TWYRL TYPE HIGHLIGHTS
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Welcome to the TWYRL TYPE
HIGHLIGHTS page!
On this page, we will highlight selected articles from recent issues for enjoyment by all.
ARCHIVES: There are some articles featured in Twyrl Type that are so popular we receive numerous requests to repeat the information. To access these archived articles, click HERE |
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JULY 2008 |
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TU INTERNATIONALS IS THIS MONTH The Twirling Unlimited International competition will once again take place at the fabulous Canton Memorial Civic Center arena and yes, it’s air-conditioned! The huge arena is an impressive venue with comfortable theater-style seating for the spectators. The Show Routine portion of the Miss TU pageant will take place in this fabulous arena on Friday, with loads of height and space for spectacular routines. The one-at-a-time performances add to the impressiveness and pageantry. The pizza party in the McKinley Room on Friday night means fun time, and the free raffle drawings add to the festivities. Our reigning queens present medallions to this year’s Miss TU pageant participants, and all twirlers can mingle and make new friends. The modeling competition takes place on Friday night after the pizza party—and remember, the interview counts for HALF of the modeling score for the Miss TU Majorette pageant participants. Developing those interview skills returns a lifetime of benefits! The arena is full of contestants for all of the individual events on Saturday—with the International Solo twirl-off highlighting the middle of the day. The evening show on Saturday night tops off the individual competition. Groups compete on Sunday for medallions, trophies and cash awards, and corps will vie for the huge traveling trophies! New this year! “Level 1 Teams” are offered in the McKinley room for those teams in the developmental stages. This is not an International event (no “titles” and no medallions involved), but it allows less experienced teams to participate with other teams of similar ability. Participation is restricted not by the number of wins, but by the types of twirls allowed (see the International brochure for full details). The entry deadline was June 24. We do accept late entries for all events, but any entries sent after the deadline are subject to a late charge, with an additional fee if you choose to wait until the day of the contest to enter. We hope you’ve already sent your entry in! See you in Canton July 11 - 12 - 13!
CHEERLEADING COMPETITIONS About five years ago Twirling Unlimited began including Cheerleading—solo and groups—in our competitions. It seemed a natural action since our program is devoted to youth activities. However, as the program developed, it became apparent that we were not going to be able to offer the competitions as we had hoped. The tremendous growth in the baton and dance groups which were already a part of our program meant that there was no room in the time schedule to include cheerleading if it expanded. Therefore, the decision was made to gradually eliminate these events. Our goal has been to provide a pleasant, friendly situation for children to have the experience of performing and the many benefits that accrue from that experience. With the dancing we have also had the additional goal of providing this experience at a reasonable cost, since many dance competitions are extremely expensive and very structured. This has been very successful and the positive comments we receive have been most gratifying. However, here also, we want to make arrangements that would enable us to provide these experiences within the time frame allotted. Therefore, we do not offer dance competition at all our contests—only when we are able to make available a second facility to handle this, will we offer dance events. We apologize to those teachers and students who were interested in expanding the cheerleading, but recognizing limitations is one of the factors of success. Our contests are quite simply too large to make this a viable option. It is also for this reason that we have had to eliminate some of the dance events and we apologize to anyone affected by this. Twirling Unlimited Board of Directors
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JUNE 2008 |
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TU INTERNATIONALS IS COMING SOON! It’s hard to believe we are already into summer months and the TU International competition on July 11, 12 and 13 is just around the corner! We have received many inquiries from twirlers who have never attended before, and we are looking forward to welcoming them to Canton. Also, many people have expressed interest in the new Level 1 Team event, as well as the International Team and Corps events. We’re looking forward to a great year! With gas prices on everyone’s mind, it makes sense to combine your trip to Canton with a family vacation. There are SO many things to see and do in the Canton, Ohio area, you can stay an extra day and choose just a few—or keep your family entertained for a week! High on the list for sports fans is the Pro Football Hall of Fame—right in Canton! The First Ladies Historical Site and the William McKinley Presidential Museum will appeal to history buffs. Shopping enthusiasts will enjoy the Hartville Flea Market and the nearby Amish Country, as well as the huge modern shopping mall nearby. And who wouldn’t be interested in stopping at the Harry London Chocolate Factory for a tasty tour! If you have an extra day, you can stop in Cleveland for a visit to the famous Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame, or visit Wildwater Kingdom in Aurora, OH—both of them just a short drive from Canton. If you come just for the contest—or stay to have fun—we know you’ll enjoy the Canton area!
