Thousands attend Virginia State Cheer & Dance Championships
Alexa Welch Edlund / Times-Dispatch
Thousands of cheerleaders and dancers participated in the Virginia State Cheer & Dance Championships in downtown Richmond.
There was no shortage of spirit yesterday inside Virginia Commonwealth University's Siegel Center.
Whether it was from the ebullient cheerleaders on the floor or the roaring ovations from their supporters in the stands, the arena was rocking.
Cheerleaders and dancers from across Virginia converged on downtown Richmond for the 29th annual Virginia State Cheer & Dance Championships. Richmond has been home to the championships since the competition's inception in 1980.
For many, it was their turn in the spotlight after cheering from the sidelines for youth sports teams. The competition also featured all-star cheerleading squads from Midlothian and eastern Virginia.
"They've been working hard all year; it's time to give them the recognition they deserve," said Kim Dornak, president of the Eastern Cheer & Dance Association. "This gives them the chance to be the ones being cheered for."
Enthusiasm filled the arena even before the groups emerged for their performances.
Cheerleaders took the floor, hair swinging wildly as they went through their cheers and frenetic dance moves to songs by the likes of Miley Cyrus, Black Eyed Peas, Pussycat Dolls and Cyndi Lauper.
One of the big winners didn't even perform a routine at the all-day event. Organizers of the championship donated $1 for every spectator to the VCU Massey Cancer Center in downtown Richmond. The center is one of just 65 nationwide designated by the National Cancer Institute to help lead and shape the fight against cancer.
The idea to add the philanthropic component to the competition was developed by Shannon Tootle, marketing director of Eastern Cheer & Dance Association.
Tootle said it was fitting to support the cancer center because of all the support that VCU community provides the cheering and dance competition.
"Everyone you know has been touched by [cancer] in some way," Dornak said.
Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or
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Reader Reactions
I totally agree with y we do this.I juswt don’t like greedy people.
Are we seriously going to do this? Argue about WHO should have been pictured? Obviously, the article wasn’t about who ACTUALLY won the competition…it was about raising money for the Manssey Cancer Ctr…who were and are the winners for this. True winners don’t gloat…if you knew you were the winner, what does it matter that you have a picture or “article” to prove it. I would say the “real” winners are those who give respect and show good sportsmanship…clearly not shown here.
Gallagher, the correct spelling is ridiculous. Oh by the way, I apologize for being ridiculous about this whole thing. I mean after all why would the Grand Champions, of an event that drew thousands, expect their photo on the front page (preferable to the team that did not win) or at least some mention of their accomplishment in an article referencing the event? What was I thinking? Oh, I know….. Because that’s how it’s usually and properly done. Would you expect the winners of the Super Bowl, NCAA Championship, World Series, The US Open, or the Olympics, just to name a few, to Not have their accomplishment noted by way of a picture or at least some mention in the write up. Sure, they’re just a bunch of kids cheering their hearts out but it is still after all a COMPETITION!
You sound a little rediculous to me, my daughter also cheers! Take your own pictures.
Good Morning Kelly,
If you will reread my and India’s comments, you will see that we DID give the other teams credit. We both think it is strange that the team(s) that won the Grand Championship bid had fewer photos in the slide show and was not given due respect on the Metro page…No photo and no mention in the article, even the front page of the Times had a photo caption of a Cougar team girl. That’s not being greedy. Hopkins deserved a bit more respect, that’s all. Have a nice day.
All the girls worked very hard I know.Bobcats won, aleast give some credit to the other teams.Bobcats need not be so greedy.
I know that all of the teams did an outstanding job, but I was pained to see Enon on the front page when Hopkins won Grand Champions and a paid bid to Nationals.Also I did notice there were only a few pictures of Hopkins.GO BOBCATS !!
I was one of the thousands in attendance. All of the teams are to be commended for their hard work and congrats to them and the coaches that work diligently to get them to this place. I was, however disappointed that proper respect wasn’t given to the Hopkins teams which pretty much swept the competition away. Hopkins Minors, Youth and Junior teams all won First place paid bids to the Nationals in Virginia Beach in May 2010. It’s my opinion that perhaps either the Hopkins Youth or Junior team should have gotten their picture on the Metro page with this article and it also would have been nice if the article had mentioned this fact. Go Bobcats!! You Rock!!
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