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Junior Spotlight
Rachel Reiss
 Rachel Reiss of Wrightsville, PA has been twirling since the age of 4. She took her first private lesson at the age of 6 and has never looked back. Her determination and love for baton twirling has led her to many national championship titles in Drum Majorettes of America (DMA) including 4 mini national titles and 3 national titles. At the age of 9, Rachel qualified for the elite category however she was ineligible to compete in this category until she turned 10 so, in the summer of 2005, she competed in the 9-10 advanced division and captured her first national title of Little Majorette Princess of America 2006.
Subscribe today - Read the entire article in the August/September 09 Issue!
The Misunderstanding
By Michelle Widener
 If she told her teachers she was a majorette, they would say, “Oh, we had one of those at my high school.” They would smile politely and sometimes comment on how they were best friends with the majorette, and took a few lessons from her. If she told her friends she was a majorette they would laugh at her, jeering about the funny boots and the awkward hat. They would comment on how being a majorette was not a cool thing to do. But neither group could comprehend the depth of her love for what they simply called an “activity.” She knew it was so much more. It was a sport, a masterpiece even, spun through the intricacies of movement, grace, and flow.
Subscribe today - Read the entire article in the August/September 09 Issue!
Dance/Twirl… Rhythmic Twirl… Strut…
Courtney Patterson
What do all of these twirling events have in common? Dance! Each event requires athletes to be great twirlers, but they also require elements that are directly related to dance. Technique, flexibility, rhythm, and musical interpretation are all elements that dance training will enhance any twirling event. It is obvious that dance training, at all levels, has become an essential part of the twirling world.
 In an October 2003 addition of Dance Spirit magazine, Joyce Perrone, was quoted saying, “A successful twirler has the flexibility of a gymnast, the accuracy of a quarterback, the jumping ability of a basketball champion, the grace and poise of a dancer, the precision of a golf pro and the skill of an ice skater.” In my opinion, this quote most accurately describes what a twirler is all about. The demands of our sport encompasses all of these professions, but the one that stands out to me the most is dance. Dance training stresses the importance of balance, body awareness, body control, and builds strength. It can also enhance any twirling routine by adding individual artistic expression and creativity. The dance vocabulary is infinite allowing endless possibilities for a unique performance.
Subscribe today - Read the entire article in the August/September 09 Issue!
The Price of a Dream
Monica Lee
 Eight years ago, I graduated from high school, attended my first WBTF World Championships, and was getting ready to start college. After a 7-year long competitive experience, my parents figured that I had finally had my fill of the sport, and that I was ready to move on with my life. More pressing, however, was the fact that their ability to sponsor my participation in the activity had finally reached its limit. My parents could no longer financially support my competitive ambitions in baton twirling, and told me that I had to stop. I should be satisfied, they told me—it’s a good ending to a good career.
Subscribe today - Read the entire article in the June/July 09 Issue!
Team Scene
New Alliance
 What happens when you bring eight of the top twirlers from around the country together and teach them the same routine? The dance twirl team New Alliance is born!
"I threw out the idea of putting a team together to some other coaches and they thought it was a great idea. We thought it would build camaraderie and also give the members a twirling family." said Missy Townsend head coach of New Alliance. "It would also allow them to have fun while twirling!"
The original team members included Brittany Brown Rogers, currently living in Mississippi, Jessica Mamula, University of Louisville, Courtney Cormier, University of Tennessee, Kirsten Brown, West Virginia University, Whitney Godwin, West Virginia University, Jessica Klein, Glen Oak High School in Ohio, Harlie Dale, Perry McClure High School in Virginia, and Torianne Graal, Jackson High School in Ohio. The 2009 team will expand to include Chelsea Russell, University of Iowa and Giselle Cardona, Johnson and Wales University.
Subscribe today - Read the entire article in the June/July 09 Issue!
Ashley Bell
V irginia Tech Feature Twirler
Hi! My name is Ashley Bell and I have been a feature twirler at Virginia Tech for the past four years. It has been one of the most remarkable experiences of my life.
The band, The Marching Virginians, practice every Monday through Friday during football season. On game days, we arrive at the practice field three hours before it is time to march into the stadium. We run through that day’s performance several times before it is time to line up for our entrance into the stadium. We march down the street in front of Lane Stadium past fans and alumni who are awaiting our arrival.
Subscribe today - Read the entire article in the June/July 09 Issue!
USA Baton Twirling All Stars
On Thanksgiving Day 2008, a lifetime dream came true for me and the rest of the 150 members of the USA Baton Twirling All Stars. Everyone who loves baton twirling, I am sure, felt pride and excitement as the group made its premier appearance as one of the outstanding performance groups in the 2008 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® in New York City. The group was under the direction of Karen Cammer and David Mindlin of the Baton Twirling Network, Inc.; Choreography by KeriAnn Lynch the former Orange Girl from Syracuse University and guided during the week by our own Tour Manager, Callene Derrick. Everything from the application process through check out at the hotel when our trip was over was well coordinated and personalized. This NYC tour was not going to be all hard work…….it was going to be an exquisite working vacation culminating with us being performers in the largest live show on Broadway, in front of the legendary Macy's Herald Square.
Subscribe today - Read the entire article in the April/May 09 Issue!
