Starting Young and Improving with Age

Myself at 2 holding a custom-made baton and wearing a costume my Grandma Bece made. (She made all the costumes.)

You may not know this about me, but I received my first baton at 2 and started twirling lessons because my mom had a dance studio, and she was my teacher. I also began ballet and tap dance lessons, but twirling the baton was the movement that I loved and it stuck with me through high school. I was the Ellensburg High School marching band majorette starting in 6th grade and finished my senior year. No one else my age twirled the baton, so I was out there with my mom by my side supporting me for every practice, leading the band with the choreographed routines that my mom/teacher created.

After high school twirling the baton went by the wayside. I wasn't part of a college band or auxiliary group so there was no need to continue.

Fast forward to today. I am now 51 years old and when I turned 50, I reflected on a time that I had seen the One More Time Around Again Marching Band in a Grand Floral Parade many, many years ago and thought: Why don't I do that? This year myself and another new to the twirling group twirler have spent the past three months trying to learn as many routines as we can. The OMTAAMB plays 14 songs at their concerts, 11 of which involve all the twirlers. Well, we have managed to memorize 7 of them in that short time span, which I have to say in wonderful for my brain resilience. And what I forgot about this talent is that it involves a lot of full body movement, and really good hand-eye coordination. Not to mention I have discovered it is impossible to be sad when you are twirling a baton and jumping/moving about, so it's a great mood booster, too.

I don't take this talent for granted like I did when I was younger. I appreciate that I have the ability to perform these routines.

I am sharing this story because maybe you are like me and had a favorite movement practice when you were younger that you have forgotten about. If so, reconnect with those past joys. It's a great motivator to move and it really improves so many levels of health and well being including mind, body and spirit.

P.S. -- If you love a parade, the 2025 Rose Festival Starlight Parade is this Saturday night 5/31 from 8:15-10:15. If you see me out there twirling the baton, give a little wave.

The Grand Floral Parade is next Saturday, June 7, 10 a.m. to noon.

https://www.rosefestival.org/events/2025/grand-floral-parade

P.P.S -- If you love marching band music and want to see the full concert, you can catch the One More Time Around Again Marching Band this Saturday, 5/31 at Pioneer Courthouse Square, 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Bece M. Kidder is a Level 4 Franklin Method® Educator

and Movement Enthusiast