By Allison Flynn, The Shelby Star, N.C.
Jul. 29–More than 200 girls and young women have taken over the Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center this week as part of the Drum Majorettes of America Nationals.
Baton twirling teams and soloists have been competing for titles, savings bonds and scholarships. The national competition has been held at Gardner-Webb for the past 20 years.
“This is a great, small town and we don’t have to worry about anything,” said Doris Faber, executive director of DMA.
Competitors come from across the United States to take part in the national event.
“We have a girl from Colorado Springs, Colo., which is probably the most someone’s traveled to come,” said Diane Sorvillo, DMA Southeast Regional director.
Participants range in age from 3 to 23, Sorvillo said. To take part in the national competition, twirlers must have qualified at a state or regional event.
A walk around the LYCC provided the sight of girls curling their hair, applying makeup and relaxing to music from iPods. Not everyone, though, was nervously awaiting their turn in front of the judges.
Senior Majorette Queen Jennafaye Holliday and Majorette Queen of America Tristalyn Bixler-Kint are spending the week providing support to other contestants who are competing. The two girls met through DMA and have become best friends, although they live in Florida and Pennsylvania respectively.
Holliday began twirling at the YMCA in Sarasota and has been competing with DMA for nine years. Holliday describes the experience as like being with family.
“Everybody’s always very nice. Trista and I compete against each other a lot, but we’ve been best friends since we were 9,” she said.
DMA is family in more ways than one, Kint explained.
“Some of the judges are former DMA queens. There are many generations of families still here,” she said.
Both girls are teaching younger girls baton twirling and said DMA has prepared them for their futures.
“I’ve always wanted to work in show at SeaWorld as a dolphin trainer. This has given me confidence to perform in front of other people,” Holliday said.
For more information on Drum Majorettes of America, visit www.dmatwirl.org.
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