Come Twirl With Us!
Baton twirling classes and performing opportunties for ages 5-18

About Us

Welcome!
The SugarBabies are a baton twirling team based in west St. Louis County, MO. Our members range from 5 to 18 years old and have a great time together. SugarBabies is a 501c3 non-profit registered in the state of Missouri. Please explore our site and see all the fun we have!

Classes

Introduction to Baton Twirling

Beginner Class

For kids who are new to twirling, this 6-week session is a fun start to learning basic twirling skills.

Introduces basic twirling skills in a high-energy, positive format. As twirlers progress, they may move to classes that offer more challenging material and expand on the skills they learned in the basic class. Twirlers have fun participating in a unique sport while developing coordination, concentration, timing, and self-confidence.

Two different classes are available, one geared for grades K-2 and another for grades 3-6. Intro to Baton Twirling is offered through Parkway-Rockwood Community Education sports.

K-2
Thursdays 6:15-7:00pm
3-6
Thursdays 7:00-7:45pm

Team SugarBabies

Team Performance Classes

The next session team classes starts September 2024!

Classes are for team members only.

Sign Up
Card image cap
Level 1

For twirlers who have typically spent at least a year in the Intro classes and have earned a spot on the team. Twirlers will continue to develop basic skills and learn routines. Class includes performing opportunities.

 
Tuesdays
6:30 - 7:15pm
$85.00
Card image cap
Level 1 Plus

For twirlers who are not quite ready for Level 2 but are ready for more instruction and challenges. Twirlers at this level may have additional performance and competition opportunities.

 
Tuesdays
6:30 - 7:45pm
$95.00
Card image cap
Level 2

This group moves at a faster pace, focuses on more demanding skills, and expectations for twirlers in this group are higher.  Level 2 twirlers participate in performances and competitive twirling opportunities.  

 
Tuesdays
6:30 - 8:30pm
$100.00
Card image cap
Skills & Drills

This 6-week intensive experience will focus on skills and drills to improve both team and solo twirling. This class is an extra "add-on" class for twirlers participating in team level classes.

Thursdays
7:45 - 8:45pm
$40.00
(6 week sessions)
Card image cap
Skills & Drills Junior

This 5-week mini-intensive experience will focus on skills and drills to improve both team and solo twirling. This class is an extra "add-on" class for younger twirlers participating in lower team level classes.

Thursdays
7:00 - 7:45pm
$30.00
(5 week sessions)
Classes are at Ellisville Elementary
1425 Froesel drive
Ellisville, MO 63011

Solo Twirling

Solo lessons provide an opportunity to build individual twirling skills in a one-on-one situation.

Solo twirling lessons are a great choice for those who want to twirl for school or competition as well as twirlers who just want individualized instruction to improve.

Contact the coach to schedule.

Solo Twirling

Calendars

Contest Calendar

Contest Calendar
Camp & Clinic Calendar

Camp & Clinic Calendar

Pictures

Just for FuN

Left Backhand Release Double Knuckle Pop

A nifty little novelty for your roll section, you start with a low left hand back hand release. Just before the baton rotates to a horizontal position on it's second revolution, place your right hand, palm down, in the path of the baton. As the baton continues to rotate, push your hand upwards just a bit, popping the baton off your knuckles into a low aerial. As the revolution concludes, place the right hand in the path of the baton again to repeat the pop.

Lasso Straddle

Here's an easy one that is fun and nicely finishes off an 8-count. Gripping the baton at the ball, loop horizontal counter-clockwise over your head (full-hand grip, thumb points up.) Then, loop horizontal counter-clockwise below your waist, full-hand grip, thumb points down. Repeat the horizontal loop over your head, counter-clockwise as before. The final loop is again horizontal, counterclockwise below your waist, but this time, lift your left leg as the baton passes by, (keep your legs straight), and then lift your right leg, finishing the loop with your right leg elevated. You can either jump during the straddle, or separate the two leg lifts, depending on the effect you want to achieve. For variation, try keeping your legs together and jumping high, seemingly over the baton, keeping your knees together and bent during the straddle loop instead of looping between your legs.