SAVINGS BOND REPORT For many years Twirling Unlimited has offered a Savings Bond Program as an option for twirlers to “trade in” their trophies toward credit for savings bonds (advanced events) or toward credit for twirling camp (Beg. and Int. events). For those who have witnessed the accumulation of trophies collecting dust in their houses, this is an attractive choice! This option is available to any twirler participating in TU competitions (including the Regionals and Internationals) and TU keeps track of all of the records. Trading in a 1st place trophy earns $3, 2nd place earns $2.50, and 3rd place earns $2. When $25 has been earned in advanced events, a savings bond is automatically purchased in the twirler’s name. TU also keeps a running total for each twirler of trophies turned in for camp credit, which may be applied to TU camp tuition at any time the twirler requests it. There are over 200 names listed in our database for trophy turn-in and of these, 111 twirlers (52.8%) have been active in accumulating fund for either bonds or camp this year! Of these 111 participants, 58 are have earned monies for bonds only, 18 have earned funds for camp only, and the other 35 have earned money for both bonds and camp.
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MAY 2008 |
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ELIGIBILITY FOR TU INTERNATIONALS Twirling Unlimited is pleased to announce a new addition to our group events: Level 1 Teams. Based on the twirling levels designated for solo twirling, Level 1 teams is designed for those teams with twirlers at the first stage of development. Any team entering the Level 1 category is restricted in performance in the same way Level 1 Solos are restricted: No member may do spins (toss turns) in excess of a 1 spin and no member may do rolls in excess of a double elbow. Level 1 Teams will be offered in the Dance Twirl and Twirl Team events only. It is always a difficult situation for group directors when they have new students the same age as their more experienced students. Designating a team “beginner” is very complicated, since team membership often changes from year to year (sometimes from contest to contest!) and defining a “beginner” team based on number of wins becomes a challenge. Therefore, the definition of a “Level 1” team will not be based on the number of wins by the team, or wins by team members —but instead, Level 1 teams will be restricted in the difficulty of performance allowed—to maintain the integrity and purpose of the event. This event will debut at the 2008 TU International Group Competition on July 13 in Canton, Ohio. Any team will be eligible to enter Level 1 Team as long as they meet the restrictions described. The Level 1 event will not be an International title event, but rather a performance experience for developing teams. Each team will receive a team trophy appropriate for their placement in the event. Any team entering Level 1 may also choose to enter the International competition (and receive those scores and participation medallions) if they wish. We are looking forward to offering this new event encouraging new and developing twirlers in furthering their competition experience. Brochures for the International competition will be available soon. Log on to our website at www.twirlingunlimited.com and click on “Contest Calendar and Brochures” for the most up-to-date information.
ABOUT THE TIME SCHEDULE In a perfect world, everyone participating would like to know EXACTLY what time they will perform and what time they will be done so they can plan their entire day. Indeed, some competitions try to give specific time schedules for performances, but this requires entries to be submitted well in advance of the competition—and allows for no flexibility with changes or adjustments (and perhaps excessive waiting while schedules ‘catch up’ to performers). And unfortunately, even in the most carefully planned competitions, there are always “glitches” or unexpected occurrences that make it difficult to follow even the best-laid plans. On TU brochures a tentative time schedule is printed. This gives twirlers and group directors an APPROXIMATE time to help them plan their arrival time at the competition. When a time is listed by an event, you can be sure that event will not start BEFORE that time—but, if divisions earlier in the day are larger, it is possible some events may start at a later time. Parents and group directors must keep in mind that the approximate time schedule is printed before any entries are received, so we are only guessing at the amount of time we expect the divisions to take. Obviously if a larger number of entries is received, events will take longer than we anticipated. In addition, TU has always allowed late entries for all our competitions. This is a nice benefit for busy parents who are waiting for weekend plans to solidify—or people who might have a last-minute change of plans—but it also means that we don’t know exactly how many contestants will be at any given competition. We try to stay as close as possible to the approximate times printed on the competition brochure, but sometimes circumstances prevent strict adherence. TIPS FOR COLLEGE AUDITIONS Spring is the time that most college bands hold auditions for their twirling positions for the fall football season. This is an exciting time of year for high school seniors as announcements are made about audition results, and students make final decisions about which school they will attend. Choosing