Dottie Dunston: A Jersey Shore Original
Dorothy “Dottie” Dunston was one of the most influential baton twirling instructors on the Jersey Shore during the Golden Age of baton twirling.
A performer, teacher, judge, pageant director, and school owner, Dunston spent decades introducing young people to baton twirling and the performing arts. Through the Dottie Dunston School of Baton Twirling and Dance and later the Ocean-Monmouth Academy of Theatrical Arts, she trained generations of twirlers, majorettes, color guard performers, dancers, and pageant contestants throughout Ocean and Monmouth counties in New Jersey.
The Ed Sullivan Show
Before becoming an instructor, Dunston established herself as an accomplished performer. She appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, studied under former world champion Howard McNeil, and joined the National Baton Twirlers Association. By 1964, she had been admitted to the National Twirling Judges Association and was listed in Who’s Who in Baton Twirling, a national directory recognizing leading teachers, judges, and performers. Her sister, Bibiane Dunston, was also included.
Dunston founded her school in 1960 and steadily expanded its offerings. Newspaper accounts and advertisements document classes in baton twirling, marching, modeling, dance, acrobatics, drama, and color guard.
Her students competed throughout the region and earned numerous titles and awards. The school became a familiar presence in parades, competitions, beauty pageants, and community events across the Jersey Shore.
Gina
Among her most accomplished students was her daughter, Gina Troncone. Newspaper coverage from the 1970s documents Gina’s success in baton twirling competitions, including state and regional titles. Gina became one of the most visible young twirlers in the area rising to the level of local celebrity. She competed in at least three systems: Drum Majorettes of America, World Twirling Association and the National Baton Twirling Association. Among her titles was Miss Majorette of New Jersey 1974.
Junior Miss Program
Dunston’s influence extended beyond baton twirling. She served as executive director of the Ocean-Monmouth Junior Miss program and was active in the Our Little Miss pageant system. Her work connected baton twirling, pageantry, dance, and youth performance at a time when those activities were closely intertwined in many American communities.
Former students remembered the school not simply as a place to take lessons, but as a gathering place for young performers. They recalled parade units, rifle lines, competitions, friendships, and countless hours spent preparing for performances. Some went on to become high school twirlers and marching band performers, while others carried their experiences into careers and activities beyond the twirling world.
Class of 1961
Dunston remained a well-known figure in Point Pleasant throughout her life. A member of the Point Pleasant Beach High School Class of 1961, she maintained friendships with classmates for decades and was remembered locally for her outgoing personality, her convertibles, and her lifelong involvement in community activities.
Death
When Dottie Dunston died in 2018 at the age of 75, her obituary described her as an icon in Point Pleasant and noted that she taught students throughout Ocean and Monmouth counties from the 1960s through 1984. More than half a century after she opened her school, her legacy remains visible in the history of New Jersey baton twirling and in the memories of the many students who learned under her direction.
History is rarely simple.
Dottie Dunston’s story includes championship twirlers, television appearances, pageants, and a thriving performing arts school. It also includes controversy, court filings, and difficult questions that surfaced during the final years of her public career. Baton Twirling Preservation Society member-subscribers can read an upcoming exclusive companion essay, that explores that chapter of the story through the lens of history, journalism, and the challenges faced by many prominent instructors.
Dottie Dunston Baton Twirlers Memories Facebook Group
In 2022, Gina created the Dottie Dunston Baton Twirlers Memories Facebook group in honor of her late mother. It includes photos and recollections from the studio years. We restored some of the images with the use of AI and Adobe Photoshop. We also created the illustration of Dottie’s wonderful purple and white banner from the cover photo on the group. It’s such a great banner and so reflective of the era.
Gina, 17, posing with 125 trophies and medals won over the course of her twirling years.
Original Banner