Cheer, Pom & Guard

These forms grew up around American sport and marching-band culture. Sideline cheerleading professionalized into competitive 'dance team' performance through the 20th century, splitting into recognizable categories—pom (sharp, synchronized arm motions with poms), jazz, and hip-hop. Acro dance, blending dance choreography with controlled acrobatic and gymnastic elements, became a competition-studio staple. Color guard—the flag, rifle, and sabre 'visual ensemble' of the marching band—developed an indoor, floor-based competitive form, winter guard, formalized in the U.S. by Winter Guard International (founded 1977), often described as 'the sport of the arts.'

Cheer dance, pom, acro, and guard are among the most widespread entry points to performance dance for American youth, structured by school programs, studios, and national competition circuits. Winter guard in particular is a distinctive marriage of dance, equipment spinning, and theatrical staging performed to recorded music indoors.

Performed to edited, high-energy music mixes (pop, hip-hop, cinematic, or themed soundtracks); precision, synchronization, and hitting accents in unison are central judging criteria.

Sharp, synchronized motions and clean lines (pom), controlled acrobatic transitions integrated with dance (acro), and—across guard—equipment manipulation (flag, rifle, sabre spins and tosses) woven into traveling dance choreography and ensemble formation changes.

Competed through school teams, all-star studios, and circuits such as WGI, USA Dance/Dance Team championships, and similar bodies; also performed for entertainment at sporting events and parades.