With this, they go to far. I don’t even think they’ll let you into the place at 3 am unless you’re barely dressed and look like a bum.
Heh. I kid. Welcome. 
Thanks to the NFL the term cheerleader is applied to anything related to girls that do anything at games.
Cheerleaders- Usually a squad of 12 girls in most schools, they yell chants and cheers on the sidelines. Most collegiate teams have male and female squads. Clemson. Cheerleaders tumble very well, do standing jumps and are there to get the crowd pumped up. Low to medium level dance technique.
Dance Teams/Pom Squads- Again usually a squad of 12 girls. They too can be on the sidelines during the games. No yelling though. They perform short routines to music played either by the marching band or over the PA system. I would consider most of the NFL squads dance teams. Very high level of dance technique. [University of Minnesota-Minneapolis](”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua7TTRyMX04 ”)
Drill Teams- Consists of a large number of girls. My high school team had 60 or so members. When I was at Kilgore there were 83 of us. During the games, drill teams sit in the stands next to the band. At Kilgore we had cowbells we rang and we yelled with the cheerleaders. When there are about 5 minutes left in the 2nd quarter of the game, we leave the stands to go do last minute stretching and what not before the halftime show begins. Traditionally the marching band performs their set show. At the end of their performance, they assemble in the sidelines or in the end zone to play the drill team’s music. Drill teams start on the far side of the field, enter to the school’s fight song, perform a high kick routine (high kick meaning kicking to the nose, there are different types of kicks, usually has jump splits or regular splits or both). Often, not always though after the high kick routine, there is a second number. Sometimes a prop routine; we’ve used oil derricks, fences, boxes, stars or pretty much anything you can think of. Maybe it’s a jazz routine. Or a military. Can range from medium to high level of technique. After the second routine, the team exits the field to the schools fight song.
Twirlers- Most schools may have a small group or only 1 or 2 featured twirlers. These girls perform with the band. They perform using batons. Some of their tricks are truly amazing Sometimes there is also color guard. They also perform with the band. Usually use flags. Pretty effect from the stands, but not as talented as the twirlers.
I hope that helps distinguish the different types of teams.
Sidney Evgeni Jordan – Aw what would a thread be without a hijack?
After football season is over, we immediately get into basketball/parade season. More often than not, these seasons overlap. We perform at a few basketball games and make appearances at many of the local Christmas parades. We then go on winter break but meet up in Dallas on December 30/31 to begin final rehearsals for the Cotton Bowl. The Rangerettes have performed at every Cotton Bowl since 1951. After the Cotton Bowl, we finish the winter break. When the 2nd semester starts up, preparations for Revels, the spring show, go into full force. Practice schedule is pretty much the same, only now we are inside our gym or the auditorium. If there are school holidays, for example MLK Day, we will practice all day. Closer to the show there maybe weekend practices. The show runs Wed-Sat with nightly shows plus a matinee on Sat around the first week of April. During this time there may all so be other appearances to prepare for and we also host a competitions and clinics for high schools. After Revels, sophomores stop practicing. Freshmen practice a few times, more if there will be a summer trip. My freshman year we were invited to the Indy 500 so we got back to work without our sophomores.
Most teams at any level perform at basketball games. They may also enter competitions so they may compete against different schools. ESPN runs NCA/NDA competitions when they have nothing else to show. Many high school drill teams also hold some sort of spring show that runs only one night. During the spring there are also tryouts for members for the next school year.
Revels encompasses all types of dance. There are lyrical, jazz, tap, modern and hip hop routines. These routines are choreographed by current and former Rangerettes, the Directors and other choreographers. The managers help build sets. The A/V department usually steps in to help with music and video presentations. Costumes are designed by different people. There is always a theme. In 2003 it was Let’s Get Real and in 2008 it was Lost in the Library for example. There are auditions for a solo or duet in Revels. Girls can either sing or dance. The managers provide some comedy relief between changes. Before intermission the jazz band and Twirlers perform. If they are available the cheerleaders also perform. The show is always closed by a signature Rangerette high kick.
Martini Enfield- With the crazy schedule the team has, it is easier to require all the girls to live on campus. Since the campus is small there was only one girls dorm. So one wing was for regular students and the other wing was for freshmen Rettes on the first, second floor was cheerleaders and twirlers and the sophomores were on the third. Two(?) years ago the Rangerettes were able to move into their own dorms, no longer subjecting everyone else to our antics.
