OUR STORY

The Central Maine Twirling Corps was established in 2009, and evolved out of the well-known and long-running baton twirling program, the World of Twirl.

Our story is not just one of twirling and marching, traveling and performing, or competitions and awards. Of the many positive experiences, life lessons and opportunities twirling can give to a young athlete, our story is one of a true and cherished friendship, mentorship, and shared passion for the sport and art of baton twirling.

It all began in 2000 when the then East Coast Twirling Association Director, Diane Higgins, invited twirlers Andrea Fletcher and Jennifer DeCosta to Maine to assist with the World of Twirl’s summer baton camp in Bangor. The experience was a very positive one for the two twirlers, and they returned home to New Hampshire that summer with very fond memories of both the twirlers they had the opportunity to teach, as well as Diane. The following year brought the end of this summer camp, but the girls always looked back warm-heartedly on their time spent in Maine, and were thankful for the opportunity to have twirled with this fantastic group.

Several years passed, Coach Diane and her twirlers grew and thrived, and Jennifer and Andrea’s lives took them in different directions. It seemed that this twirling relationship had come to an end, but in November of 2004, after moving to Bangor for a career opportunity, Andrea open the local newspaper to find not only a fantastic article about Diane and her twirlers (the then soon to be named Main-E-Acts Team), but also what would later become a welcoming twirling family, amazing lifelong friends, and a wonderful new home in Maine with the World of Twirl. The end of the article had Diane’s contact information, which had changed since those years of directing summer camp, and Andrea very nervously called Diane that same day. Without hesitation, Andrea was greeted by the same welcoming and friendly voice she remembered.

Diane and Andrea began coaching together in the years to follow this day, and through their coaching, twirling and own life experiences during this time, developed a lasting friendship that extended far beyond the walls of the practice gym. In 2009, after five memorable years together, and over 35 years of directing, coaching and dedicating herself to the World of Twirl, Diane announced her retirement from the sport of twirling, and the opening of a new chapter in her own life. As Diane celebrated this time, she left her twirlers and Andrea with many lessons and inspirations for the future, then generously passed the coach and director baton to Andrea…

…and so began the Central Maine Twirling Corps!

Today’s corps is coached by Andrea and several of the program’s alumnae, and assisted by the Corp’s high school and collegiate twirling students.