The Villages - January 2021 - 25

TELL US ABOUT YOUR
PERFORMANCES.
We have competed at Disney for
five years, performed at the Citrus
Bowl Parade for eight years, as well
as the Gator Bowl and the Pro Bowl
in Hawaii. We have also done two
performances for the Orlando Magic
as well as numerous parades in
downtown Orlando on a yearly basis.
We performed on Royal Caribbean
Cruise ships and we will be doing
that again this coming May. We do
all local parades in and outside of
The Villages as well as festivals with
the Entertainment Department on
the town squares. Over the years,
we have taken home well over 50
trophies and awards from first place
to best in show.

HOW MANY MEMBERS
DO YOU HAVE?
We have almost 100 members that
come from every corner of The
Villages. Everyone is welcome to twirl
or drum. We give free lessons and
then off we go!

DESCRIBE YOUR
EXPERIENCE
AS A PERFORMER
IN THE VILLAGES.
I love the excitement of the performance and the camaraderie of the
team! I especially like the music and
costumes and the exercise aspect of
being in the group. Then there is the
fire baton - which is more difficult,
but I enjoy the flow of adrenaline
while twirling and tossing it to my
partner during exchanges. Our
Villages neighbors have been so good
and faithful to us by coming out to
watch us. Performing in The Villages
is the best, and we have been blessed
enough to be asked to perform in
many venues. Our team is large, and
we do put on quite a show!

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU PERSONALLY TO
BE TWIRLING IN YOUR RETIREMENT YEARS?
I honestly wouldn't have thought in a million years that I would have
dusted off my original baton and be able to twirl at this stage of my life! Now
I own 12 batons and I normally carry five. I do quite well with managing
the team and with so many performances and parades, this is a full-time
job! The icing on the cake for me is seeing it all come together. I have to
thank my loving husband Mike, who helps our team tremendously. From
soaking fire batons, to making sure the music boxes work to maintaining
our website and taking videos and pictures of the team. I am very blessed
to have him as my helper in life. Mike runs our " Husband Helper Team. "
They actually have matching outfits that complement our costumes, and
they support us by taking photographs, carrying first aid equipment and
water. On the squares, they help shower us with snow at Christmas time
or fog for Halloween, and they help light and spot the fire baton twirlers
with fire extinguishers. Lastly, and this makes me laugh, they help with
our pop-up tent that NO ONE can fold back down!

ANN PELLE

MAGAZINE

25
The Villages - January 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - January 2021