I think it started on wanting to assure proper behavior at all times too. For example, boys aren’t allowed. Only on game/performance days are they allowed and even then they must be escorted. On nights before games/performances we have a curfew. The officers do a room check. There also meetings. Each class has bi-weekly meetings. Meetings are used to plan motivations, events or gifts. Sophomores also write a list of mistakes that freshmen have made during the week and address mistakes sophomores have made. Freshmen are given these corrections. Compliments are also given at this time. Plus you get to borrow clothes and things from everyone. I don’t think the cricket team is in to that! 
We also have sisterlines. After tryouts every sophomore picks a number out of a bucket. This is your new little sister. You try to take care of your little and your big will provide you with advice and support.
We have sayings and symbols and songs. Former Rettes are called Forevers. As a Forever you can “adopt” a current member and share stories and things.
I’ve never been in a traditional sorority but I can imagine they are very similar in some of these aspects.
And “Attractive women (with maybe the occasional guy thrown in) dancing, prancing and doing athletic displays at a parade= majorettes.” I do hope there’s never a Lifetime movie about someone who really, really, really wants to join a “precision dance team” or a “drill dance team”, because I’d find myself trying to explain it whenever the movie ended up being on Spanish TV. Explaining “what the hell’s so great about being class president” takes over one hour!
That said, thanks for the thread, lisa. I’d heard of the Rockettes, but had been happy to keep them filed under O for “one of those pop-culture things which get mentioned in American movies;” if I’d heard mention of either the Rangerettes or “drill dance” (except maybe in one or two threads about cheerleading, in this board) it had completely gone over my head. This is one of those threads that clean up corners of my ignorance to which I hadn’t paid attention in ages.
Thanks… that clears it up a little (they’d all still be considered “Cheerleaders” here, though).
Another daft question though, if I may: What’s a “Fight Song”?
Textual Intercourse- A kid? I don’t get a grown goat?
My freshman year we didn’t have a 24 hour SuperCenter.:eek: We of course appeared at the grand opening my sophomore year. :rolleyes:
A strip club outside of Tyler tried to recruit us on an outing for hot glue sticks and pizza bagels once. That provided us some much needed stress relief during a long week.
Its a small town and people knew who you were even if you had never been introduced. And they would tattle on you any chance they could. They also paid compliments though. If you had a Rangerette sticker on your car, you were expected to be a perfect lady while driving. There was also a state trooper in the area that would report speeders.
I think I know that one! It’s a school anthem but one that’s more along the lines of “We will rock you” than “God save the Queen.”
Exactly. I do apologise if I’m coming across as intentionally obtuse here; but this whole thing is so far off from my experience I’ve got nothing to try and compare it to and so it’s all a little baffling- and yet is a marvellous opportunity to learn about something that I’d otherwise pay no attention to!
The amount of work you guys had to go through sounds mind-boggling. At the moment I’m getting a mental image of a high-impact dance troupe who perform at sporting events, are almost but not really like cheerleaders, and live together on-campus, with elements of something like Freemasons thrown in.
So I have to admit I’m a little surprised that A) You don’t get paid and B) It doesn’t really seem to lead anywhere in a professional sense, and C) There’s a lot of restrictions and responsibilities that appear (to an outsider) to far, far outweigh the benefits of being involved.
In my experience all high schools and colleges here have an alma mater or school song, which is a slow but meaningful song about your wonderful school.
A fight song is more powerful and upbeat song about how great your football team is. They are “fighting” on the football field. Lyrics for Kilgore College
During football games this is played after a touchdown for example. At the end of the game the fight song is played first, followed by the school song.
This is an example of our entrance to our fight song it lasts until about the :53 mark. The girls in white are the officers, which have extra responsibilities but they have a few extra privileges.
There are lots of other times when we sing fight song without the band. Sign Drop is one. Sign Drop is how the girls find out if they make it. The hopefuls sit on the auditorium stage and the “bingo board” is lowered on a batten. The hopefuls look for their tryout number. If its there, they made it. If not, its awful. My roommate during tryouts didn’t make it. I made sure she got to her parents before I went to take pictures and celebrate. After lots and lots and lots of photos are taken, the sophs sing fight song around the new fresh.
And this is what happens after finale at Revels.
