For my senior capstone, I utilized multimedia in the forms of photography, graphic design, and videography to demonstrate the multifaceted talents of collegiate cheer and dance teams, who by NCAA standard are not considered athletes but performers. This prevents adequate funding to their programs for safety equipment and access to the university's athletic trainers for injury rehabilitation or treatment, which is a disappointing 'thank you' considering their appearances as sideline entertainment for every men's or women's basketball home game and school-wide events such as Commencement and Convocation. Northeastern hosts nationally recognized cheer and dance programs, with cheer placing third in the nation for all-girls Division-1 in 2024 and dance placing third in the nation for Division-1 team performance in 2023. Harvard trains national qualifying dance and cheer teams with their dance team holding four New England Dance championship titles between 2020 and 2024. Through quotes from the athletes on the Northeastern dance and cheer teams, you will hear their sides of the story, and through video, will see the contrast of Northeastern's cheer and dance teams training for the Nationals competition in April versus theirs and Harvard University's cheer and dance teams' performances as 'Spirit Squads.'
"I wish people knew that cheerleading is so much more than what they see of us on the sidelines. We love to support the NU sports teams and community, but what we love most is showcasing our skills and working hard as a team to become the best athletes we can be. Our true passion stems from the 3 minutes in April when we show the world what it means to be a hard working Husky." Jessie
AGAIN
AGAIN: "What I wish people knew about cheer is how much physical strength it takes. I’ve done competitive cheerleading for 11 years and people in my high school started a rumor that I could bench 3x my body weight, which was funny because I’m buff from cheer and cheer alone." Moe
REACH
REACH: "Dance at the collegiate and professional levels demand a unique combination of athleticism, artistry, and performance unlike any other sports. Collegiate dance teams, particularly in competitive settings, face a level of scrutiny that parallels the most demanding athletic disciplines. Preparing for nationals entails not only mastering intricate choreography but also enduring extensive rehearsals, meticulous cleaning sessions, strength and conditioning training, all layered on top of a demanding practice and game schedule. Unlike many traditional sports, dance operates much differently when it comes to practice and preparation for the season. However, the mental and physical resilience it demands, the intellectual depth it requires, and the sense of discipline and community it fosters are unequivocally aligned with the core tenets of any other sport." Gigi
BACKWARDS
THE TWO FACES OF CHEER
LEAP
MOVE: "I wish people knew how much athleticism, strength and stamina it takes to execute dance moves that might look easy to an audience member." Caia
MOVE
FLIGHT: “I wish people knew the mental strength it takes to be a cheerleader. You could fall out of a stunt 15 feet in the air onto your back and have to get right back to up to do it again with a smile on your face. It’s terrifying but mental toughness and determination allow you to push through. You do it for your team because without one person, a stunt - a routine - will not be possible.” Amelia
FLIGHT
HOLD
SMILE BIGGER
LOUDER: "I wish people knew just how much work cheer is and how much of ourselves we sacrifice to get good at the sport. It can absolutely change your life and who you are as a person." Maya
LOUDER
PLEASE WELCOME TO THE FLOOR: "I wish people knew/understood how much time, commitment, and effort it takes to be a dancer, especially on a college team. Practice is 3-5 times a week and we're present at all basketball games, making our total time practicing/performing nearly 20 hours a week. It's incredibly demanding physically with routines feeling like a 2-minute cardio sprint each time, and technique training is very exhausting after being drilled for 2-4 hours straight." Emilie
HIGHER
CIRCLES
PLEASE WELCOME TO THE FLOOR
ALL HANDS ON DECK: "Cheerleading deserves greater appreciation for the dedication, hard work, and mental and physical challenges it demands, just like any other sport. Beyond fitness, it fosters a unique sense of camaraderie and creates lasting memories as athletes learn the true value of teamwork and support in striving toward a common goal." Rania
ALL HANDS ON DECK
"I wish people knew about the strength and passion cheerleading takes. A 2 minute and 30 second routine seems short to some but it’s truly remarkable. I’ve tried to think of workouts that compare to the feeling of a full out and the only thing that compares is a full sprint while you’re also lifting weights and occasionally being upside down. It sounds crazy, but it is. There's being 'in shape' and being 'full out ready' and they’re 2 different things. The endurance I build still impresses me after 10 years. Yet, while running 5+ full outs at practice is hell on earth, it is somehow second nature when you do it on a stage. Your adrenaline kicks in and you don’t even remember if you took a breath the entire routine because there is no better feeling than all your hard work paying off and not being able to hear the music because your coaches are yelling so loud for you and you used every moment to cheer on your teammates. It’s always been more than just some Pom Poms :)" Paige
DANCE
CHEER