Intensity Cheer and Dance take on the world

Founded in 2013, Intensity Cheer and Dance was created as a welcoming space where children and adults could come together to develop their skills in cheerleading and dance. What began as a small venture quickly grew, fuelled by a shared dream—to one day compete at the World Championships.

Today, Intensity is thriving. Based in our very own facility on the Waleswood Industrial Estate in Rotherham, we are proud to be home to over 320 local athletes of all ages. In recent years, our teams have gone from strength to strength, and in 2025, we achieved a major milestone: securing a bid to the World Cheerleading and Dance Championships in Orlando, Florida.

This opportunity represented over a decade of hard work, perseverance, and resilience—especially for those athletes who have been training with us since the early days. We took a team of around 45 athletes, aged 14 to 34, from diverse backgrounds. For many, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

While the competition required athletes to fund their own travel and accommodation, we actively sought sponsorship to cover training and entry fees, which alone cost between £500–£550 per person. The financial burden was especially challenging for some families still recovering from the effects of the pandemic.

The competition took place from 25–28 April, and we are incredibly proud to share that Intensity placed 5th among the UK teams and ranked 17th in the world—a phenomenal achievement and a testament to the dedication of our athletes and coaches.