🌎 World Baton Twirling Day is April 10
World Baton Twirling Day is April 10, 2024. Click here to learn more about it from the International Baton Twirling Federation. Click here to view the official World Baton Twirling Day routine. Click here to to review a sample of a World Baton Twirling Day proclamation from a state governor.
Vintage Baton Twirling Week Proclamation from Maine’s Governor Joseph E. Brennan, 1984
🥇 U.S. Twirling Association holds U.S. Trials at Garrett Gym
🍀 Omaha dance team headed to Ireland for St. Patrick's Day Parade
Springsteen Biopic
A biopic of Bruce Springsteen’s 1982 album, Nebraska, is in the works. The title song was based on the 1973 movie Badlands, which famously featured a baton twirler. The role of Holly Sargis was played by Sissy Spacek who was a baton twirler in real life for Quitman High School, Texas. The film is loosely based on a 1958 killing spree that began in Lincoln, Nebraska. Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate, 19 and 14, at the time, were convicted of first-degree murder.
Numerous reviews of Badlands mention baton twirling. It was a key building block in the character development of Sargis who was potrayed as an innocent girl living a shackled existence. As Kim Morgan wrote for Beverly Cinema, “a girl simply twirling her baton in those white shorts on the lawn. And then this boy comes along, changing her fate forever.”
Fugate denied killing anyone, and was eventually paroled but never pardoned. We could not find any evidence that she ever twirled baton.
💎 Cool Finds
Vintage Push Needle Art Majorette (LINK)
1970s NBTA T-shirt (LINK)
Meet Marawa and The Majorettes, a traveling hula hoop team. (LINK) Visit their website at majorettes.online. or follow them on Instagram at @amazihoops.
📰 Local Coverage of Twirlers, Twirling
❤️ Becoming a Silver Twin baton twirler at Purdue comes full Circle (LINK)
❤️ Junior Kimika Shimazaki reflects on her journey in baton twirling (LINK)
❤️ Majorettes at Skyport Magic Mile (LINK)
❤️ Kilgore native named College Miss Majorette of Louisiana (LINK)
❤️ High Desert Dazzlers eager to perform (LINK)
👑 College Twirler Crowned Miss Bel Air Independence Day 2024 (LINK)
❤️ Rabie Ridge baton twirler leader set sights high on her future goals (LINK)
Do you submit news releases about your twirlers’ accomplishments? Click here to see a sample news release and other free PR tools.
🗞️ Obituaries
From Carole’s Obituary
In her younger years, CJ was best known for her baton twirling and showmanship. She won many twirling competitions before graduating high school, and taught lessons for years afterwards. Her children, and neighborhood children, enjoyed watching her twirl in the street with her students.
From Hettye Sue’s Obituary
Hettye Sue was always an excellent student and musician. In high school, she played clarinet in swing bands and was a majorette. Her striking beauty, grace and killer legs led her to become Miss Paragould and to compete for the Miss Arkansas crown, where she finished runner up. Later, Hettye Sue attended Arkansas State University where she was in the marching band and twirled fire as a majorette.