Circus Performer Twirling Baton, 1886
Baton twirling started in Western Europe and Asia. It is thought it started at dance festivals where the goers used knives, rifles, torches and sticks to twirl with and toss. The sport progressed into the armies of some countries which twirled with rifles during marches. When the army was parading, they added a rifle twirler to the front of the marchers. The rifle was then switched for a "mace". The mace was much larger than the batons of today and imbalanced. Eventually the maces were altered; they were given smaller ends of light rubber, made from hollow light metal and balanced to give accuracy to the twirler. The sport came to North America when Major Millsap's created baton twirling when he established Millsap's College in Mississippi after the Civil War. Baton twirling requires skillful coordination and extraordinary control of the human body. Additionally it requires a great amount of flexibility in order to properly execute baton, dance, and gymnastics elements.
Size: 3254px × 4200px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1880s, 1886, 19th, act, agility, arts, baton, bw, century, circus, coordination, entertainer, entertaining, entertainment, high, high-speed, historic, historical, history, male, man, motion, motor, movement, performance, performer, performing, photo, photograph, speed, studies, twirling
