel to the ground and bent at the elbows with fists into shoulders.

Side Lunge

A cheer leg motion where the lead leg is bent with the knee over the ankle, back leg is straight, and feet are perpendicular to each other.

Front Lunge

A cheer leg motion where the lead leg is bent with the knee over the ankle, back leg is straight, and feet are perpendicular to each other.

Street Dance

Dance styles that developed outside dance studios, usually performed in streets, parks, schoolyards, dance parties, or any open space.

Hip-Hop Culture

A cultural movement that started in the Bronx, New York City, during the 1970s, developed mainly by African Americans and influenced by Latino communities.

DJing

Creating and mixing music; one of the four main elements (pillars) of hip-hop culture.

MCing (Rapping)

Speaking or singing rhythmic lyrics; one of the four main elements (pillars) of hip-hop culture.

Breaking (Breakdancing)

The original hip-hop dance style; one of the four main elements (pillars) of hip-hop culture.

Graffiti Art

Creating artistic drawings or designs on walls and public spaces; one of the four main elements (pillars) of hip-hop culture.

B-Boying

One of the original hip-hop dance styles started in NYC during the early 1970s by Black and Puerto Rican youth, characterized by energetic footwork, spins, freezes, and acrobatic movements.

Popping

A dance style popularized by Samuel 'Boogaloo Sam' Solomon and The Electric Boogaloos, done by quickly tightening and relaxing muscles to create a sharp, jerking movement called a 'pop'.

Locking

A dance style created by Don Campbell in 1969 in Los Angeles, California, also called Campbellocking, known for quick movements followed by sudden stops or 'locks'.

Krumping

A dance style started in the African American community of South Central Los Angeles, California, known for powerful, free, expressive, and energetic movements used to express strong emotions.

Tutting

A dance style inspired by ancient Egyptian art that creates geometric shapes and right angles using hands, arms, and other body parts, popularized in part by Mark Benson (King Tut).

Melbourne Shuffle

A dance style started in the late 1980s in underground rave clubs of Melbourne, Australia, known for fast heel-and-toe footwork matching electronic dance music.

Waacking

A dance style that started in the 1970s during the disco era in Los Angeles and New York City clubs, known for fast arm movements, stylish poses, and matching the beat of the music.