And arrive they do, thousands of them, in tour buses and minivans, with family and friends in tow. They hail from all parts of the United States, a parade of humanity dressed in colorful, sparking attire, tights and jazz dancer's shoes. Of course, they also wear smiles as wide as the Mississippi. Twirl Mania relaxes the rules and lets in all twirlers, regardless of their affiliation. For a few days in a world comprising some 12 million practitioners, Twirl Mania is the Mecca of the sport.
Nobody knows what they can do.
That's why we've gone to Disney and got twirlers into showcases. That strategy has paid dividends for twirlers, judges and coaches who favor a higher profile and unification for the good of the sport. In six years, Twirl Mania has gone from about 700 to 3,500 contestants, according to Joyce. Growing up in Philadelphia in the 1960s, she would spend much of her spare time practicing her twirling moves. When she was old enough, she became an instructor.