Thumb Flip Under Leg

This trick is a combination -- right leg fan kick and low thumb toss right catch right. Start with your right leg in the left corner, body facing front. Bring your right leg across the front in a fan kick (toe makes a rainbow, leg stays straight), ending with right leg in right corner, body still facing front. As the right toe begins the fan kick, the right hand will begin a low thumb release, in front of the right hip. As your leg reaches its highest point of elevation, the palm should be facing up, directly under the right thigh. (Do not reach your arm under your leg -- this is wrong AND it looks silly!) The baton will lift off the thumb just after the leg passes the high point, thus the aerial is on the inside of the leg. (If this seems confusing, imagine you are kicking over your thumb toss -- if the baton hits the outside of your leg, you have released too early.) Finish the aerial with a right hand catch as the right legs lands the fan kick.

Double Leg Roll

(This one is included especially for Ed!) Hold baton in right hand, lift left leg as if you are marching, thigh parallel to the ground, knee bent so toe points to ground. Place back of right hand firmly under left leg, mid-thigh, and roll baton over leg, making sure baton is making contact with leg the entire time. As baton goes over top of left leg and nears the vertical position, quickly switch legs (march) so right leg is raised in march position. Baton should continue rolling smoothly over right leg. Reach left hand under right thigh to catch baton as it finishes rolling over the right leg.

Elbow-Arm Roll

Hold baton in right hand, grasping center of shaft. Position left arm so fist is under chin, and bent arm is flat, parallel to the floor. Your left elbow should point directly forward from your chin. Placing the back of your right hand against your left bicep, release the baton, letting it roll from the outside of your elbow in toward your left wrist. Make sure the baton rolls smoothly, by firmly placing it against your left arm and allowing it to tilt very slightly in toward your face. When the baton has rolled across your left arm, and is rolling over your left wrist (which you have kept below and in front of your chin), slowly extend your left arm forward as the baton is about 45 degrees off your wrist. (Yes, you can finally take your fist out from under your chin, but keep your arm flat as you extend it, making sure your arm remains parallel to the ground.) The baton should roll over the left wrist. You can open your left hand and grasp the baton at the conclusion of the roll as it passes in front of your left thumb, or you can continue with more rolls as it falls off of your wrist.

Palm Spin Bat Up

Hold baton in right hand, grasping center of shaft do a horizontal (flat) full-hand revolution, allowing palm to open as revolution is completed DO NOT STOP THE BATON, simply hold your palm flat, fingers together, and the baton will continue to spin on your palm without touching the baton, firmly hit the back of your upturned right hand with the palm of your left hand (hit up from underneath, keeping right hand flat and right arm steady) the force of your left hand hitting the right will cause the baton to pop upward off of your outstretched hand catch in your right or left hand

note: the harder/firmer you hit, the higher it goes. If the baton does not go straight up, your hand is not completely flat. When you are comfortable with this release, try spinning under the aerial. For an even greater challenge, try catching it in a palm spin!!!

Leg-to-Leg

Hold baton in right hand, at end of shaft by the ball do a whip circle clockwise, lifting left leg (like you are marching) release under bent left leg (point toe) turn 1/4 so you are facing your left side catch the baton (in center of shaft) with left hand under right leg (point toe, bend right leg like you are marching)

notes: the 1/4 turn is important, as it will keep your baton on pattern. when this is comfortable, try doing a 1-spin or 2-spin before the 1/4 turn catch left

Helicopter

place left hand over head, palm facing back do a 4-finger twirl HORIZONTAL, from index to pinky as your baton moves through your fingers, spin on your left foot to the left

notes: the horizontal pattern is very important, and your palm never turns to front good posture makes this trick more effective. Head and free-hand position also can enhance the presentation.

