Showmanship: What It Is and Tips from the Pros
There are a lot of dancers out there who are really good at performing. But no matter how much skill they showcase, the audience to some of these performers just can’t enjoy watching them. It’s not about what they wear or the type of dance they perform, it’s about their lack of showmanship.
While that may be fine in some situations, showmanship is a necessary requirement for all aspiring and current pro cheerleaders. Why? Because professional cheerleading is a major part in motivating an NBA and NFL team to play well in a game. Let’s discuss more about what showmanship is and what you can do to develop it as a dancer.
What is Showmanship for Professional Cheerleading?
Showmanship is a skill in entertaining a crowd with a commanding presence, compelling, and a well-rehearsed performance. For pro cheerleaders, showmanship in dancing is crucial because they have the entire attention of the arena as they dance and a pro cheerleading team’s main purpose is to hype up the fans in supporting their home team as well as the players in it.
Without showmanship in performing, the crowd would be lifeless and the players would feel less motivated. Briefly speaking, every pro cheerleader in the squad must captivate the crowd with showmanship to increase the home team’s chances of winning a game.
7 Tips on How to Develop Showmanship for Pro Cheerleading
1. Mastering the performance
For every chant, stunt, or dance you’re about to perform at the auditions and the arena, you must memorize the counting, positioning, and sequence of dance moves. Then, perform them with mastery. The best performances are immortalized by the perfection of how it is presented. So don’t undervalue your dance practices.
2. Maintaining a good posture in and out of the arena
Showmanship is about how you carry yourself whether you’re on the job or not. Consider yourself performing all day long. You shouldn’t stand or walk straight when you’re with your squad, in the dance studio, or the arena.
Maintain your good posture all the time and it will eventually be a natural part of you. This then improves your stage presence in the arena and the auditions by a huge margin.
3. Be happy and energetic wherever you go
Like good posture, a happy face and an energetic body should be maintained at all times to make cheerfulness a natural part of you. Be confident and friendly when talking to others and stay fit through regular exercise.
4. Focus on your audience and not yourself
You are the performer and your job is to entertain the crowd. Smile and wave as you enter the arena or the audition venue’s dance floor. Don’t forget to maintain eye contact with the judges and the crowd. Smiling as well when you’re facing them as you dance.
If you see them lacking in spirit, increase your energy output. Focus on what your audience and the judges want, what they need in a pro cheerleader, and what they like.
5. Act like an authority in dancing
Show the audience and the judges as the pro cheerleader you are, be a master at what you do and strictly follow the instructions from #1 above.
6. Enjoy the moment as you dance
A true performer is good at what they do because they love doing it. While dancing in the arena, be passionate about it as well.
7. Be consistent in displaying your showmanship
When you have developed showmanship, work hard to maintain in showing it. Think of your performances as your best-selling products. If you give your audience the same positive experience every time you perform for your home team, they’ll eagerly wait for your next appearance which makes you a true master of your craft - being a professional cheerleader.
To be a master show-woman, you need to set your mind and act as if you’re performing in front of the crowd at all times. This will make the performer’s spirit a natural part of you. When you’re in the arena, don’t hesitate to give it your all, maintain your cheerful composure, and be passionate while you dance.
More articles on how to be the ideal pro cheerleader here:
- 8 Tips on How to Develop a Team Attitude
- How to Achieve a Clean Dance Routine
- How to Project Confidence in a Crowd (7 Tips)
- 6 Essential Ways to Speak With More Confidence
- Becoming a Pro Cheerleader: Skills You Need to Develop
Do You Picture Yourself As A Professional Cheerleader? Get Expert Advice From Someone Who's Been There.
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