This is all so completely strange and foreign to my experiences that I think I may have to go and put on a Pith Helmet and brush up on my Swahili before I ask anymore questions… 
Nava- You’re welcome, I’m happy to share and I love your examples for fight and school songs. And Martini Enfield no worries at all. I’m partly to blame for not being more clear about things. But I’m Texan. Doesn’t everyone in the world study our history?
It is alot of work but its alot of fun too. We have silly dress up days at practice. My favorite was Cindy Lou-Who day and we did crazy hair like the movie. We had a giant water balloon fight. We played hide and go seek on campus or the auditorium after practice. We played pranks on each other. We make up silly songs.
And we received tuition and room and board. So not directly paid but we did benefit. We also traveled places for free. The Chicago trip was the first time many girls had seen snow on the ground. :eek: We got to see many different shows and take classes from amazing choreographers in NYC. We got to meet many fascinating people. We did high kicks with Hugh Jackman when he was in Boy From Oz. We performed at the Black Tie and Boots Ball for both of Bush’s inaugurations. Not everyone’s a fan but it was an amazing experience.
And it does lead places professionally. There are former Rangerettes that are lobbyists, doctors, lawyers, musicians, actresses, teachers, choreographers, nurses, entrepreneurs, designers, and so on. They are more than willing to lend a helping hand when they can. Of course there are many girls that want to be high school directors. Only understandable since its a passion. Being a Rangerette is a boost in that career path as well.
As for the restrictions and responsibilities, I think its a great environment that helps build leaders and self-starters. If you aren’t very self-disciplined when you make the team, you will be by the time you leave. I’m always 15 minutes early and prepared for rained. And for me I was awkward in high school. I was bullied by a ‘popular’ girl and I was wary of having girlfriends. Rettes helped pull me out of my shell. Was it uncomfortable at times? Yeah, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Swahili and a Pith Helmet won’t help. May I suggest East Texas slang and a Cowboy hat? Add in a touch of Valspeak and some glitter. It’d help if you liked something to yea it. As in yea Fresh! Yea Sophs! Yea Rettes!
ETA: And yea for a second page for my first thread!
What is Valspeak?
So like this is totally Valspeak!
Just for fun
In looking at the videos, it seems that most or all of the girls have long (and very well-primped) hair. Are their rules on how you’re supposed to wear your hair? Also, what about makeup. Do you have to wear makeup and bright red lipstick with your uniform? Are their hair/makeup rules when you’re out of uniform? Also, do you have to wear panty hose in uniform or are they bare-legged?
Also, if practice is every day from 1-5, how do the girls make all their classes? Or do they just have to make sure to schedule their classes before 1pm?
Hmmm. I thought of that, but I didn’t think it was used any more. Do you mean it’s used seriously or ironically? (Seriously?!? :D)
Ah. Rangerette curls. Hair is to be curly but not ringlets. It needs to stay. Freeze It Mega Freeze did a good job of holding during performances. Hair needs to at least touch your shoulders when curly and should stop above your belt. Makeup during performances was to be natural. Brown shades for eyeshadow, a touch of blush and then the lipstick was bright red.
Not in uniform no concrete rules, just look presentable. I wore moisturizer, concealer and powder most of the time. Have hair done. It doesn’t have to be straightened or curled. It can be in a neat ponytail. Don’t look like you just woke up or got out of the shower.
No panty hose. Red thong under red spankies and white ankle socks with the boots. We also wore something called pit pads underneath our uniforms to try to hide some of the sweat since it isn’t “ladylike” or something. :rolleyes:
Technically practice is 1-3 but it wouldn’t be wise to schedule a class at 4. All of my classes were in the mornings. I also took a few courses online.
Valspeak is still used. Or whatever you want to call peppy, teenager speak. Most girls are smart but there is a reason for the cheerleader stereotype. 
Sounds like you all have a lot of fun- it’s certainly not something that’s present at our universities (which are very different in environment and culture to the US ones).
When I said “lead somewhere professionally”, I meant in the sense of “Becoming a professional (respectable) dancer”, as in Broadway/Hollywood etc. I don’t think something like the Rangerettes could exist here because most people would likely view it as entirely too much work for entirely too little reward; ie unless it was guaranteed to get them a lucrative role in musical theatre or something then the rules and requirements would be off-putting for the most part.
Still, it’s really good you got so much out of it!
Riddle me this: Why does every single girl on the current Rangerette line have at least 3 names? Is it a requirement? Do you have 3 names?
Sounds kinda shady to me.