the right college certainly involves more than just a twirling position—and hopefully twirlers (and their parents and teachers) will always keep in mind that the academic path should be the first consideration. However, for so many twirlers who have been involved in baton for much of their lives, twirling at the college level is an important part of the decision. For those who may be considering auditioning for a college twirling position in the future—here are some tips to keep in mind: · If you are interested in a twirling position, it is a good idea to begin research in your junior year of high school. Narrowing down your choices, communicating with band directors and arranging campus visits can be a time-consuming process. · Be sure to include at least one campus visit in your pre-audition process. One very wise twirling mom made a point of having her daughter attend a football game at each school she was considering, so she could see the band, and absorb the Saturday morning atmosphere. Then she returned at a later date to tour the academic campus, meet the band director, and visit admissions personnel and faculty academic advisors. This gave her daughter TWO impressions of each school she was considering, and helped her make a much more informed decision. · Some schools require that students be accepted by the university before they will permit participation in auditions. Be sure your academic accomplishments meet the university standards. In addition, it is not uncommon for a twirler to receive a scholarship when academic and twirling accomplishments are considered together—even if no specific “twirling” scholarship is offered. · Fill out any application forms neatly and be sure to turn them in before a requested deadline. A brief cover letter by way of introduction is appropriate. · Don’t try to “snow” a band director with your titles. They are certainly interested in your twirling expertise, but they will also be looking to see if you are a “team player”. Too often as solo twirlers, we have had the spotlight as an individual and—even as a feature twirler—you will be only one part of a performing group and must be able to work with others. · Be prepared to furnish several letters of recommendation from people who have worked with you as a twirling performer and who know you personally. · Be sure to prepare the routines or skills that are specifically requested. Some auditions have very specific requirements, others are more “open” to a twirler’s choice. It is wise to inquire ahead of time and adjust any prepared routines accordingly. · When you appear for the audition, be courteous, neat, on time, and prepared with whatever equipment you need to perform the required routines. You should be prepared to perform either indoors or outdoors! · In addition to your prepared routine, some schools will ask you to learn a routine on the spot; others may ask you to choreograph an impromptu routine (particularly if you are auditioning for a feature position). Be prepared to adapt and follow the band director’s requests. While some of the audition process is similar from school to school, each one has its own unique twist. · Remember – your attitude is just as important as your twirling skill!
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APRIL 2008 |
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ELIGIBILITY FOR TU INTERNATIONALS This year, TU Internationals will be held on July 11, 12 and 13 at the fabulous Canton Memorial Civic Center in Canton, Ohio. We often receive questions at headquarters and via e-mail about eligibility for TU International (and Regional) competitions. Unlike some other organizations, there are NO geographic requirements and NO eligibility requirements to participate in our Regional competitions or our International competition. This means we do not have a membership requirement (or membership fee), you do not have to qualify at a previous competition, and you do not have to attend a certain number of other TU competitions during the year. The purpose of Twirling Unlimited is to bring twirlers together—therefore, twirlers from any organization are welcome to compete, simply by paying the entry fee for the particular events they are interested in. Twirlers are encouraged to continue to be active in their own organization and to view their participation in TU as an opportunity to see other twirlers and judges, as well as some familiar faces. This philosophy applies to all Twirling Unlimited competitions—and we welcome twirlers throughout the year to our competitions at any location in the country. GROUP HOUSING AVAILABLE FOR INTERNATIONALS For groups, we are delighted to announce that, once again, discount housing will be available through Walsh University. Walsh University is just 5 miles from the Civic Center and has wonderful apartment-type housing. Each apartment has 2, 3 or 4 separate bedrooms (each with a single bed), 2 bathrooms, a living room and full kitchen! Linen is provided, but guests must make up their own rooms. The cost is determined by the number of bedrooms, but there are limited apartments available, so be sure to reserve early. All housing arrangements for Walsh University will be made through TU headquarters and must be pre-paid, with one “contact person” identified for the entire group. For more information, contact TU headquarters at 330-666-1163, FAX 665-1862, or write to TU at 700 Ghent Rd. Akron, OH 44333. Don’t delay! Premium housing fills up fast. Get your reservations in early!
