Dance Twirl Teams

Four or more people constitute a dance twirl team. Dance twirl teams may choose their own music. Routines are between two and four minutes long and needn't be complicated - neither the dancing nor the twirling - as a solo routine.

This makes dance twirl excellent for beginners. It gives beginners a chance to experience group twirling and gives them practice with those tricks they've already learned. Furthermore, it gives them an opportunity to compete before they may be ready with a solo routine.

Aim for a good balance of baton and dance movements. Remember, the music is very important in dance twirl. Every step must enhance and accent the music. Batonwork, footwork, and music must be coordinated.

From "The Complete Book of Baton Twirling",
by Fred W. Miller and Gloria Smith with Perri Ardman,
Doubleday &;Company, Inc., 1980 (out of print).

Concept Summary: A Dance Twirl Team is a group whose routine is a blending of dance steps or series in combination with the baton, and this is coordinated with the music. It must take into consideration the following:

The floor designs using the rhythm and musical phrases
Interpretation of music with simultaneous blending of baton and body
Staging of team members
Exchanges incorporated with dance steps and to accent the music
Continuity where the dance twirl element should be continuous
Change of pace, in accordance with musical changes
Unison and uniformity
Technique of the entire group

Philosophy Statement: The intent of this event is to provide an avenue for teams to compete where the major focus is on dance composition with the baton. It is designed to display the dance skills of a group combined with the baton work. The benefits of participating in this event is to improve the entire unit's dance and twirling skills, to develop a group identity rather than placing the emphasis on the individual, and to encourage good sportsmanship.

Teams will only use one standard baton per team member. Additional batons will be considered props and will result in disqualification. The use of hoop, ribbon, whips, pom pons, flags, lighted batons, banners, costuming which is removed and/or manipulated by the hand, or any other prop will cause disqualification. Teams will use their own recorded music.

Time Limit: 2-4 minutes (plus 10 second leeway).
Categories: Small (4-8 members) and Large (9 or more members).
Age Groups: Tiny Tot (all members age 6 or under), Primary (average age of 8 or less), Juvenile (9-11), Junior (12-14), Senior (15 or over).
Floor boundary: 50' x 94'.

From the USTA Information, Procedures, and Rules, Tenth Revision"

A Dance Twirl Team has four or more members whose performance is accompanied by recorded or taped music of their preference. The performances and the teacher should be creative in choreography as well as costume.

The routine will be a musical interpretation through movement with expression and baton, including an introduction, dynamic effects, a conclusion, and possibly a theme. It is essential that a Dance Twirl routine have its dance steps coordinated with the music. It will incorporate beauty of leg work, foot work, and body work with the baton. It must have combinations of baton and dance material. It will use space properly, the floor pattern will be a design. All forms of dance may be used - ballet, jazz, Irish, flamenco, country, disco, Charleston, etc. - gymnastics may not be used.

The primary goal in Dance Twirl is a routine with 2-3 minutes of continuous dance while twirling with dance steps and twirling have the same degree of difficulty.

No scenery or backdrops allowed. No props allowed.

Time Limit: 2-3 minutes.
Size of Teams: Small (4-8 members) and Large (9 or more members).
Divisions: Tiny Tot (average age 0-7.9), Juvenile (8-10.9), Junior (11-13.9), Senior (14-24.9).
Floor boundary: 50' x 84'.

From the NBTA International 1995 Rules Handbook"

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