Join CHEER Fort Lauderdale for our 2025–2026 season, our biggest yet! We’ll be performing at local events, Pride celebrations, and for the first time ever, competing on the cheer floor. Our team blends cheerleading, dance, and community service to uplift South Florida’s LGBTQ+ community while building friendships, staying active, and giving back. If you’re ready to make an impact and shine under the sun, this is your Season to 5HINE.
Requirements
Parade Team - The Heart of Cheer FTL
At CHEER Fort Lauderdale, our performances bring sunshine and spirit to every event we attend. Whether you’re experienced in cheer, dance, stunting, or gymnastics, or just full of positive energy and a dazzling smile, there’s a place for you here. Our Parade Team is the foundation of what we do: we light up South Florida’s LGBTQ+ community through high-energy performances at Pride parades, festivals, fundraisers, and more.
All new teammates join the Parade Team first. You must be 17 or older, out of high school, and able to handle the high-energy movement that comes with cheering, dancing, lifting, and spreading joy. We practice every Thursday night in Oakland Park and we show up big when it’s time to perform.
Competition Team
This season, we’re flipping the script and hitting the competition floor for the very first time. Our brand-new Competition Team is an optional extension of the Parade Team, perfect for those who want to challenge themselves, push their skills, and help us represent CHEER Fort Lauderdale at local comps and international stages.
Think you’re interested? Amazing. After making the Parade Team, you’ll have the chance to audition for the Competition Team in a low-pressure, team-first setting. We’ll start with a couple of competitions this season to find our footing, and our routine will also take us to the 2026 Gay Games (Gay Olympics) in Valencia, Spain for an unforgettable global experience.
The Parade Team practices every Thursday, and Competition Team members will add one extra weekend practice per month. We pick the day as a team to avoid conflicts. We’ll compete under the same team name, CHEER Fort Lauderdale, and proudly rock the same uniforms while bringing the heat.
Production Team - The Backbone of Cheer FTL
Our team runs like a well-oiled machine because of our fantastic Production Team. These behind-the-scenes heroes handle logistics, network with other organizations, and secure the donations and sponsorships that keep us going. If you have strong communication skills and enjoy coordinating through email and online platforms, this could be the perfect role for you. All Production Volunteers need to be at least 18 years old.
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At CHEER Fort Lauderdale, we are passionate about making a difference in our community by participating in events and fundraising for charity all year round. We ask all Volunteer Team Members to commit to a minimum of one year to help us create a lasting impact.
Performing Volunteer Practices
Our Performing Volunteers meet every Thursday from 8 PM to 11 PM at Pride Cheerleading in Oakland Park, FL. Additional practices may be scheduled as needed.
Breaks From Practice/Meetings
We take short breaks from mandatory practices and meetings from mid-November through early January, and again in July to ensure everyone gets a well-deserved break.
Cheer Camp
All Performing Volunteers must attend Cheer Camp to learn collegiate-level cheerleading skills from licensed instructors. Cheer Camp typically takes place over a weekend between late August to early October.
Event Participation Requirements
Each season, we expect all volunteers to join in:
10 Mandatory events (pre-scheduled)
12-14 Elective events (you choose)
1 Weekend Practice (usually in April/May)
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CHEER Fort Lauderdale is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit, which means your volunteer costs can be tax-deductible—check with a tax professional to be sure!
First-Year CostsNew Performing volunteers need to buy our official Team Uniform and other essential "Cheer Wear" items, which total around $600. But don't worry—our uniform design only changes every four years, so this isn't an annual expense.
Participation Dues
Every season, all volunteers, both new and returning, pay a $150 participation fee.
Cheer Camp
Performing Volunteers also need to budget approximately $100 for Cheer Camp.
Additional Expenses
You'll need to cover any extra costs for food, travel, and lodging yourself.
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Performing Volunteers
We hold official tryouts every summer, but don’t worry—we offer Tryout Clinics beforehand. These workshops teach you the basics of cheerleading, including motions and elementary stunts, plus a short dance routine you'll perform during tryouts. Tryouts wrap up with a short interview to get to know you better.
Performing & Production Volunteers
Whether you’re looking to perform or help behind the scenes, every applicant gets our CHEER Fort Lauderdale Handbook, detailing all volunteer expectations. Missed the summer tryouts? No problem! We accept new volunteers throughout the year on a case-by-case basis. We also encourage interested individuals to observe one of our practices to get a feel for our team.
