A Macclesfield dance school is looking to expand its cheerleading empire.

With the 2024/25 season coming to a close, Sylk Dance Academy are hosting tryouts to find new members for their competitive cheer teams.

Opportunities are available for youngsters aged four to 22, with Sylk also offering recreational classes for those new to the world of Allstar Cheer.

Head coach and Sylk Dance founder Amy Mayers said: "At Sylk it has always been important to me to provide children with opportunities.

"Competitive cheer can be expensive, but we work hard to make it affordable for all students to take part.

"Although there are lots of skills involved in cheer, we don't expect every member to have everything perfected to be part of a team.

"After all, it's our job to teach these skills and get the athletes up to a certain level.

"For me personally, a hardworking child with lots of enthusiasm is all we ask for."

Sylk Dance Academy launched their first team in 2019 (Credit: Sylk Dance Academy)

Amy, 38, has been teaching cheer since she was just 16-years-old, when she started to lead lunchtime sessions at her school, Fallibroome Academy.

She competed for several years for United Allstars Manchester while continuing to teach recreational cheerleading alongside her dance classes at Sylk. 

In 2019, her current members decided they wanted to start competing and this is when Sylk's first team, Infinity, was formed.

Infinity competed successfully for several years before new teams were introduced, who represent Macclesfield at national competitions. 

At their dedicated and fully equipped studio space on Brook Street, Macclesfield, Sylk coaches work with the cheer students on a weekly basis to prepare for performances and competitions.

Sylk compete in national competitions (Credit: Sylk Dance Academy)

So what is Allstar Cheerleading? 

AllStar cheer is not what you see in most films where people are shaking pom poms at a sporting event and chanting for their team. 

The main difference between 'sideline' cheer and AllStar cheer is that in sideline cheer team's primary purpose is to support a local sports teams and keep the crowd excited and engaged.

There is also pom dance where members don't perform any stunts, they just dance with poms.

An All Star team performs purely for the challenge, thrill and competition of the sport. Allstar cheerleaders are called athletes, as that is truly what they are! Team members perform stunts (lifts), tosses, tumbling skills, dance and jumps and compete against other teams all over the country and world! 

Tryouts take place this weekend (Credit: Sylk Dance Academy)

The tryouts take place this Saturday (July 12).

To find out more, visit the Sylk Dance Academy website - www.sylkdanceacademy.com.

_____________________________________________________________________

Sylk Dance Academy is a proud sponsor of Macclesfield Nub News.

Support from local organisations such as them helps us keep our local news free and easy-to-read.

If you own a local business and would like to sponsor us, get in touch at [email protected].