Acrobatics (from Ancient Greek ἀκροβατέω ( akrobatéō ) 'walk on tiptoe, strut') is the performance of human feats of balance , agility , and motor coordination . Acrobatic skills are used in performing arts , sporting events, and martial arts . Extensive use of acrobatic skills are most often performed in acro dance , circus , gymnastics , and freerunning and to a lesser extent in other athletic activities including ballet , slacklining and diving . Although acrobatics is most commonly associated with human body performance, the term is used to describe other types of performance, such as aerobatics .
34-916: Carolina TopCats Cheerleaders are the official cheerleading squad of the NFL's Carolina Panthers . The TopCats perform during home games at Bank of America Stadium , the home stadium of the Panthers. In 2022, the TopCats became the first cheerleading team of the National Football League to hire an openly transgender cheerleader. Auditions for the TopCats are typically held annually in April, which also take place at Bank of America Stadium. The group makes appearances at various events, as well as corporate appearances. The squad's staff includes Nicole Smith, Cheerleader Manager and Choreographer. As of 2016 ,
68-458: A long tradition in the majority of American sports at both professional and amateur levels; Cheerleaders are part of American football culture from youth leagues to the NFL and are part of the game day experience for our fans." Male NFL cheerleaders have increased in the 2010s to help offset changing societal attitudes and concerns that NFL cheerleading was sexist. A top honor for an NFL Cheerleader
102-484: A patron in the face and was violent and rude towards police that attempted to apprehend them. She also allegedly gave officers a driver's license that belonged to a different member of the squad who wasn't in Tampa at the time. She was later charged with battery and giving a false name. The other was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest , and was later released on a $ 750 bail. Both were eventually removed from
136-485: A subject for fine art. Examples of this are paintings such as Acrobats at the Cirque Fernando (Francisca and Angelina Wartenberg) by Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir , which depicts two German acrobatic sisters, and Acrobats in a Paris suburb by Viktor Vasnetsov . Acrobalance is a floor based acrobatic art that involves balances, lifts and creating shapes performed in pairs or groups. Acro dance
170-417: Is a performance art in which performers called contortionists showcase their skills of extreme physical flexibility Tightrope walking , also called funambulism, is the skill of walking along a thin wire or rope. Its earliest performance has been traced to Ancient Greece. It is commonly associated with the circus. Other skills similar to tightrope walking include slack rope walking and slacklining. Tumbling
204-460: Is a skill or act that involves acrobatics on a vertically hanging rope. The name is French for "smooth rope". Cloud swing is a skill that usually combines static and swinging trapeze skills, drops, holds and rebound lifts. Cradle (also known as aerial cradle or casting cradle) is a type of aerial circus skill in which a performer hangs by their knees from a large rectangular frame and swings, tosses, and catches another performer Aerial silks
238-421: Is a style of dance that combines classical dance technique with precision acrobatic elements. Aerial is acrobatics performed in the air on a suspended apparatus. A trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes or metal straps from a support. Trapeze acts may be static , spinning (rigged from a single point), swinging or flying , and may be performed solo, double, triple or as a group act. Corde lisse
272-473: Is a type of aerial skill in which one or more artists perform aerial acrobatics while hanging from a long length of fabric suspended from a frame or ceiling. Aerial hoop (also known as the lyra , aerial ring or cerceau / cerceaux' ) is a circular steel apparatus (resembling a hula hoop ) suspended from the ceiling or a frame, on which artists may perform aerial acrobatics. It can be used static, spinning, or swinging. Contortion (sometimes contortionism)
306-563: Is to be selected as a Pro Bowl Cheerleader. The group is composed of an all-star cheerleader (one from each NFL cheer team) that represents her NFL team at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. The Pro Bowl Cheerleaders were founded in 1992 and directed by Jay Howarth and Angela King-Twitero . Each year, one squad member from every NFL team is chosen to participate in the collective Pro Bowl cheerleading squad. They are picked by either their own squads or by
340-533: The Baltimore Colts became the first NFL team to have cheerleaders. They were part of Baltimore's Marching Colts . Most NFL cheerleading squads are a part-time job. Often, cheerleaders have completed or are attending a university , and continue on to other careers after cheering for one to four seasons . The members participate in practice, training camp, games, appearances, photo shoots, and charity events. Apart from their main duties of cheering during
374-654: The Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders were the first cheerleader squad to start using male stuntmen in the squad. Following trends in dance with popular summer dance series such as the Strictly Come Dancing franchise, So You Think You Can Dance , and World of Dance , where competitions are co-ed, in 2009, the first male dancers were added to National Football League by the Dallas Cowboys . The Dallas Cowboys introduced