WHEN MOTHER NATURE STRIKES Scheduling a twirling competition is not an easy task. In addition to considering facility availability and conflicting activities, Mother Nature always plays a role. In some parts of the continent, twirling becomes almost a “seasonal” sport due to extremely hot weather. In other areas, competitions are virtually non-existent during winter months because of the possibility of a snowstorm. And despite precautions—Mother Nature occasionally reminds us that she is still in charge, no matter what we plan! Any contest director or sponsor can assure you that many hours of preparation—and a substantial financial investment—go into a competition before the doors ever open. Awards have been purchased, brochures printed and mailed, score sheets prepared, judges hired, etc. In addition—in most cases, the competition is a fund-raising opportunity for the sponsoring organization. Therefore no contest director wants to cancel a scheduled competition. However—when severe weather strikes (or an emergency situation arises at the planned facility), a decision has to be made about the competition. There are so many variables to consider. Sometimes twirlers will already be enroute (or even in town) when a storm hits. Sometimes judges are unable to get there because of driving conditions or cancelled flights. Some families won’t even start out if poor weather is in the forecast. But do you cancel a competition based on what MIGHT happen? We’ve all been in situations where weather predictions were much more severe than what actually materialized. What should the contest director do? If it’s poor weather, do you hold the competition anyway—knowing that at least a portion of the competitors won’t be able to get there—or do you try to re-schedule the competition on another date? If it’s a facility emergency, do you cancel the competition, schedule another date, or scramble for an alternative facility at the last minute? If you do hold the competition in the poor weather, do you refund the pre-paid entry fees for those who couldn’t attend because of the weather? Or do you stick to the “No Refunds” policy stated on your brochure, because your expenses haven’t changed? It is a nice goodwill gesture if the contest sponsors offer a partial refund or a credit for their next competition to those who are unable to attend due to poor weather, but “No Refunds” would be the policy if it were a theater performance or concert that was missed. It is NOT an easy decision—and no matter what decision is made—some contestants will be unhappy (Contest Directors who have found themselves in this situation are nodding their heads in agreement as they read this). Twirlers who did manage to get to the contest location only to discover that it was cancelled will be unhappy they made the trip in vain. If a competition is re-scheduled, some twirlers will be unhappy because they can’t make the alternate date. If a competition IS held during poor weather, twirlers who did not make it will be unhappy if they forfeit their entry fee—or missed a chance to compete for a certain title. Each contest director has to make the decision that is best for their particular circumstances. Sometimes the decision is out of their hands (for example: a facility refuses to open in bad weather or the State Highway Patrol closes the roads). Sometimes it is the contest director’s best judgment call. In either case, understanding from both sides is required. Note from the President of TU: It is Twirling Unlimited policy NOT to cancel a contest, no matter what the weather conditions are. You can rest assured that the competition WILL be held, unless there is a legal ruling that prohibits it. It is also TU policy that any time a twirler is unable to attend due to weather and has a pre-paid entry, they are given credit for a future TU competition.
IS SUMMER CAMP IN YOUR PLANS? It’s time to begin thinking about summer plans—and for many twirlers that includes a trip to a summer twirling camp. As parents and teachers consider various camps, it is important to determine what you want your twirler to get out of camp, before you decide which camp to go to. Traditionally, twirling camps were designed to learn new skills and broaden twirling background. The opportunity to attend classes taught by different instructors, to try new novelty equipment and to learn new skills is a significant aid to the budding twirler—as well as a lot of fun! Coaches are delighted to have new tricks to incorporate into competition routines and parents are thrilled with an increased motivation to practice after the camper comes home. Another common purpose for summer camp is for majorette squads to learn new routines for fall performances. Sometimes instructors create specific routines for individual groups, sometimes large groups learn the same routine and individual coaches adapt the material to their specific music. A recent trend in twirling camps has been to offer the opportunity to “polish and perfect” existing routines for national competition. Since “nationals” for all organizations is in the summer, it is a logical step for many teachers to want extra prep opportunities for their students. Some teachers host their own “perfection camps” and bring in teachers to practice and polish their students’ routines. Other twirlers opt to attend a camp established for this specific purpose. When selecting a camp, it is important to consider the age of your twirler and the purpose for attending camp to determine which camp is the most appropriate. Just to “get better” isn’t specific enough. If you’re looking for an improvement in the performance of existing skills, then don’t go to a camp that focuses on classes of new material, because you’ll be disappointed when your own “solo” perfection hasn’t improved. If you have a majorette line and are interested primarily in halftime performance material, make sure that the camp is not solely focused on competition twirlers. If you want to broaden background and learn new tricks, then don’t go to a “perfection camp” - you’ll be disappointed when you come home with nothing “new”. Prior planning can clarify expectations and help avoid disappointment. In a previous issue of Twyrl Type there was a related article titled “How to Make the Most of Summer Camp”. If you’d like to review that information, it is still available in the Twyrl Type “archives” section of our website. Log on to www.twirlingunlimited.com and click on “Twyrl Type Highlights” and then “archives”.
