Brings back memories. My dance training began with baton, acrobatics and tap. What amazes me is the amount of energy required to practice and perform. Its really strenuous.

Baton twirling seems to be a dying art. It makes me wonder how it ever started. My guess is the military. Probably marching bands and the drum major. Did it begin in Britain or was it the African-American drum major that gave the baton its pizazz? I'm not so sure white folks can claim it as their native dance.