At Star Line Baton, we know exactly what performers need to be successful in baton twirling. Performers must always be aware of their movements and how it affects their bodies. Some may not know about the little things they do everyday that are hindering their growth. Here are the top 3 things performers are most likely doing wrong.

• Stretching: Too often, baton twirlers like to sit down before a class and do static stretching. Static stretching happens when you hold a certain pose to make your muscles more flexible. This kind of stretching can be more harmful than beneficial, as it lowers strength and power in the muscles. What performers should be doing instead is dynamic stretching, or any type of movement with less intensity and a large range of motion. Static stretching doesn’t have to be eliminated for good and should be reserved for the very end of the class.
• Walking: While practicing baton twirling, your feet may be too used to the constant turnout position. Walking like this outside of dance class and performances can wreak havoc on your muscles and bones. The stress on your feet can also have an affect on your spine, hips, and other areas. Be sure to walk normally and don’t force your feet to turnout when you don’t need to.
• Turnout: Dancers are always trying to improve their turnout, but should be more careful about forcing their feet to do it. Doctors say that too much turnout can lead to complications with various joints in the body. A better way to practice turnout is to effectively stretch the hip muscle. Many performers forget that correct turnout starts out in the hip and extends all the down to their toes. A good exercise is to lie on your side with knees bent and open and close your leg using your hip muscle.

We hope this list of common errors made by performers improves your experience with baton twirling. Be sure not to overlook small things and your muscles and bones will be happy you didn’t. Star Line Baton has all your performance needs, for more information read our blog or contact us at 931-528-7829.

Posted: 7/13/2015