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MARCH 2008 |
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EXPANSION OF TU REGIONALS The continued growth of Twirling Unlimited competitions is leading to some exciting changes. A number of our Regional competitions have been moved this year to larger venues. FLORIDA—April 19—beautiful Canterbury HS is the location for this St. Petersburg, Florida regional competition (formerly held in Arcadia). In addition to the wonderful facility, families will find many exciting attractions in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area PENNSYLVANIA—May 24-25 (Memorial weekend)—York Fairgrounds; the beautiful Toyota building will be the location for our Pennsylvania Regional, formerly held at Millersville University. The Toyota building is a grand facility seating 7300 spectators and is located near Interstate 83 and Rte 30. CANADA—May 31—Brock University will be the new location for our Canadian Regional. It is located in St. Catherines, Ontario, on the QEW and is minutes from Niagara Falls attractions and Niagara on the Lake. Twirlers from the US traveling by car who do not have passports are still able to cross the Canadian border with a birth certificate (parents need photo ID along with their birth certificate). NEW YORK—June 27-28 -Utica College. The change in date is due to the Independence Day (4th of July) weekend. This competition was formerly held in Old Forge, NY and the date change would have been necessary in either location. This was an excellent opportunity to relocate and host the competition at larger and more centrally located facilities. Utica is right on the NY Thruway and is adjacent to the beautiful Adirondack mountains. All TU Regional competitions are open to everyone, regardless of the location of their residence. The term “Regional” refers to the status of the competition—not the geographic location. Each competition features our Miss TU Regional Majorette pageant and Regional titles in Solo, Fancy Strut, Two baton, Three baton and Parade March. There are also pageants for developmental level twirlers. Basic Skills for Levels 1 & 2 (includes Best Appearing, Solo and Basic March); Level 3 Pageant for Beginners and Level 4 Pageant for Intermediates (these include modeling, fancy strut and solo). These Regionals are one or two-day events (depending on the area) and special efforts are made to bring in out of state judges. In addition to the changes in location for the competitions noted above, we hold Regional Championships in Atlanta, GA (Smyrna Community Center, March 1), Sharon, Pennsylvania (Sharon HS, March 29-30), Indianapolis, Indiana (University of Indianapolis, April 5), Waterbury, Connecticut (Crosby HS, April 12), Spring Arbor, Michigan (Spring Arbor University, June 21), and Sandusky, Ohio (Perkins HS, generally the last weekend of September). As always, TU tries to choose locations that offer the opportunity for family travel and visits to local attractions. We are excited that the growth in attendance has necessitated these larger facilities and are delighted to present competitions in these venues. We hope to see you at one or more of our upcoming Regional competitions! Brochures for all of the competitions are available to download from our website: www.twirlingunlimited.com
FOR COLLEGE AND SENIOR TWIRLERS More and more twirlers are continuing their competition twirling careers after High School graduation. Reasons range from a desire to maintain skills for college performing to a plain old love of twirling. In recognition of this, 4 years ago Twirling Unlimited added a “Senior” age division at the International competition for ages 19 and over. This encompasses those twirlers who have graduated from high school and (whether in college or not) wish to continue competing. This Senior age group has now been added to all the Regional competitions (see related article on page 1) and is available in both the Miss TU Pageant and the Regional solo. Twirling in college is NOT a requirement for entry into this division, but the Miss TU pageant is especially attractive to collegiate twirlers because they may choose to use their college fight songs or half-time performances for the Show Routine portion of the pageant competition. At open competitions, senior twirlers can enter the College solo (which is one baton and any novelty performed to standard march music) and they can also enter the open Show routine competition with collegiate music or any music of their choice. TU is delighted to offer these opportunities to help interested senior twirlers extend their competition careers.
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FEBRUARY 2008 |
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FROM THE PRESIDENT: BATON TWIRLING WITH
TU Twirling Unlimited has been incorporated, non-profit, since 1981. This makes it the youngest of the major twirling organizations. However, in that length of time, it has moved to a prominent role in the national baton twirling picture because of the size and scope of the TU competitions. Our emphasis is still on the grass-roots. We are dedicated to presenting competitions and helping to develop baton interest and events for local twirling groups. During the past twenty-seven years there have been some significant developments in the twirling world and TU is delighted to have been a part of this. It is very noticeable that there are many twirlers now who twirl with more than one organization – some call it “cross-over”. This is a delightful development. Offering twirlers from all organizations an opportunity to meet and compete on “neutral” ground has always been a main focus of TU competitions. If there is any possibility that baton twirling will ever achieve the status it aims for – and deserves – it must come from cooperation among the twirling organizations. Unfortunately, historically, twirling organizations seem to have deliberately discouraged cooperative effort. Some organizations require a membership fee before any participation is allowed in their events; some organizations have specific requirements before a twirler or group may participate in a Championship Title competition, (e.g. competing in a minimum number of local competitions); some organizations place restrictions on title winners (e.g. they cannot compete in any other organizations while holding a title). Each of these requirements represents another hoop for twirlers to jump through, and is a stumbling block for cooperation between the organizations. While encouraging twirlers to remain active in their own organization, Twirling Unlimited offers competitions and events with NO membership fee required, NO restrictions on who may enter our championship events, and NO restrictions on our title winners. Our goal is to encourage and expand twirling opportunities, cooperation and friendship. Hence our motto: “Where Twirlers Meet”. We always try to remember that baton twirling is primarily a youth activity and is designed to be a good healthy activity that is FUN. Sometimes the zeal for a “win” or a “title” pushes these considerations into the background – which is unfortunate. I still treasure most highly the comment made by a father whose daughter was attending her first TU contest. He said “My daughter has twirled with _____________ for eight years; she has made more friends here today than in all those eight years.” Hooray!
