Top cheerleaders compete in Halifax

HALIFAX – The best tumbles, flips and stunts were on display Sunday at the Halifax Forum.

Hundreds of cheerleaders from across the country were in our region this weekend for one of the most talked about competitions of its kind: Cheer Expo.

“We call it cheerapaloza. It’s just amazing, I mean look at it, there’s all the vendors and the cheerleaders. This is our second time here and it’s just amazing,” said Heidi Braughton, a mother and coach to young cheerleaders.

This is the eleventh season for the Halifax show, which has seen some big changes over the past decade. In fact, the expo started with just 25 teams, now there are more than four times that many competing.

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“We have 122 teams registered to complete and about five to seven teams that are coming to take classes, then of course all the parents and the fans, so altogether there’s about 6,500 people here this weekend” said Laura Mar, CEO of Cheer Expo.

There are all age levels competing in the two-day event, from children as young as four, to university students. For those taking part, it’s a long road to get here.

“I’m just have fun,” said Cadence Braughton, who has been taking part in Cheer Expo for the past four years.

As to what goes into getting ready for Cheer Expo – “A lot of work, a lot of practice, a lot of sweat,” said Sarah Molenaar.

Besides dance moves, everyone here agrees a lot more is being taught on the stage at Cheer Expo, including building confidence among young people.

“You learn how to stunt and how to tumble and a lot of teamwork and working with a bunch of different people. It’s a lot of fun,” added Molenaar.

“Besides athleticism and sportsmanship, it gives you a sense of teamwork, working with a team and being a part of a team is a huge skill in life,” said Meaghan O’Leary.

For organizers, pulling off a show of this magnitude is a full-time job. With this year’s event winding down, the focus is already shifting to 2015.

“Next week I will start planning next year because it’s a lot of logistics, a lot of people moving, I need to get peopleto this place and get a staff member here, so it’s a lot of logistics to work out,” said Mar.