America's Youth on Parade back to Notre Dame after 2-year absence
SOUTH BEND − All-Stars and silvers and twirlers, oh my! America’s Youth on Parade national baton twirling championships came back to Notre Dame for the first time since 2019.
“We’ve been coming to this event for 40 years; we look forward it every year,” said Lacey Steik, co-director of Julie’s Touch of Silver dance studio from Oshkosh, Wis.
More:Michigan teen trades juggling for twirling, joins sister in national competition at Notre Dame
AYOP started as 40 different events and competitions across the country. But, when The Joyce Center was built in 1968, Don Sartell, the organization’s founder, thought of bringing it all under one roof.
The co-ed competition hosts a variety of events like baton twirling, modeling, dance and color guard. Contestants range in age from as young as 6 and younger to collegiate dancers.
“This whole organization prides themselves on being like a family,” Steik said, “so it is nice to be able to show support for even our competitors.”
“At the end of the day, we all love twirling,” she said.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: America's Youth on Parade returns to Notre Dame after 2-year absence