TEACHERS/JUDGES DIRECTORY NOW AVAILABLE The 2008 Teachers/Judges Directory is now available to the public! All teachers listed in the directory will receive a complimentary copy, but others may purchase a directory for $3.00 (includes mailing). The directory has proved to be an invaluable resource for contest directors or band directors looking for judges, for twirlers who are relocating and looking for teachers in their new area, and for twirling professionals interested in contacting their colleagues. TU receives requests almost every week for information about judges or teachers from a certain area and it is this directory that we use as a resource for recommendations. This year’s edition contains listings from every major twirling organization, plus a number of regional organizations. If you would like to order your own copy of the directory, send your request along with $3 to: TU Directory, 700 Ghent Rd, Akron, OH 44333
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JANUARY 2008 |
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NEW CHANGES FOR 2008 Twirling Unlimited is always listening to twirler and teacher suggestions for improving competitions, rules, and other events. The board considers all suggestions and balances them with the needs of all twirlers, at all levels, in all areas. There is rarely a “perfect” solution, but we do make appropriate changes when we feel it is the best interest of all twirlers. Below are 2 new changes:
SENIOR DIVISION ADDED This year, by popular request, we will add the Senior age group to the Miss TU Pageant and the TU Regional Solo at all of the TU Regional competitions! The senior division (ages 19 +) has been offered at the TU International Competition since 2004. Increasing numbers of twirlers are continuing their competition careers beyond their high school years. The addition of the Senior division was met with enthusiasm, as the Teens (ages 15-18) were separated from the Seniors. We are now expanding this innovation to the Regional competitions, as well. Since the Senior Division begins with age 19, it roughly coincides with graduation from High School. Those twirlers affiliated with a college can use their college songs for the Show Routine portion of the competition, if they wish. However, College affiliation is not a requirement for the Senior division —and the Show Routine music can be any selection of the contestant’s choice. The Senior Division will be added to the Regional Solo as well, mirroring the events available at the International competition. Since the preliminary portion of the Regional Solo is divided into individual age divisions, this divides the age groups more evenly and gives more contestants a chance of qualifying for the Regional “finals”.
SOLO EVENT REQUIRED Beginning Jan. 1, 2008, at those competitions where a pageant is offered, any twirler entering a pageant, must also enter at least one “non-pageant” solo at the same competition. Since its inception, TU has not required twirlers to ‘count’ their pageant wins toward advancement. We feel that the pageants offer twirlers a second chance to get “on the floor” and gain performance experience and they should not have to be concerned about gaining too many “wins” at a single competition. However, we find that twirlers in increasing numbers are entering only the pageant events. Therefore, in order to participate in a pageant event, twirlers will now be required to enter at least one “non-pageant” solo. This could be an open solo, a Regional Solo, a State or instate solo, or a Visitor’s solo. As always, a twirler may enter more solos, but they must enter at least one, in addition to the pageant solo. We feel that this requirement will restore the original intent of the pageant to be a second performance opportunity and help to keep twirlers from remaining too long at one level of competition. PARADES, PARADES, AND MORE PARADES Were you one of the millions of viewers watching the Macy’s Parade on NBC on Thanksgiving Day? If so, then you saw Meredith Sigler performing with the University of Oklahoma marching band. Meredith is a well-known competition twirler from Texas, who was also a member of our TU summer camp staff. What a thrill for all of us twirling enthusiasts to see Meredith get such wonderful coverage on national television! And perhaps some of you saw the NBC Nightly News report on December 13 about the new type of LED lights that are being used to lower energy use across the country? The lead-in to the story was about the holiday lighting at the Gatlinburg, Tennessee parade. A strong contingent of twirlers from the TU Regional competition in Knoxville were a part of this famous parade. According to NBC, there were 80,000 visitors to the annual festival and our parade coordinator reported that spectators were already lining up at 9 a.m. to get a good spot for the evening parade. Every person and float in the parade had to have holiday lights - it gives new meaning to twirlers “sparkling”! But the twirlers adapted to the requirement quite well—and put on a great show for the enthusiastic crowd. Gatlinburg knows how to treat tourists and our twirlers were awed by the impressive light displays on ski slopes, stores and everything else for an entire 5 mile area. Tennessee knows how to celebrate the holidays! Quite a bit colder—but no less enthusiastic—was the crowd at the Niagara Falls, Ontario parade on Nov. 17. Once again, TU was represented in the holiday parade and the audience responded enthusiastically to the twirling performance. Check out the pictures on the TU website! Log on to www.twirlingunlimited.com and click on “Traveling with TU”. It seems like nothing reminds the general public of baton twirling as much as a parade—and what fun to have so many parade opportunities in different areas of the country. Since TU’s philosophy has always been to make twirling as much of a family event as possible, we continue to try to sponsor twirling competitions in association with events that can be enjoyed by the whole family. YOU are invited to join us for one of our holiday parades next year!