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#1732772761217408-752: The Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints adopted male dancers to their dance teams as well. In 2019, the Seattle Seahawks , New England Patriots , Tennessee Titans , Indianapolis Colts , Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles added males to their squads, and the Seahawks cheerleaders became the second permanent co-ed squad after the Ravens. In 2021, for the first time, the Panthers TopCats had multiple (3) men make
442-705: The Pittsburgh Steelers . The Packers do, however, use a collegiate squad to cheer at home games. Super Bowl XLV between the Steelers and the Packers in February 2011 was the first time a Super Bowl featured no cheerleaders. The Browns and the Giants are the only NFL teams that have never had cheerleaders, while the other aforementioned teams have had cheer squads in the past. However, there are reports that
476-605: The USO . Teams send their variety show , an elite group of their best members, to perform combination shows of dance, music, baton twirling , acrobatics , gymnastics , and more. In February 2007, the Buffalo Bills even sent a squad of eight along with their choreographer into the war zone of Iraq. In 1996, the San Francisco 49ers Cheerleaders and their director helicoptered into the war inflicted country of Bosnia with
510-658: The noble court displays of the European Middle Ages would often include acrobatic performances that included juggling . In China , acrobatics have been a part of the culture since the Tang dynasty (618–907). Acrobatics were part of village harvest festivals . During the Tang dynasty, acrobatics saw much the same sort of development as European acrobatics saw during the Middle Ages, with court displays during
544-576: The 2019 documentary film A Woman's Work: The NFL's Cheerleader Problem . However, defenders and proponents of NFL Cheerleading have stated that cheerleading helps young women engage with the NFL at the most visible and prominent level, provide the NFL with role models for its female fans, and are a cost-effective way of promoting a team at events. Also, NFL cheerleading squads have been used as advocates from their teams for female empowerment or LGBT rights . NFL spokesperson David Tossell in 2013 defended NFL cheerleading by stating, "Cheerleading has
578-479: The 6-12 year age range, on how to dance, perform on selected gamedays with the main squad, and often NFL cheerleaders act as mentors and role models to the children. As well as being a mainstay of American football culture, the cheerleaders are one of the biggest entertainment groups to regularly perform for the United States Armed Forces overseas with performances and tours being enlisted by
612-499: The 7th through 10th century dominating the practice. Acrobatics continues to be an important part of modern Chinese variety art . Though the term initially applied to tightrope walking , in the 19th century, a form of performance art including circus acts began to use the term as well. In the late 19th century, tumbling and other acrobatic and gymnastic activities became competitive sport in Europe. Acrobatics has often served as
646-526: The Atlanta Falcons and St. Louis Rams squads to win the overall championship. The 3 teams finished in a three-way tie, with 210 points. The Chargers were declared the winners based on winning the dance competition. Listed by name, with corresponding NFL team. As of 2023, eight teams do not have cheerleading squads: Buffalo Bills , Chicago Bears , Cleveland Browns , Green Bay Packers , New York Giants , New York Jets , Los Angeles Chargers and
680-587: The Browns did have cheerleaders in 1971, but no records exist. The Buffalo Bills endorsed the officially independent Buffalo Jills from 1966 to 2013; when several cheerleaders sued both the Bills and the Bills organizations, the Jills suspended operations. Teams of "unofficial" cheerleaders began emerging in 2010 for NFL teams that did not have their own dance squad. These unofficial cheerleaders are not sanctioned by
714-613: The NFL or any franchise in the NFL and therefore are not allowed to perform at games, represent the football team at any outside functions, or use any of the team's branding or trademarked colors on their uniforms. The teams are sponsored by local businesses, and the cheerleaders perform prior to the game, at tailgate parties, and other local events. Some also attend the local NFL games in uniform, and sit together in their block of season ticket seats. Their audition process, costuming, and choreography are very similar to official NFL cheer teams. Some also produce an annual swimsuit calendar, just like
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#1732772761217748-455: The NFL's 32 teams participated in a four-event series of competitions. The first two events tested the cheerleaders' athletic abilities in events like the 100-yard dash, kayaking, tandem cycling, and the obstacle course. The third event was a trivia challenge called "Know Your NFL." The final competition was a one-minute dance routine, similar to what they normally perform on NFL sidelines. The San Diego Chargers team (Casie and Shantel) defeated
