Baton Twirling is composed of numerous athletic skills all rolled into one activity. Baton has evolved from something that was primarily seen in parades or on football fields into a sport that encompasses the stamina level of a long distance runner, the hand-eye coordination of a baseball player or golfer, the grace of a ballet dancer, the flexibility and tumbling skills of a gymnast, and the determination and dedication necessary to be successful in any sport!
Often baton twirling is equated with rhythmic gymnastics. Although these two sports share a great deal of similarity, there are specific moves that baton twirlers perform which make us distinct from rhythmic gymnastics. These moves are referred to as "rolls", where the baton is solely controlled by your body and not your hands.
The sport is popular in many countries including Japan, Australia, Canada, United States, Brazil, South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Spain, Holland, Italy, Germany, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and the Seychelles. Many of these countries compete at the WBTF World Championships, held in August every year. Many also compete in the NBTA World Championships, held every 3 years in April.
Individual Twirling routines include: Solo, Fancy Best Appearing, Military Best Appearing, Fancy Strut, Military Strut, Basic Box Military Box, Dress modeling, Show routines, Multiple baton solo (two, three) and more.
The USTA World Championships have the following events:
Freestyle
Senior Women & Men, Junior Women and Men
A solo event accompanied by a compulsory/short program event
Pair
Senior & Junior
Made up of men and/or women
Team
6+ members
Men and women can compete together
The International Cup Championships have the following events:
Event
Description
Levels
Age Divisions
Solo 1
one baton solo routine to set music
A and B
Junior, Senior and Adult
Solo 2
second baton solo routine to set music
A and B
Junior, Senior and Adult
Solo 3
third baton solo routine to set music
A and B
Junior, Senior and Adult
Team
6-8 Members
A and B
Group
9+ Members
A and B
Current World Champions (World Baton Twirling Federation)
Senior Women: Chiho Honjo
Senior Men: Toshimichi Sasaki
Junior Men: Keisuke Komada
Junior Women: Tomoe Nisigaki
Team: France
Senior Pair: Japan
Junior Pair: Japan
Current NBTA World Champions
Senior Women
Solo- Karrissa Wimberley
Strut- Bobbie-jo Solomon
Freestyle- Danielle VanScoyk
Two Baton- Karrissa Wimberley
Junior Women
Solo- Danielle Cobb
Strut- Danielle Cobb
Freestyle- Danielle Cobb
Two Baton- Chelsea Russell
Pre-Teen
Solo- Kristin Scali (USA)
Strut- Melissa Cox (USA)
Freestyle- Kristen Scali (USA)
Two Baton-Kristin Scail (USA)
Juvenille
Solo- Savannah Miller (USA)
Strut-Alexa Wisener (USA)
Freestyle- Rebecca Lantz (USA)
Two Baton- Savannah Miller (USA)
Junior Boys
Solo- Matt Freeman (USA)
Freestyle- Tihomir Bendelja (HR)
Two Baton- Kevin Vaitilingom (FRA)
Senior Men
Solo- Gerben Helden van (NED)
Freestyle- Cyril Martin (FRA)
Two Baton- Donovan Sarr (USA)
Famous Champions/Podium Finishers
Annetta Lucero (USA), Stacey Singer (CAN) (Seven Time World Champion: 1985, 1988-1993), Seishi Inagaki (JPN), Mark Nash (USA), Leah Holliday (CAN), Chiharu Tachibana (JPN), Karrissa Wimberley (USA), Jason Lee (USA), Bridgette Bartley (USA), Melissa Marcus (USA)Jennifer Marcus (USA), Hollie Neilson (CAN), Echosaisis Clark (USA), Noriko Takahashi (JPN), Chiara Stefanazzi (ITA),Marci Papadopoulos (USA), Bertrand Royer (FRA),Alysha Depp (USA), Akemi Kimura (JPN), Kellie Donovan (USA), Jenny Hannah (USA), Shuichi Kawazu (JPN), Danielle Cobb (USA), Michelle Smith (CAN), Jenna Jemieff (CAN), Danielle VanScoyk (USA), Bobbie-jo Solomon (USA), Sean Wimberley (USA)Dale White (USA), Cathy Fujimi (USA)
Other Notables: Cindy Goldie (CAN), Elisa Johnson (USA), David Doyne (IRE), Kathy Hewitt (ENG), Jennifer Spooner (AUS), Ilona Van Hogeloon (HOL), Casey Berry (CAN), Angel Escuin (SPN), Chelsea Bissonette (CAN), Xavier Papin (FRA), Brenda Bennett (CAN), Stephanie Hart (CAN)