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DECEMBER 2007 |
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NEW REGIONAL LOCATION FOR NEW YORK
For the past twenty-five years, Twirling Unlimited has held a
Regional Competition at Old Forge, New York. The was the site of our
first regional and we were so delighted with the community and the people
- they really rolled out the "red carpet" for twirlers and opened their
hearts to us as well. We have presented this in cooperation with the
Central Adirondacks Association and it has been a delightful partnership. INTERVIEW PRACTICE Are interviews a challenge for your twirler? For some girls, conversation comes naturally and interviews are an enjoyable part of pageant competition. For others, an interview is a nerve-wracking experience they would rather ignore. But interview skills can be improved and girls can become more comfortable with the interview requirement. Often it is difficult to find the opportunity to practice interviewing. Many contest directors do not include interviews because it adds to the length of the competition day. Others offer it only when there is a pageant competition involved. To help twirlers have more opportunities to hone their interviewing skills, Twirling Unlimited will offer a clinic lane option for Interviews at many of the upcoming open competitions. Since it is not a competition, the clinic lane option allows flexibility both for the contest director and the twirler. Often, the interview clinic lane can be done at the twirler’s convenience any time during the group competition or during the Best Appearing competition. A twirler can choose to arrive a little early to do the interview before the modeling competition begins, or interview while other contestants are finishing up modeling events. The twirler will receive an interview score sheet with the same kind of comments and scores she would receive if she were being judged in a competition. This gives her not only the opportunity to practice the interview—but some feedback for improvement, as well. Because Twirling Unlimited believes very strongly in the value of the interview experience for developing skills for the future, several years ago we instituted the 50/50 scoring of the modeling portion of the pageant—with modeling contributing half the total score and interview the other half. We’re pleased to now offer the opportunity for twirlers to gain experience in this valuable event. The Interview Clinic lane will not be an option at every TU competition (for example, it will not be offered at Regional competitions), but we will include it as often as possible. Check individual brochures for availability.
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NOVEMBER 2007 |
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SAVINGS BOND PROGRAM EARNS DOLLARS Twirling Unlimited’s savings bond program is well-known. For over 25 years, twirlers have been allowed to turn in their earned trophies for credit toward a savings bond. Credit is given based on the placement earned: $3 for 1st place, $2.50 for 2nd place, $2 for 3rd place. All of the accounting and records are kept by TU headquarters and when sufficient money has been earned, a $50 savings bond is purchased in the twirler’s name. This program is open to ANY twirler competing in an advanced event and we consistently receive “thank-you’s” from twirlers who have cashed in their savings bonds for college tuition, a new twirling costume, or another savings goal. A similar program is available for developmental level twirlers (Levels 1-4). These twirlers may turn in any earned trophies for credit toward attendance at any one of the 4 TU summer camps. Twirling Unlimited’s philosophy has always been to promote baton twirling and to try to keep participation in twirling competitions affordable. For those twirlers whose accumulated trophies are just taking up space, this program offers a practical alternative. For the year 2006, 86 bonds were purchased with a total value of $7,750. The year 2007 looks to have even higher totals. TU is pleased to continue to offer twirlers the chance to turn their awards into savings for some future goal.
