Cheerleading

Cheerleading is an activity in which the participants (called cheerleaders) cheer for their team as a form of encouragement. It can range from chanting slogans to intense physical activity. It can be performed to motivate sports teams, to entertain the audience, or for competition. Cheerleading routines typically range anywhere from one to three minutes, and contain components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting. Cheerleading originated in the United States, where it has become a tradition. It is less prevalent in the rest of the world, except via its association with American spor

important pose of classical dance

upright|thumb|A ‘’Funkenmariechen’’ (German language|ger. [[diminutive for “Glistering Mary”) majorette is lifted at Rose Monday Parade of the Cologne Carnival in Germany]] A majorette is a female performer who combines baton twirling with dance movements, primarily associated with marching bands during parades. Majorettes may alternatively spin flags, fire batons, maces, or rifles. Some performers incorporate cartwheels and flips, while others may twirl multiple batons at once.

thumb|Pom-poms are mainly used to cheer for sports. thumb|Three cheerleaders dancing with pom-poms in Tokyo, Japan A pom-pom – also spelled pom-pon, pompom or pompon – is a decorative ball or tuft of fibrous material.

sport that combines dance and color guard to create coordinated routines

thumb|An ōendan An , literally "cheering squad" or "cheering section", is a Japanese sports rallying team similar in purpose and allegedly inspired by the cheerleading squads in the United States, but relies more on making a lot of noise with brass drums or taiko drums, blowing horns and other items, waving flags and banners, and yelling through plastic megaphones in support of their sports team than on acrobatic moves (though some ōendan incorporate pom-pom girls). In addition to cheering for their own teams, ōendan have been known to lead fans in cheers which tease and taunt the other team a

thumb|right|350px|Military of Russia|Russian troops cheering Ura! () at the [[2010 Moscow Victory Day Parade on Moscow's Red Square.]] Cheering involves the uttering or making of sounds and may be used to encourage, excite to action, indicate approval or welcome.

performative style of political activism, derived from mainstream cheerleading