Cheerleading Choreography Worksheet
Choreographing a complex routine is very difficult because there are many different elements that are occurring at all times. Matching items for the maximum visual effect is often complex. For example, you might have a toe touch basket toss in the back of a formation of grounded toe touches. If the basket toss group initiates its toss on a count of 3 and the flyer snaps her toe touch on 7, then you have to match the ground toe touches by having them initiate their dip on 5 of the same set.
Matching the routine to the music is also important. Perhaps the toe touch in the above example needs to occur during an appropriate sound effect on your existing music track, or you want to remember to tell your music mixer that a sound effect is needed on this count.
Making written notes is a must when choreographing a routine, particularly as the routine becomes more difficult, complex, and dense. Individuals will forget which count they initiate a stunt on or when it cradles. If there are several stunts as well as other elements such as tumbling passes, jumps, basket tosses, dancing, etc. that occur at the same time, it becomes very difficult to recall when every item initiates, holds, cleans, retakes or hits--particularly when it is all happening at the same time. The worksheet below is our favorite choreography sketchpad. Print or make additional copies for every ten sets of eight in your routine. Be sure to print a copy of our "Recommended Instructions for filling out the Cheerleading Choreography Worksheet."