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OCTOBER 2007 |
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HAVE YOU CONSIDERED STRUT TEAMS? It is sometimes a rather daunting jump from twirling in parades and performances to participation in twirling competitions. The concept of being in the limelight and being evaluated by experts can be an intimidating prospect to many youngsters. Groups often participate in Dance Twirl or Twirl Team events so that twirlers get a taste for competition in the security of a group performance. Basic marching events and Level 1 Solo competitions are common ways of introducing twirlers to the idea of individual competition. But—have you considered encouraging your students to enter a strut team or a duet strut? It is not uncommon for a twirler’s first performance to be in a parade. He/she has then already learned a marching or “strut” group routine and it is a small step to have 3 or 4 (or more) of the parade group enter a Strut Team event using that same parade routine! It is even easier to see 2 good friends in a group “pairing off” to enter as a duet strut. If participating in twirling competition is your ultimate goal for your students, what a fabulous way to give them a comfortable introduction! They can use a routine they are already familiar with—and can add to it as their capabilities and their progress allows. Strut teams use their own music and the rules require marching the length of the floor—very much like marching past a reviewing stand in a parade. The Parade March event can serve as the same type of introduction for individuals—but it is done to standard march music. These often overlooked events can provide an easy transition from the parade world to the world of competition and might even give some of your students the confidence to eventually try individual competition. POM SOLO In recognition of the fact that most participants prefer to use their own music for Pom Solo, TU will no longer have a “required” song for open Pom Solo at the TU International competition. In addition, Pom Solo will be offered at EVERY TU competition, regardless of whether there is a separate dance event or not. Rules for Pom Solo are minimal: contestants use their own music and the time limit is 1:30. Remember to always bring a cassette tape or your own CD player as a backup if you are using a burned CD. Contestants will find the Pom Solo event listed at the bottom of the individual entry blank for competitions. ABOUT TU HEADQUARTERS Many of our readers are familiar with our address: 700 Ghent Rd, Akron, OH 44333. But did you know that the headquarters for Twirling Unlimited is housed at the Akron Education Campus? For years, the Akron Reading and Speech Center offered individual tutoring in remedial reading, math, speed reading and speech therapy. This year, the programs have expanded exponentially and, in addition to the tutoring program, they now include a fully certified pre-school, after school “homework help”, classes in Kindermusik, Spanish, Chinese, Dance, and Gym-Active (a physical fitness/skills training activity for young children). To accommodate these new programs, the building has doubled in size and the new facility is designed specifically to maximize the effectiveness of the child-centered activities offered there. Along with the expansion comes a new name: The Akron Education Campus. With the wide variety of opportunities and activities, the AEC is a perfect “fit” for housing the headquarters of Twirling Unlimited. The AEC held its grand opening on Aug.8 and has recently introduced a new website explaining all the programs offered there. We invite you to check out the new website www.akroneducationcampus.com to learn more about our headquarters “host”.
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SEPTEMBER 2007 |
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START THE YEAR OUT RIGHT Now is the time when classes are forming, twirlers are re-registering for the year and new twirlers are signing up. What a great time to look ahead and get your year off on the right foot! In keeping with our Character Corner theme of “Responsibility”, below is a checklist of teacher responsibilities for their students and classes. Take a look, evaluate yourself honestly, and make a resolution to try to concentrate on any areas that you feel might need improvement. On the next page, we have a list of parent “responsibilities”. Now is a perfect time to revisit (or introduce to new parents) what you expect of them in relation to their child’s twirling. Clear and realistic expectations presented at the beginning of the year can help to make twirling lessons a positive experience for everyone. Feel free to copy these Parent Guidelines for distribution in your classes, if you feel it will be helpful. Couple these two lists with last month’s “Character Corner” list of twirler responsibilities and you’ll get your year off to a great start! We wish you a successful and productive year of baton twirling!
TEACHER’S PERSONAL CHECKLIST: 1. Do I arrive for lessons on time? 2. Am I always prepared and do I bring my personal best to all lessons and activities? 3. Do I limit personal distractions during class time (no cell phone, limit family or other interruptions of lessons)? 4. Do I gear classes to the level appropriate for the age and ability of the students? 5. Do I encourage each twirler to try his/her best and reward positive effort, not just talent? 6. Do I try to always remember that twirlers are still kids—and try to make the classes fun while encouraging self-discipline? 7. Do I regularly communicate details about lessons and performances to parents? 8. Do I model good sportsmanship at competitions? 9. Do I refrain from gossip and other negative behaviors? 10. Do I show respect for twirlers, parents, other teachers, contest directors and the facilities we use? RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS 1. Arrive on time to all practices and other activities. 2. Supply and help organize batons, footwear, and other equipment for your twirler so he/she is always prepared. 3. Remind your twirler to do and give her/his personal best at all times. Remember that the lessons learned through twirling carry through many other aspects of life. 4. Work with your twirler to create a regular practice schedule and help them follow it. Set realistic expectations and be sure to dedicate some of your time to watching practice sessions, too! 5. Honor financial responsibilities by paying all fees on time. 6. At competitions, model good sportsmanship. Understand that the judge’s decision is final and help your son or daughter to deal appropriately with disappointment and be gracious as a winner. 7. Avoid gossip! It is detrimental to all concerned. If you have a suggestion/concern/issue, please see the director or instructor. 8. Supervise ALL children you bring to lessons, competitions or other activities. 9. Respect the facility and its rules (no smoking, no eating or drinking, etc.) 10. Be a good role model for all our twirlers. They are always watching and listening!
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