8:30 am   Spectators welcome

No admission fee

For entry information contact Janice at jjtwrldnc@aol.com

DaNae Couch, Bear Twirler at Baylor University!

DaNae Couch, College Miss Majorette of Texas and Carly Bender, College Miss Majorette of the Southwest!

The half-time show at a football game is a wonderful show to watch, but when most people think “half-time show” they think about the band; the clarinets, the drum line, the trombones, but that’s not all there is to enjoy. There’s another talent on the field exuding preciseness, skill, athleticism, and beauty. Christina Albee doesn’t play an instrument, but she entertains the crowd during half-time by twirling her baton with a big smile on her face as her alter-ego “Carmelita.” Christina’s roommate gave her this nickname “because of this extra boost of confidence that comes with the baton, costume, hair, and make-up.

“I love that twirling pushes me to be athletic, creative, and elegant all at once. I am not aware of any other sport that integrates these qualities so well,” said Christina. “I also love how when I’m twirling I really can’t think about anything else.” Christina has been twirling since the second grade and has been taking private lessons since the third grade. Christina tried several things before the discovered her love of twirling. She tried baseball, basketball, volleyball, swimming, gymnastics, and dance. “None of these things seemed to fit,” she said. “I was either terrible at them or I just didn’t enjoy it. Baton was something different to try.”

When Christina moved to Hannibal, MO she started taking lessons from Janice Jackson Seamonds, who was the teacher of her two previous teachers. “While I was considering what college to attend, Janice moved from Dallas, TX to Conway, AR, and I felt that was an added confirmation that I should attend Ouachita Baptist University,” said Christina. Seamands says the improvement has been fantastic since she has been able to see Christina weekly instead of only a few times a year.

“Any serious athlete must have self discipline, make good use of their time, know their strengths and weaknesses, and understand what commitment means,” said Jackson. “Christina knows just how important having goals can be and knows the joy of achieving not only a personal goal but also the sense of accomplishment from doing your best.” All of Christina’s hard work has paid off tremendously. Not only has she gotten the satisfaction of doing her best, but she has received recognition and awards for her twirling.

Christina won the titles of 2009 College Miss Majorette of Arkansas and 2009 College Miss Majorette of the South in the spring – two goals she had been striving for since she was a little girl. She also won the “most talented” senior superlative in high school. Christina won second place in her very first baton contest for which she received a plaque. Some of Christina’s favorite baton memories are from twirling her first parade at the age of seven and twirling on the St. Louis Rams’ field with her high school band.

Seamands believes that Christina’s experiences in twirling will “help [her] in all areas of life by contributing to her self confidence, the ability to present herself for interviews and auditions, developing her leadership skills, understanding how to relate to people and communicate, poise and grace, ability to take critique and turn that information into a helpful source for improvement, expecting the best of herself in all she does and just enjoying her talents and skills and being able to give happiness to others and help those around her through use of her talents.” Christina Albee has definitely provided a lot of variety to half-time entertainment at football games. Her love for twirling is visible from the stands and she always wears a big smile on her face when she performs.

Carly Bender, Mustang Twirler at Southern Methodist University!

DaNae Couch proudly represented her sport as the only twirler in the Miss Texas 2009 Pageant.

DaNae Couch confidently awaits her 10 minute interview before a distinguished panel of judges at the Miss Texas Pageant. She was eager to demonstrate her speaking skills which she developed through countless twirling interviews.

DaNae thought the swimsuit competition was the most uncomfortable event of the Miss Texas Pageant because there is nothing comparable in twirling to prepare her for modeling in 4 in. heels wearing only a swimsuit.

DaNae graciously articulates her on stage impromptu question at Miss Texas. Most contestants considered this to be the most feared part of all the events, but the years of interview practice DaNae had with her twirling coach, Janice Jackson, made it seem effortless.

DaNae Couch “WOWS” the Miss Texas audience as she receives a standing ovation for twirling to Celine Dion’s “River Deep, Mountain High.”

DaNae congratulated former Dal-Star teammate and role model, Marshawn Evans J.D., at Southern Methodist University’s book signing of Skirts in the Boardroom. Marshawn is currently practicing law in Atlanta; however, previously she was the Feature Twirler at Texas Christian University, a Miss America finalist, and a contestant on Donald Trump’s The Apprentice. DaNae has followed Marshawn’s example by being the Feature Twirler at Baylor University, 1st Runner-Up at Miss Texas 2009, and now by planning to attend law school in 2010. Both ladies agree that their twirling coach, Janice Jackson, is largely responsible for their self discipline, time management skills, work ethic and determination to succeed.

DaNae Couch was crowned “Miss Carrolton 2009″ by Miss Texas 1996, Michelle Martinez Metzger. At this Miss America system preliminary pageant for Miss Texas, DaNae also won the most outstaning talent award by twirling to a medley from Dream Girls.

DaNae Couch is presented with her Lone Star Princesses, Layne Quinn and Alyssa Cross at Miss Texas. DaNae and Alyssa twirl together on Janice Jackson’s Dal-Star Team. Alyssa is honored to be one of Janice’s second generation twirlers since her mother, Tiffany Berdice, also twirled for Janice as a young lady.

“DaNae and Bruiser, the Baylor mascot, entertain their fans at a home game.”

“DaNae ‘flies through the air with the greatest of ease’ before the Golden Wave Band and the good ol’ Baylor Line.”