782-438: The NFL. There have been criticisms that NFL cheerleading is sexist , is objectifying women , exploitative, and outdated. In addition, several cheerleaders have sued their respective teams for violating minimum wage laws, mistreatment from management, exploitative rules and behaviors, sexual harassment, and groping . Such injustices regarding the pay and employment treatment of NFL cheerleaders were highlighted in
816-535: The Rhythm & Blue Dancers, founded by Charlotte Jones and directed by Jenny Durbin Smith, becoming the first co-Ed dance team in NFL history. They perform every home game on stage, half-time and sideline with their dynamic hip hop dancing, stunting, freestyle and tumbling. They are also responsible for the first NFL Drum Corp and in 2017 created a 7-16 year old co-Ed hip hop dance team Dallas Cowboys Rookie Squad. In 2018,
850-549: The TopCats became the first cheerleading team in the National Football League to add an openly transgender woman to their team, Justine Lindsay . Controversy ensued in November 2005 when two Topcats allegedly had sex with each other in a bar in the Channel District of Downtown Tampa , Florida . Both of them were drunk and had been unable to leave the bar. One of the cheerleaders, who was underage for drinking, hit
884-794: The USO and the U.S. Army. The U.S. troops in Korea have been entertained during the holiday season with the USO's Bob Hope Tour. Over the years, the tour has featured NFL cheerleaders from the Dallas Cowboys , San Francisco 49ers , and Washington. The first "Battle of the NFL Cheerleaders" was held in 1979 in Hollywood, Florida. Two cheerleaders from each cheerleading team compete against other mini-teams in various athletic events. The events include kayaking, 100 yard dash, obstacle courses, and other events. The Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders took home
918-449: The fans via Internet polling. [REDACTED] Media related to National Football League cheerleaders at Wikimedia Commons Acrobatics Acrobatic traditions are found in many cultures, and there is evidence that the earliest such traditions occurred thousands of years ago. For example, Minoan art from c. 2000 BC contains depictions of acrobatic feats on the backs of bulls . Ancient Greeks practiced acrobatics, and
952-599: The final team with the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders also adding a man to their team. Most of the squads' male cheerleaders are involved in stunts. In most situations, male cheerleaders are typically former college cheerleaders themselves, with a heavy emphasis on stunts and strength training. In March 2022, Justine Lindsay , a transgender woman, made the Carolina Panthers , becoming the first openly transgender person to cheer in
986-474: The football games, the cheerleaders have many other responsibilities, the main one is marketing the team they cheer for. Nearly every team member is available for appearances at schools, events, conferences, etc., for a set fee. An anticipated annual event is the release of each squad's calendar , featuring members for each month in swimsuits or uniforms. Also, many cheerleading squads have "Junior Cheerleading" programs, in which they teach children, usually in
1020-547: The legitimate cheerleaders. All of the independent teams hope at some point to be embraced by the NFL as "official" cheerleaders of their local teams. Glenn Welt was the first male to try out as an NFL cheerleader, doing so on May 20, 1978. The Miami Dolphins would not let him compete when he arrived at the Orange Bowl in Miami. The incident later became a nationwide news story, led to a federal anti-discrimination case, and
1054-478: The squad currently features 31 members. The squad also has a "Junior TopCats" program, where girls from across the Carolinas participate in three clinics and learn a halftime routine to perform with the TopCats during a Panthers home game. The squad was founded in 1995. In 2021, the TopCats, which had historically been all-women, added two male cheerleaders, Tre’ Booker and Chris Crawford, to their roster. In 2022,
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1088-461: The squad on November 7 for violating a code that they signed which bans conduct that can be considered embarrassing to the Panthers. NFL Cheerleading National Football League Cheerleading or simply NFL Cheerleading , is a group of professional cheerleading organizations in the United States . 24 of the 32 NFL teams include a cheerleading squad in their franchise . In 1954,
1122-731: The title in 1979. In 1980, it was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey and the Washington Redskinettes were the champions. The winners were Shiona Baum and Jeannie Fritz, and each received a car as the grand prize. The competition was resurrected in 2006 by the NFL Network , and was called NFL Cheerleader Playoffs . The playoffs were taped between July 17 and July 21, 2006, at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts. Two-person teams of cheerleaders from 25 of
1156-498: Was spoofed on a November 1979 episode of Mork & Mindy . The episode caused plans for a CBS made-for-TV movie starring Robin Williams as Welt to be scrapped, while also misrepresenting Welt and male cheerleaders in general when Williams pranced onto a football field dressed in a female outfit. Male NFL cheerleaders as dancers for the past few decades have been rare due to social norms and marketability. However, in 1998
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