Importance of Correct Titles
by: Karen Ewoldt
Baton twirling can be and is an exciting sport. It's very rewarding to
work hard at perfecting your routines and then come back from a state or
national competition a winner.
But what have you won? This, of course, depends on what level of ability
you competed in: beginner, intermediate, or advanced.
A few years ago, N.B.T.A. began holding the state and national pageants for
beginners and intermediates. It was at the time, and still is considered
to be a learning experience for the competitors at those levels. This is
why after several years, the wording of the titles at the beginner and
intermediate levels has been changed to:
State, Regional, & National Beginner or IntermediatePageant Winner
instead of Beginner or
Intermediate Miss Majorette.
N.B.T.A. stresses the importance of being correct in the reporting of these
titles to the press or any other kind of advertising.
This not only goes
for Pageant titles, but for State Regional and National Solo and
Strut titles, plus designating your organization
If you win a beginner or intermediate title, it must be reported that way.
Example: Int. State Pageant Winner, Beginner State Solo, Beg. or Int. Solo, Strut, 2
Baton, Flag, Hoop at AYOP.
Reporting titles incorrectly cheapens the true title won by the advanced
twirler, who has put in many more hours of work and years of
practicing than the beginner or intermediate twirler, who may have just
started.
The title problems exist inside and outside of the twirling world. The
public is left with the impression that every local twirler is a state or
national champion. We must be careful of the public opinion, for it is the
public that makes baton twirling an accepted sport.
All teachers and parents must be aware of this situation and do all they
can to prevent it from happening.