2015 WSSU Cheerleaders Rams Lets Turn Up
[Winston-Salem State University, North Carolina]
****Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision - May 17, 2026
This pancocojams post presents definitions and YouTube video examples of stomp & shake cheerleaders' signature motions called "upstomp" (also known as "high steps".
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and recreational purposes.All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who are featured in these embedded YouTube videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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This 2026 pancocojams post is a repeat of this subject that has been showcased in previous pancocojams posts.
Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/06/stomp-and-shake-cheerleading-double.html for a 2023 pancocojams post entitled "Stomp And Shake Cheerleading Motions: "High Step" And "Double Shakes" (Descriptions & Video Examples)".
In addition, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/05/pre-2013-videos-of-stomp-shake.html for the pancocojams post entitled "Pre 2013 Videos Of Stomp & Shake Cheerleaders Not Performing Upstomps Or Performing Precursors/Early Forms of Upstomps"
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DEFINITIONS FOR STOMP & SHAKE CHEERLEADING'S SIGNATURE MOTION THAT IS KNOWN AS "UPSTOMPS" (also known as "HIGH STEPS")Note: "upstomps" is an older term for what may now be referred to as "high steps"
Definition entry #1
"An upstomp is when you drive your right foot in the ground and you lift your left leg up in a 90 degree angle. You want to make sure that you're pointing your toes. That's very imperative when you upstomp 'cause if you don't it's not gonna look good. So you wanna make sure that you drive your right leg into the ground and then you're snapping your left leg up to a 90 degree angle with your toe pointed. You wanna see what it looks like? We'll show you.right now".... from UFIT UNIVERSERTY video on Facebook about upstomps https://www.facebook.com/UFITCHEERANDDANCEINC/videos/what-is-an-upstomp/2480945182208611/, October 27, 2020
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Definition entry #2
… "With the upstomp, leg placement (the leg coming up) should be close to a 90 degree as possible with the upstomp foot POINTING downwards and beside the opposite knee as if you are in a (lib)"....Former Winston Salem State University cheerleader CheerPhi93 (from his 2022 comment in the discussion thread for the YouTube video entitled "Southern University "Code Blue" Stomp & Shake Cheer Team" | 2020, Marvin Price, March 7, 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu5VNhE493U
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I don't understand what "in a (lib)" means in that comment.
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Here's a comment I received from a former Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) cheerleader whose screen name was (or still is) @upstompjunkie::
" Jigga-pop" or some call a "double shake" is a little hard to put into words. It's where you throw your hip over so hard it "whips back". It's very difficult to catch on to if not taught properly.... - email from upstompjunkie* to Azizi Powel, 2011/2012
*upstompjunkie" is the name of a male who is a former Winston Salem State University (WSSU) stomp and shake cheerleader. I "met" upstompjunkie when he posted comments to this article that I wrote in 2011: https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/07/21/race-and-the-changing-shape-of-cheerleading/ Race And The Changing Shape Of Cheerleading, July 21, 2011
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STOMP & SHAKE (STANDING UP) CHEERLEADING ROUTINES THAT DON'T INCLUDE UPSTOMPS
"Upstomps'" ("high steps") are an integral, signature motion of standing up* contemporary stomp & shake cheerleaders. (*as opposed to stomp & shake cheers that are performed while all or most of the cheerleaders are seated in gym bleachers).
Indeed, upstomps (high steps) are such an integral feature of stomp & shake routines now in all levels of those cheers (middle school or younger, high school, and university) that it might be argued that contemporary standing up cheer routine that doesn't include those motions aren't really "stomp & shake cheerleading.
However, I have come across some YouTube videos before 2013 of stomp & shake cheerleaders that aren't performing upstomps ("high steps") in their standing cheer routines. That leads me to wonder when upstomps were first created and which cheerleading team/s) were the first to perform upstomps.
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ADDITIONAL YOUTUBE STOMP & SHAKE CHEERLEADING VIDEOS WITH A FOCUS ON THE CHEERLEADERS PERFORMING "UPSTOMPS" ("HIGH STEPS")
These examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
Notice that there are different ways that upstomps can be performed. For instance, some cheerleader teams flick their foot out before bending their knee with their toes pointing down. Also, the ways that a cheerleader team performs upstomps could have changed over time. However, every member of the cheerleader team performs their upstomp motion the same way in a specific routine.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/06/examples-of-stomp-shake-cheerleading.html for Part I of a three part pancocojams series entitled that list the titles and provides words for some stomp & shake cheers. The links to the other parts of that series are given in each post.
Those posts may have the words to the cheers that are featured in this post, or the words to similar cheers may be found in those posts.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2- HBCU CHEERLEADERS ARE BOMB! VIRGINIA STATE CHEERLEADERS PUT
ON A SHOW FOR THE FANS!
Stomp ‘N Shake Entertainment, Sep 17, 2023
The Trojans from Virginia State University came to Raleigh
NC, to take on the Falcons of Saint Augustine’s University. VSU and SAU both
have two very entertaining Stomp ’N Shake programs! These teams cheered a hard four quarters and
had to crowd hype the entire time! Check them out!
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - West Charlotte Cheerleaders
All Things Angelica, Feb 11, 2011 (Charlotte, North Carolina)
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SHOWCASE #4- I Bet You Won't Get Buck
Cheer Leads Elite, Apr 2, 2022 #cheerleading #stompandshake #cheer
#stompnshake #cheer #cheerleading #cle #stompandshake #basketball
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 - You Don't Want No Problems, You Just Talk Like You Do!
***Full vid***
Courtney Rená, Apr 15, 2023 #stompandshake #cheer #blackexcellence
The full video of the high school stomp and shake cheer battle at a high school game. Absolutely love these young ladies 💯❤️
#stompandshake
#cheerbattles
