Cheerleading dances are a major element of entertainment in competitions and games. They require hard work, meticulous detail, and lots of practice for perfecting the routines. Especially if it is about choreographing a winning routine, the dance must be well choreographed, should have great presentation with crisp and clean dance routines performed in synchronization. Preparation Before choreographing, keep in mind what your judges or the audience are looking for. Generally, skill level, technique employed, creativity, consistency, energy levels are the prime parameters that help in evaluating the routine. The routines primarily comprise dance, cheering, stunt combinations and/or pyramids and tumbling; as per the skill level of the squad or team. Hence, proper planning, discipline and creative skills are required to make the performance a huge success. To make things simpler and organized, divide your routine into three portions: the beginning, the middle, and the end. The Beginning During the beginning of the routine, team members are at high energy levels and can dance with high intensity for several minutes. Hence, the most difficult tumbling and stunts should occur at the beginning. So choreograph tumbling moves as an opening to the routine but make sure the moves are clean. Since a difficult tumbling move looks impressive only if the tumbler can perform consistently, keep the best tumblers in front. The Middle This is the best time to integrate cheers and dance, so use less difficult stunts, without overdoing them. This is also the point where you should concentrate on your transitions from your stunts in the beginning of the routine, to your dancing position onto your ending formation. Use counts to minimize the difficulty of the dance steps and don't dance as a full squad in the middle, rather choreograph small pockets of the squad separately. Considering the dancing ability of your team, incorporate appropriate cheerleading moves that won't cause your routine to lose points. The End of the Routine Just like your beginning, the end should also leave a lasting impression on the audiences. Although your team members will be tired, there are different ways through which you can have a strong and impressive finish. Dance in full team as it will not only look visually nice but will also be easier for your squad to perform. Keep the dance moves clean and crispy and finish the routine with an easy pyramid formation. Last Minute Pointers A well-organized or polished routine is where all cheerleaders move in sync. Hence, ensure that all movements are sharp and clean and on the right count. Improper arm, hand, and foot positioning will make the routine look sloppy. Every member should kick and jump at the same height and angle, so devote enough time to practicing especially if the routine has more stunts. Practice in small groups and videotape the entire routine to analyze the dance and fix or make changes if you observe any mistakes. Since most competitions or games allow up to thirty seconds to two minutes of floor time per team, the routines should be short and well-timed. Synchronized and well-organized presentation with great and clean moves are the key elements for a crowd pleasing cheerleading performance, hence practice enough, perform with confidence and don't forget to wear that charming smile. Enjoy!