Athletes from Dance Mania All Stars area will comprise the US National Junior Team Cheer Freestyle Pom Team

Bartlett, Tenn., January 25, 2019 – USA Cheer has announced the coaching staff and region that will represent the United States in the Junior Team Cheer Freestyle Pom division at the 2019 International Cheer Union (ICU) World Cheerleading Championships, which takes place April 24 – 26, 2019 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World® Resorts.

The Dance Mania All Stars of Melbourne, Florida, have been chosen to compete in the Junior Team Cheer Freestyle Pom division. Dana Parsons, the owner, creative director and head instructor of Dance Mania, will be the head coach. With an extensive background in choreography, Parsons’ program has earned more than 500 championship titles, including from bid events like The Summit and the USASF Cheerleading Worlds, as well as an undefeated 2017 competitive season. Parsons will work with Andrea Chapman and Gracie Fontaine, additional coaches with the Dance Mania All Stars program.

We are extremely excited to have Dance Mania as the first team to compete in the US National Junior Team Cheer Freestyle Pom division. This program is among the best in the nation in pom and their track record shows it,” says Stacy Shelton, Director of Dance for USA Cheer. “Dana has a true passion for this sport and for her athletes. I’m positive they will represent the United States with grace, strength, and pride, and have no doubt they will set the standard for the US National Junior Team Cheer Freestyle Pom divisions to come.”

“Being selected as the first US National Junior Team Cheer Freestyle Pom team is truly remarkable. We are so blessed to have this honor and privilege to represent USA Cheer and our country,” says Parsons. “We are eager to push our dancers to their maximum capacity and compete on the ICU stage alongside other outstanding teams.  We have selected this team made up of athletes that are strong, both mentally and physically, and extremely talented. We are so excited to be a part of this once in a lifetime experience and are so grateful for the opportunity.”

The US National Junior Team Cheer Freestyle Pom team will be comprised of athletes from the Brevard County School District area, which may include the following schools and club programs as well as others:

Dance Mania Academy
Holy Trinity Episcopal School
Ascension Catholic School
West Shore Junior / Senior High School
Rockledge High School
Viera Charter School
Central Middle School
Melbourne High School

In addition to Dana Parsons coaching the US National Junior Pom Team, she will be joined by Stacy Shelton, Director of  Dance for USA Cheer. Stacy has an extensive choreography background and experience working with both the Junior and Premier US National Pom, Hip Hop and Jazz Teams.

For more information, visit www.usacheer.org, or email Sheila Noone, media@usacheer.org.

About USA Cheer
The USA Federation for Sport Cheering is a not-for-profit organization and is the national governing body for all disciplines of cheerleading. USA Cheer exists to serve the entire cheer community, including club cheering (All Star), traditional school based cheer programs and the new sport of STUNT. USA Cheer has three primary objectives: help grow and develop interest and participation in Cheer throughout the United States; promote safety and safety education for cheer in the United States; and represent the United States of America in international cheer competitions.