Rutgers-Newark Cheer Team Builds Spirit with 'Stomp and Shake' Style and Sisterhood

Rutgers-Newark cheerleaders are the face of Scarlet Raider spirit at basketball games and other events. But they’re also one of the few college cheer teams in North Jersey representing “stomp and shake,’’ a cheer style known for its rhythm, animation and power.

“It’s more movement, not the traditional cheer type of thing. It’s high energy,’’ said coach Asha James, who helped popularize stomp and shake as a new coach at RU-N. She arrived two years ago from Bloomfield College, where she coached with her sister, Yasmine Johnson.  Prior to James’ leadership, RU-N’s cheer team wasn’t heavily influenced by the style.

Homecoming visitors can see it in action when they perform on the Main Stage tomorrow as part of the day’s events. Learn more here. 

Originating in Black communities in the 1970s, stomp and shake has been a staple at HBCUs but in recent years has become more widespread. Routines draw upon dance and choreography rather than throws, pyramid formations, and gymnastics.

RU-N cheerleaders pride themselves on their ability to project their individual personalities during routines while moving as a tightly synchronized group. Their deep bond shows in their performance, they say.

“They can bounce energy off each other,” said James, who guides the team along with manager Jade Fabiyi. “Their level of togetherness sets them apart from other teams.”

“It’s a sisterhood,’’ said Siera Wakefield, a Criminal Justice major from Union. “We hang out all the time outside of practice. We’re all equally close.”

“We know each other’s next move without even having to discuss it,” added Kevana Dupree, a third-year Finance major from Brooklyn. 

The 12-member squad trains three times a week, balancing choreography and creative sessions, where they workshop routines together. During one recent practice to “I Bet U Won’t” by Mouse and Level, they took turns performing solo–which helps them interact with an audience–while team mates cheered them on, offering feedback like, “That was crisp!”

Performances combine athletic precision with personal expression.  Each cheerleader conveys her own style through “facials”—smiles, winks, hair tosses, and other gestures.

“If you just smile all the time, you’ll look creepy,’’ explained Keyaura Mendes, a Marketing major from Newark.

“You don’t want to look like everyone else,” Dupree said.

In the past two years, the squad has increased its visibility. “We’re brought some extra life to this campus,’’ said Wakefield.

They’re gaining attention off campus, too. In the spring, they were invited to appear on Fox & Friends, where they taught hosts to do moves such as the “toe touch” and “candlestick arms.”

“They perform for almost anyone who asks. They work hard,’’’ said James, who looks for certain qualities during tryouts. 

“Voice, rhythm, grit, tenacity, the ability to try and not give up, and just an amazingly positive attitude,” she said. “With cheer, you’re supposed to provide spirit. You have to have a certain level of happiness, fun, and excitement.”

For team members, cheerleading is a creative outlet and foundation for personal growth.

“Dance has been a part of my life. I had to find some way to bring that back again,’’ said Mendes.

The squad is also a support system.

“This is their safe space,” James said. “They go through a lot and they come here to be in each other’s presence and have a good time. Sitting in their rooms, deaths in the family, depression—cheer was a safe space for me when I was younger, and that’s why some of them do this.”

But when it’s time to perform, the squad radiates enthusiasm. And the crowd responds.

“Spreading joy—as a cheerleader, that’s our job,’’ said Dupree.