People shout…Crowds roar…

And your favorite cheerleading squad flips and jumps and flexes in their colorful outfits as they move their bodies to their beautiful routine.

Sure sounds like one of those “Bring It On” movies, right? It’s the perfect climax for the typical “competition-gets-on-the-nerves” plot.

While the present squads are composed mostly of girls and a very few male cheerleaders are depicted in movies (most of which are implied as homosexuals); the first cheering squads back in the 1890s were originally composed of all males. The original cheerleading fraternity was organized in 1903, and yes, it was composed by males. It was only in 1923 that women started joining. And ever since cheering squads was formed, the activity has caught great interest. But it was the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders that had really put the spotlight on cheerleading when they performed with their stylish outfits and dance routines. Since then, the world of cheerleading has evolved to what we now appreciate it to be.

Cheerleading has been popularized by the movies and songs, and usually they depict cheerleaders as the “top of the social food chain” (as stated by cheerleader Christina in the movie Bring It On: Fight to the Finish). While movies tend to exaggerate things up a bit, that part has truth to it. Cheerleaders somehow belong to the top leaders for their schools. Now this may be accounted to their representation and promotion of school spirit as they do their cheering routines, whether in a game or for a competition. Some political figures and popular celebrities are former cheerleaders, and that includes ex-President George W. Bush, Dwight Eisenhower, Halle Berry, Madonna, and many others.

Cheerleading is not just a simple regular sport. It requires dexterity, flexibility, and sharpness. In addition, it requires loads of stamina and perseverance to achieve cheerleading perfection. So if you want to be one, you know that you’ll need more than just pompoms to really bring it on!