Baton Twirling

A sport and performance art combining elements of dance and color guard into coordinated routines built around manipulating a metal rod, called a baton, typically just slightly longer than the twirler's own dominant arm, in place of the flags or rifles a color guard would otherwise use. Baton twirling is practiced worldwide, with governing bodies whose member countries span Europe, Asia, North America, Africa and Oceania, Australia, Japan, France, Italy, Canada and the United States among them, and performers compete in national and international competitions including the USA Junior Olympics and world championships held in cities around the globe.