Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (PLD) is a secondary school located at 1600 Man o' War Boulevard on the southwest side of Lexington, Kentucky, USA. The school is one of six high schools in the Fayette County Public Schools district.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are the National Football League cheerleading squad representing the Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are widely regarded as one of the best cheerleading squads in the NFL. They are also the first cheerleading squad in the NFL to start the trend of having young attractive women in revealing outfits dancing in front of fans.
Cheerleader Nation is a US television series based on the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School cheerleading team's ups and downs on the way to Nationals, of which they are the three-time champions. The show also explains how cheerleading is an intense physical activity. It takes place in Lexington, Kentucky. The team is on a quest to win a third National Championship. It was broadcast on the channel Lifetime.
National Football League Cheerleading, or simply NFL Cheerleading, is a professional cheerleading organization in the United States. 26 of the 32 NFL teams include a cheerleading squad in their franchise. Cheerleaders are a popular attraction that can give a team more coverage/airtime, popular local support, and increased media image. In 1954, the Baltimore Colts became the first NFL team to have cheerleaders. They were part of the Baltimore Colts Marching Band.
The U.S. All Star Federation (USASF) is the governing body for all star cheerleading and dance in the United States. The USASF was founded in December 2003 by cheerleading competition sponsors National Cheerleaders Association, Universal Cheerleaders Association, Cheersport, and America's Best to develop a standard set of safety rules and competition regulations and conduct the Cheerleading Worlds.
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Spirit Squads comprise the cheerleading organization at the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. Being the first program ever to form worldwide, the University of Minnesota is consequently considered the "Birthplace of Cheerleading". Today, the Gopher Spirit Squads consist of five separate squads: a co-ed squad, a small co-ed squad, an all-girl squad, a dance team, and a hockey cheer squad. The school's mascot, Goldy Gopher, is also a part of the program. The squads consistently perform well at national competitions including 18 national championships in dance since 2003, a 2nd-place finish for All-Girl in 2013, a fifth-place finish in 2017, and three time national champion Goldy Gopher in 2011, 2013, and 2017. The current head coach is Sam Owens.
World Cup All Stars, founded by 6 time International Champions, Elaine Pascale and Joelle Antico, is home to the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2015 and 2017 USASF Cheerleading Worlds champions in the Large Senior All Girl division, the World Cup Shooting Stars. In the International Junior All Girl division, the World Cup Starlites are the 2007 and 2008 World Champions. World Cup was founded in 1994 in Freehold, New Jersey by owner Elaine Pascale and her daughter Joelle Antico. World Cup is one of the most respected all-star programs in the U.S.
The University of Kentucky cheerleading squad is one of the most successful collegiate cheerleading programs in the world. Representing the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky, the UK squad has won the Universal Cheerleaders Association National College Cheerleading Championship an unprecedented twenty-four times, in 1985, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, more than any other Division 1A school. The University of Kentucky cheer squad is without question the best college cheer squad in the world.
The Jacksonville Roar is the professional cheerleading squad of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. The group was established in 1995, the team's inaugural year, and regularly performs choreographed routines during the team's home contests.
The Chicago Honey Bears were a cheerleading squad for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The group performed at Bears games at Soldier Field, and also at one away game in Tampa Bay Florida with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their Cheerleaders the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Swashbucklers until Super Bowl XX, which was their final appearance. The Chicago Honey Bears donated numerous hours of service to charities, as well as made guest appearances on T.V, including the Richard Simmons Show, the WGN Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon and performed and signed autographs at various other events, including at the Great Lakes Naval Station for the Navy Servicemen. They did various ads and posters, including a Kodak film ad, a Chicago Buckingham Fountain Post Card, a Stroh's Beer poster, and a poster of The Chicago Honey Bears official head shots featuring hair and make up by Vidal Sassoon, who was the official hair stylist of the NFL Chicago Honey Bears. Vidal Sassoon, selected Chicago Honey Bear line Captain/ and assistant choreographer Sharon Shackelford to be a hair model and he cut, colored and styled her hair live on the Phil Donahue Show. These examples are just a few of the numerous charities, T.V shows and events that the Honey Bear squad participated in. Aside from the Chicago Honey Bears being dancers and cheerleaders, at the Honey Bear auditions, Cathy Core and a panel of judges, including talent agents, narrowed their search by making the contestants display an additional talent, such as singing, playing instruments, acrobatic abilities or other dance forms and talents, before making their final selections of who would be on the squad each season. They also did modeling, including an incident when a member of the squad appeared topless in a Playboy magazine. After this incident, the Cheerleaders signed contracts that forbade posing nude and also forbade fraternizing with the Chicago Bears Football players except at approved events. After Super Bowl XX the squad was disbanded, and currently, the Bears are one of the six NFL teams that do not have cheerleaders, along with the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Los Angeles Charger Girls are the official cheerleading squad of the National Football League team Los Angeles Chargers. The Charger Girls perform a variety of dance routines during home games. The squad was founded in 1990, and is managed by e2k Event and Entertainment, which also manages the Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, and San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush dance teams. Members serve as ambassadors for the Chargers. The squad also makes non-game appearances. The group releases an annual swimsuit calendar. The group also has a Junior Charger Girls squad, with each performer being required to raise $175 in sponsor funds, with the funds going straight to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Chargers Community Foundation.
The Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders are a cheerleading and dance squad for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. Unlike other NFL Cheerleading squads, the Ravens squad is a co-ed squad, with the female cheerleaders doing various dance moves, and the males working on stunts, as in traditional cheerleading. The group was founded in 1998, and currently consists of 48 members. The squad performs at the Ravens home stadium M&T Bank Stadium. The squad's director is Tina Galdieri, who cheered at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, as well as the World League of American Football's Barcelona Dragons, and also led the University of Maryland's cheerleading squad to a national championship in 1999. The squad also has a "Lil Ravens" summer program, and unlike the other squads, boys also are permitted to join. The group makes various appearances at parties and corporate functions throughout the year. The female members of the squad also has a swimsuit calendar, with their 2012 calendar taking place in the Bahamas. The squad currently has 31 female members.
The Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders are the official cheerleading squad of the Indianapolis Colts. The cheerleaders perform various dances at the Colts stadium Lucas Oil Stadium, and also performed at Super Bowl XLI and Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium. The 2016 squad currently has 28 members. The squad was the first cheerleading squad in the NFL, being formed in the same year as the team's inception (1954) by two women. The squad originally consisted of ten girls with white boots, crew-neck sweaters, blue scarves and a blue skirt with grey kick-pleats as uniforms. The squad had a horse as a mascot, and often marched with the Baltimore Colts Marching Band, which was left behind in 1984 when the Colts moved to Indianapolis. The squad's annual auditions feature hundreds of women, with the group's "Audition Showcase" taking place at venues around Indianapolis. The squad has a show troupe, which travels to various cities to entertain fans. The Colts Cheerleaders release an annual swimsuit calendar. The team has a "Junior Cheerleaders" program, in which a team of 300 girls aged 7 to 14 perform at Lucas Oil Stadium and various appearances.
The Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders are the official cheer squad of the Kansas City Chiefs. The group performs a variety of dance moves at the Chiefs' home in Arrowhead Stadium. The squad was originally a co-ed squad that was first formed in 1971, and eventually dropped the male cheerleaders, and renamed the squad as the Chiefettes. In 1986, the squad changed to its current name, and male cheerleaders returned. In 1997, the squad became all-female. The group's annual tryouts take place in April. Non-KCCC members can still join by participating in "Spirit Day", in which a group of 7th-12th grade cheerleaders performs with the squad at halftime. The group also makes various appearances at military bases, trade shows, commercials, convention, county fairs, talk shows, grand openings, autograph sessions, photo shoots, golf tournaments, charity functions, and auctions. The squad also has a "Junior Cheerleaders" program. However, the program is separated in 4 age divisions: Angel Chiefs for 3-5; Junior Chiefs for 6-12; The Satellite Program for 6-17; as well as the Teen Chiefs for ages 13–17. The squad also performs with Chiefs mascot KC Wolf, who also makes appearances. Similar to the drum line of the Chicago Bears, the Chiefs also have the "Rumble", a drum line consisting of male and female musicians who pump up the crowd at each home game, and at various community events with the cheerleaders and KC Wolf. A Chiefs Cheerleader, Susie, rides a horse called "Warpaint" out the tunnel before every home game and after each Chiefs touchdown. This had been done until 1989, at which time the tradition was retired, however, in 2009, for the Chiefs 50th Anniversary, Warpaint was brought back. Aside from the squad, the Chiefs also has the "Red and Gold Girls", which performs cheerleading stunts.
The Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders are the official cheer squad for the Minnesota Vikings. The squad performs at every home game at the U.S. Bank Stadium, the home stadium of Minnesota. Before the squad's introduction in 1984, The Vi-Queens (1961–63) and the St. Louis Park High School Parkettes performed (196465,67–83) Edina High School and Minneapolis Roosevelt High School in 1966. In 1984, the MVC were started. The group currently has 35 members. The squad, like other groups in the league, releases a swimsuit calendar annually since 2001. The squad also makes off-field appearances at parades, schools, and charity events. Like other NFL cheerleading squads, the MVC also has a "Junior Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders" program, which has various divisions: Junior Angel Division is for girls aged 3–5, and Junior Cheerleader Division is for girls aged 6–14. In April, the MVC hosts tryouts at Winter Park. From 2002-2016, the Vikings were the only team in the NFC North with a cheerleading squad.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders are the official cheerleading squad of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. The squad performs a variety of dance routines at Raymond James Stadium, the home of the Bucs, with the team's mascot Captain Fear. The squad debuted alongside the Buccaneers during their inaugural season. The squad was originally known as the SwashBucklers until 1998.
The University of North Carolina has run cheerleading teams since 1914, performing at Tar Heels sports events. They have frequently participated in cheerleading competitions at the national level. Currently there are two teams: JV and Varsity.
Angela King-Twitero is a professional cheerleading director and CEO of House of AKD cheer uniforms.
