Circus Majorettes and Baton Twirlers
Circus majorettes and baton twirlers have been part of circus entertainment for more than a century, appearing in traditional big-top productions alongside equestrian acts, aerialists, clowns and grand spectacle finales. Professional performers were hired for their showmanship as much as their technical skill, and many combined baton twirling with dance, acrobatics, horseback riding or aerial work. Among the best known was Katherine “Kitty” Clark, who joined the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus in 1937 before becoming a featured performer with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
As the circus evolved, baton twirling evolved with it. While fewer twirlers appeared in traditional traveling circuses after the mid-twentieth century, the discipline found a place in contemporary circus productions that blend athleticism with theatrical storytelling. Performers such as Annetta Lucero, Jennifer Marcus, Cody Carter and Japanese world champion Noriko Takahashi, demonstrate that baton twirling continues to be an important part of modern circus performance.
The Vintage Twirler is putting together a list of all twirlers who appeared with the circus. If you would like to assist with the development of this archive please contact us.
This is a developing article and information is incomplete. This page is under construction.
Lorna Nifong Twirled Her Way From the Barnyard to the Big Top
In the spring of 1949, 17-year-old Lorna Mae Nifong left her family’s 335-acre farm in Bourbon, Indiana, for a job most teenage twirlers could only dream about. She had never set foot on a train and was still working toward her high school diploma, but her destination...
August 2026 Vintage Twirler of the Month
Katherine “Kitty” Clark is the August 2026 Vintage Twirler of the Month. If you are a paid member of the Baton Twirling Preservation Society, you will receive your FREE sticker of Katherine by mid-August. This is the third sticker we’ve distributed since our launch...
At 16, Baton Twirler Katherine “Kitty” Clark Left Indiana to Join the Circus
Edward Frye, a circus fan from Minnesota and Kitty Clark, August 1941, Madison, Wisconsin (Source: Milner Library, ISU) This photo has been enhanced with AI tools and software. See original below.During the late 1930s and throughout the 1940s, Katherine "Kitty" Clark...
15 Facts About Norman Crider, (1938-2009)
Rural New Mexican Norm Crider was born in 1938 and influenced a generation of French and Italian baton twirlers. Here are 15 facts about the late international champion and college feature twirler. 1 Born in 1938 in Lordsburg, New Mexico, he spent most his childhood...
Diane Shelton: Champion Baton Twirler Performed in War-Torn Vietnam (1966)
Diane Shelton, Baton Twirler, performs for U.S. Soldiers stationed in Vietnam, Christmas Day 1966 Baton Twirler Performed in Vietnam on Christmas Day 1966 Diane Shelton was an accomplished baton twirler who toured Vietnam with Bob Hope's USO shows in 1966. William...
At 16, Kitty Clark of Elkhart, Indiana, joined the circus as baton twirler and drum majorette. Her father, Edward L. Clark, was her coach and held patents for batons. He was the Clark of Selmer and Clark.
