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| Jessie Ali is the captain of DalCheer, which has brought cheerleading back to campus life. The squad practices Monday nights at the Studley Gym. (Nick Pearce Photo) |
DalCheer captain Jessie Ali knows her sport is about more than just 鈥済ive me a D.鈥� Cheerleaders are athletes who are聽super strong and fit, not to聽mention gutsy.
鈥淭here are many people who I don鈥檛 think would be brave enough to be a cheerleader,鈥� she explains.
There are, however, at least 30 sufficiently courageous volunteers at AV俱乐部. New team members have been practicing together since mid-September.
鈥淐oming from high school, there鈥檚 a lot to teach,鈥� Ms. Ali says. 鈥淎 lot of our girls have actually never cheered. But they鈥檝e all done things like dance and gymnastics鈥� we had a lot of talent at tryouts.鈥�
Founded by Michelle Weger three years ago, now headed by Ms. Ali, DalCheer was ratified by the DSU for the first time this year. It鈥檚 left them ambitious鈥攖he team, previously a recreational outfit chiefly concerned with cheering at sports games, is now eying competition.
In March, DalCheer hopes to attend the Cheer Expo at the Halifax forum, an event attended by 鈥渉undreds of teams.鈥� Unfortunately, DalCheer has never actually competed before. To prepare the squad, Ms. Ali has enlisted coaches to guide and teach choreography. In competition, DalCheer will showcase their hours of hard work in a mere two-and-a-half minute routine.
But she鈥檚 not intimidated 鈥� this is old hat to her. The cheerleader/cheer captain/general mastermind was cheerleading long before arriving at AV俱乐部.
鈥淭his鈥檒l be my ninth year now,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 started in the sixth grade, I was 11. It鈥檚 kind of been my passion.鈥� The young gymnast joined Halifax鈥檚 Starlite All Stars, then the Halifax Cheer Elite. She鈥檚 now a 鈥渓evel-six鈥� cheerleader, encouraged to execute the most difficult stunts.
鈥淵ou can do higher level pyramids, harder baskets, harder tumbling,鈥� she explains of the distinction. She鈥檚 also in her third year of a BA at AV俱乐部, majoring in sociology and minoring in law, and plans to be a lawyer.
Well-spoken and bright, Ms. Ali has no patience for cheerleading鈥檚 detractors. 鈥淧eople just think that cheerleaders are uneducated because we wear skirts and cropped shirts.鈥� But there鈥檚 a practical reason for the costuming. 鈥淎 lot of stunts are held around her ankles, her knees, her feet. Part of the skirt is having that free.鈥� As for the team鈥檚 upper half, 鈥淭he crop top is something that鈥檚 kind of innovative for Nova Scotia. For loading into any stunt, you鈥檙e often holding the girl鈥檚 waist.鈥�
The traditional costume does have its downsides: 鈥淲e have no armor. We feel everything.鈥� And, as in every sport, accidents do happen. 鈥淟ast year they were trying a new stunt and a girl鈥檚 foot got broken.鈥� But even as she recovered using crutches, she still made every practice and is now assistant captain.
Discussing cheerleading鈥檚 most famous accoutrement, Ms. Ali choses her words carefully. 鈥淧ompoms are more of an attention getter, a visual. The majority of competitive teams do not have pompoms.鈥� AV俱乐部 will use the accessories, however, at least in their varsity performances. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting, it鈥檚 visual, it completes the look.鈥