Coloring Page

FAQ

There is no membership fee to be a SugarBabies twirler. Costs most members incur are for a baton and the cost of the twirling classes. (Classes are separate from SugarBabies, but all of our twirlers are required to participate in a SugarBabies approved twirling class each semester. Classes are fee-based but we try to keep costs to a minimum.)

Based on age, ability, and experience, SugarBabies are divided into opportunity levels. The higher your level, the more opportunities are offered. During a year, we try to give every twirler the opportunity to participate in one or more parades, contests, and performances so they can experience all three facets of twirling.

SugarBabies has an amazing costume closet! We know how fast kids grow, and by building a collection of costumes and adding to it each year, we eliminate the requirement for each individual to purchase an outfit. On rare occasions, a team will opt to purchase a special costume piece individually, in which case the girls get to keep what they buy. But for the most part, costumes are assigned to a routine and returned to the team costume closet after each performance.

SugarBabies love to perform! If you have an event or group and would like the girls to perform, please let us know. We do parades as well as shows for community fairs, senior citizens, school events, etc. The SugarBabies have been featured twice on Show-Me St. Louis, have performed several times at Six-Flags, twirled at River City Rascals games, entertained at various festivals and malls in the St. Louis area, and so much more.

Nobody really likes fundraising, but it is something we do -- hopefully no more than one fundraiser per semester. Fundraising goals are set based on each opportunity level, so the more events a twirler is participating in, the more she will be asked to participate in the fundraiser. This is because the twirlers at the higher levels will need more costumes, more entry fees, and more props than the newer twirlers. Fundraising is kept to a minimum and we work very hard to keep our expenses low because we'd rather spend time twirling than fundraising.

We love donations! SugarBabies is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Please consult your tax advisor, chances are your donation is tax deductible!

We are always looking for new places and spaces to share twirling. If you know of a group of kids who want to learn to twirl, please contact us. We're happy to work with scout troops, neighbors, school groups, etc.

Analysis of the Sport of Baton Twirling

Courtesy of the World Baton Twirling Federation and United States Twirling Association

IT IS PHYSICAL – Baton Twirling requires fantastic coordination of fingers, hands, arms, feet and legs; in addition to extraordinary control of the back, stomach and torso, all of which are called to respond instantly to the sound the ear hears and the sight the eye sees. It requires endurance, agility, strength, and balance.

IT IS PSYCHOLOGICAL – Baton Twirling allows athletes to learn more about confidence and fear, self-esteem and self-image; it gives the chance to realize that attitude is what makes or breaks the competitive spirit, not anyone or anything else. It is a type of mind set with an increased awareness, which challenges an athlete to realize the potential she/he may possess. It requires self-discipline.

IT IS EMOTIONAL – Baton Twirling provides guided social interaction with other athletes. It offers the opportunity to participate and have fun in a healthy, wholesome activity and to develop lasting friendships. It provides the chance to recognize excellence and beauty, to be sensitive, to develop good character, and to have great youthful memories that last a lifetime.

IT IS A SCIENCE – Baton Twirling is exact, and demands precise execution. The baton is always pushing the laws of physics with force and speed, action and reaction, velocity and relativity.

IT IS MATHEMATICAL – Baton Twirling is a show, which can be entertaining and enlightening. It encompasses directing, acting, producing, managing and touring. It has colors, fashion, flair, excitement, pizzazz, sophistication and subtlety.

IT IS AN ARTISTIC SPORT – Baton Twirling requires the courage of a hockey player (without the padding), the concentration of a sprinter, the quick reactions of a boxer, and the stage presence and grace of a figure skater.

IT IS EDUCATIONAL – Baton Twirling allows our youth to learn how to take all of these elements, some dry and technically tiresome, some difficult and challenging, and create emotion, feeling, passion, develop a good work ethic, understand their own inner strengths and weaknesses, learn how to work with others and find a reason to stay focused on a quality life.