Judges Table
 Finesse. Did you know that this word is on the NBTA solo score sheet? It is defined as refinement of workmanship, adroit maneuvering or degree of excellence. Taking something that is difficult and making it look easy. Get out a score sheet, look under the caption Showmanship/Presentation and study the word finesse. It is very important!
The word finesse in relation to twirling has become a favorite topic of mine. In recent years too many athletes have been rewarded for tricks that look hard, while athletes have been overlooked and even penalized for making it look “too easy.” Maybe if the word finesse would be moved to the caption of difficulty this would not happen.
Finesse in twirling is when an athlete takes that contact material (lower than the head), adds more than one revolution (remember that word) and performs it with perfect flow of the baton (no breaks) then adds the most pleasant smile that lets you know they are immensely enjoying what they are doing. Baton twirling with good body work, pointed toes and stretched free hands requires more finesse. This is more difficult than throwing that baton as high as you can. We do not have baton aerial contests, we have baton TWIRLING contests.
Subscribe today - Read the entire article in the April/May 09 Issue!
Coaches Corner
 What joy! There is nothing more rewarding than looking into the eyes of your student as they widen with wonderment and understanding. The gift of knowledge is the very best present! Young children come to a teacher filled with doubts about themselves and about this new field of baton twirling that they are entering. But a good teacher can convey warmth and feeling to her students as she guides them from twirl to twirl. In the process, the children will develop not only technical skills, but poise and self-confidence. Most students will never become state or national champions, but each student can learn to the best of her ability.
Of course, you'll want to see all of your twirlers performing perfectly at every performance. But as a teacher, it is good to remember that some day they will all lay their batons down and stop twirling. And their life will go on. So the most important ingredients of twirling may not be the trophies a girl has won, but rather what the trophies represent -- an ability to set high goals and then work to achieve them, the confidence in knowing her own ability, the poise and personality enhanced through each performance and the friendships developed over the years. Teaching a child to become an outstanding person and an outstanding twirler go hand in hand.
Subscribe today - Read the entire article in the April/May 09 Issue!
Under The Lights on Friday Night with Rosie Bird
My twirling started when I was three years old. My aunt called to see if I could fill an empty spot in a dance twirl. Mom said “okay” and dad said “so long as it doesn’t take over my whole life.” From that day on, I was determined that I would one day be a feature twirler at my high school. Until I was thirteen, I rode one hour each way four days a week for lessons plus kept up with my school work. We moved closer when I turned thirteen. Now at sixteen years old, I am the third year feature twirler for the Glen Oak Eagles High School. Our band is amazing and we twirl at all the home and away games, pep-rallies, band show, and the famous pro Football Hall of Fame and Festival. It is amazing to stand in front of crowds of more than 5,000 fans knowing that they are all watching you and cheering you on. Some of their favorite tricks are double walkovers and double illusions. I think that they like to see just how high you throw the baton up. Rolls also seem to impress the crowd. The most memorable Friday night game this year was ........
Subscribe today - Read the entire article in the February/March 09 Issue!
Judges Table - Grace by Dr. Tammie Pinkston
I recently returned from a work trip to China. When friends and colleagues ask how my trip had been, I reply that China was good for my soul. I have spent some time thinking about why I would have these feelings and it boils down to the grace of the people that I encountered. The young men and women whom I consulted with actually thanked me for spending time with them, critiquing, reviewing and evaluating their work as it enabled them to learn and improve.
This resulted in my thinking about twirling – both my judging role that expects me to provide constructive feedback and the role of the competitor and his/her grace in taking that feedback and learning from it. Grace implies class, refinement and dignity. Phrases such as “grace under fire” or “saving grace” indicate that grace allows one to rise above the fray or pressure. I’d like to see more grace in baton twirling.
Subscribe today - Read the entire article in the February/March 09 Issue!
Johnathan Burkin Reflects on His Experience on America's Got Talent
 I started twirling at the age of 4 with my first competition at age 6. I won my first trophy that competition in Special Beginner Solo ages 4-6. Little did I know that this was the sport I was going to grow up to love. Baton twirling has always been my passion, and I have devoted my life to it.
Appearing on America’s Got Talent has been a life changing experience, and I want to thank everyone for supporting me along the way. Twirling in competition really helped my performances in how I know how crucial it was that I try my best to be perfect every time I took the stage. A drop on stage would not go over well with the judges, or the viewers at home. Every time the judges said I never dropped, and that I was flawless would get me so nervous. Sometimes I didn’t know how to deal with that pressure.
Subscribe today - Read the entire article in the December/January 09 Issue!
University of Connecticut Feature Twirler Alyssa Kane
 The Pride of Connecticut Husky Marching Band boasts a number of multi-generational band families, including that of feature twirler Alyssa Kane. A junior communications major minoring in English and business, Kane takes to the field wearing silver. She dazzles the crowd with beautiful dance choreography, high toss aerials, multiple baton spinning, and spectacular fire baton juggling.
Baton twirling has always been a passion for Alyssa, and becoming a member of the 300- member strong University of Connecticut Marching Band has been the ultimate experience of her twirling career. After a life-time of hearing stories about the camaraderie and exhilaration of marching with the UCMB from her mother, former UConn feature twirler Elaine Gangi Kane, Alyssa enrolled in her mother’s alma mater and continues in the tradition of “talent, unity and pride.”
Subscribe today - Read the entire article in the December/January 09 Issue!
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