Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

Ideas for standout performances and a roundup of dance songs for the sports festival

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”

At school sports festivals, it’s not just the competitions—cheer battles and their performances are also major highlights.

Every year, the creative dances and joke-filled routines put on by elementary, middle, and high school students across the country are a joy to watch, and their full-body expressions can even be moving.

That said, some of you might be wondering what kind of performance to tackle this year.

In this article, we’ve put together a variety of ideas, including recommended dance tracks for performances and cheering at sports festivals.

You can go classic with a traditional school-uniformed cheering squad, or dance to trending songs—choose a performance that every member of your team can enjoy!

Performance ideas and dance song picks that shine at the sports festival (11–20)

cheer dance

Fukui Commercial High School Cheerleading Team JETS Blue at the All Japan Cheer Dance Championship 2019 Finals

cheer dance

When people think of cheering, many probably picture cheer dance first.

It’s one of the familiar performance styles in Japan, and you often see it at events like Koshien these days.

However, many people think cheer dance involves lots of jumping and acrobatics and is difficult.

In fact, that’s a misconception.

The acrobatic routines most people imagine are cheerleading, which is also a competitive sport.

Cheer dance is simply a form of dance and doesn’t require special physical abilities.

That’s why it’s easy to take on even for school sports festivals.

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Bubble Dance

[TDC] Bubble Dance - Tomioka High School Dance Club

Bubble Dance

A dance that combines nostalgia and flash—the Bubble Dance.

The video “Bubble Dance,” released by the Dance Club of Tomioka High School in Osaka Prefecture, drew major attention.

While the dance evokes the vibe of the 1980s, it differs from the originals by incorporating quick, agile movements that bring out a new appeal.

If you’re performing a dance at a school sports festival, you’d likely play music from the 1980s.

Many parents are from that generation as well, so in that sense, it’s a dance well-suited for a sports festival.

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Flag dance

2016-10-09 34th Sports Festival, 2nd-year middle school dance: Shining Sun flag

Flag dancing is a staple performance at school sports festivals.

When many people perform together, it makes for a very impressive show.

All you need to prepare are matching flags.

The main moves involve spinning and waving the flags to the rhythm, so the choreography itself isn’t that difficult.

However, continuously waving the flag can get heavy and put a strain on you, so be sure to practice thoroughly to get used to it and don’t forget post-practice care! There are also instructional books and DVDs that explain the choreography in detail, so please use them as references when you try it for the first time.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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A performance using umbrellas

@akikusa.hs
Akikusa Gakuen High School Saitama Prefecture Girls' school Private high school Sports Festival group performance
♪ Original Song – [Official] Akikusa Gakuen High School – [Official] Akikusa Gakuen High School

Here’s an introduction to a performance piece that showcases a crisp, dynamic dance using umbrellas opened by the whole group.

Dancing with umbrellas mounted on sticks allows you to express height and add three-dimensional dynamism to the choreography.

Spinning the umbrellas also delights the audience visually.

If you plan to spin the umbrella with its tip on the ground, we recommend adding patterns to it beforehand.

With patterns, you can create a different visual effect when it spins like a top.

Using umbrellas that can open and close broadens your staging options and lets you present a wonderful performance in front of the audience.

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Running Man

2015 Sports Day Running Man

Running Man

The step that became famous through Sandaime J Soul Brothers’ hit song “R.Y.U.S.E.I.,” the Running Man, is a move that looks like you’re running in place.

In the late 2010s, short videos showcasing this dance were trending on social media.

While the Running Man alone doesn’t make a complete dance, it’s an easy step to transition from into other moves, so it’s a good idea to include it as part of elementary school dance activities.

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Love Dance

Tried Dancing the Koi Dance at the High School Sports Festival

Love Dance

The hugely popular drama “We Married as a Job” (original title: Nigero wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu) aired in 2016.

Starring artist Gen Hoshino and Yui Aragaki, it later became the catalyst for the two to become a married couple.

One major factor behind the drama’s success was the “Koi Dance.” With its cute and catchy choreography, it gained nationwide popularity.

When choosing dances to perform at school sports festivals, it’s important to consider that everyone should be able to dance them.

From that perspective, the Koi Dance can be considered an excellent choice.

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Ideas for Stunning Performances at Sports Festivals: Dance Song Compilation (21–30)

TorikoNissy

Dancing is so much fun! Sasebo Girls’ captivating “Toriko” performance 🔥 2025 Sports Festival [Sasebo Girls High School] #shorts

TorikoNissy

If you incorporate this song—with its pop, stylish sound and sweet, catchy melody—into your sports festival, it’s sure to bring sparkle and fun! The lyrics that portray the feeling of being in love and the upbeat, easy-to-groove tempo will lift the audience’s spirits and put smiles on their faces.

Pair it with cute choreography and costumes, and you’ll have an irresistibly charming performance that captivates everyone.

As everyone rides the rhythm and dances with joy, your class’s closeness and teamwork will come across naturally, too.

With this song overflowing with “I like you” vibes, let’s make your sports festival a wonderful, unforgettable day!

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