How to Dance With a Baton

It can be tricky to dance with a baton. You are actually combing two sports, dance and baton twirling. Read the following steps to learn how you can learn the twirls, turns, flips and bounces of dancing with a baton.

Instructions

1. Take baton lessons to perfect your baton twirling skills. Study the various styles of dance that you are interested in that may be able to overlap into baton twirling routines. Many twirlers take dance classes in jazz, ballet, modern dance and even tap classes. It's really a personal preference.

2. Choreograph routines that combine the skills of twirling the baton with those of dance. Dance twirl is another name for this type of routine. The music, style of dance and the style of the baton twirling must all compliment each other to complete the routine.

3. Use your baton as your prop in a jazz routine much like you would a cane. Tap it on the floor as you kick to each side. Slide your hand to the smaller end of the baton or the tip end and swing the baton around and around as you do backward kicks. The baton gives emphasis to the jazz dance movements.

4. Twirl your baton in a fun fiesta style dance routine to add flair and movement to the routine. A fast-paced dance routine will require fast-paced twirling movements. Finger twirls are very popular in fast-paced dance twirls. You roll the baton through your fingers much like twirling a pencil in your finger. Twist your wrist down under and back over your head, like a figure eight movement, to repeat the finger twirls above your head. Do these repeatedly and even to the sides and as you turn. Then work on applying the ups and downs of the movements to the beat of the music.

5. Practice your dance twirl routines and develop your skills with dancing with a baton so that you can perform on stage in a recital. Compete in baton twirling competitions with your dance twirl routines. These take place all over the country. Instructors or coaches for baton twirlers will have information on upcoming events and competitions.

6. Join a high school or college band to perform at football game half times as a feature twirler. The feature twirlers perform dance routines while twirling their baton to the music performed by the band.