Dale Amos, a USTA Professional member from Maryland, was literally born into the world of baton twirling! Each phase of his life has included some form of twirling plus an array of other performing arts. Inside Loop recently talked with him about his journey within our sport. Here's what he had to say:
Inside Loop: Dale, you and your family are ALL ABOUT baton twirling and performing arts. Tell us how it all started!
Amos: : My parents met in a baton, drum and bugle corps. My father joined the group to meet my mom. They took us to drum corps competitions when I was little and I instantly fell in love with drum corps. Growing up, my family continued going to drum corps competitions and parades and I was always fascinated by every aspect of the marching bands, majorette groups and drum corps. When I was 12 years old, a majorette and drum corps started in my town, The Chesapeake Baytons, which eventually became The Blazers. The group was a parade group at that time, but I knew it could be more. I started in honor guard, then color guard, then percussion and eventually became the drum major. When I was old enough to drive, I would pick up kids from the surrounding area to take them to practices and events and had an instant bond with so many twirlers, color guard kids, and percussionists. Knowing that there was so much more to the activity, I would regularly load up my car and take kids to parking lot competitions, indoor competitions, even state championships to watch other groups. I was trying to get kids to love this all as much as I did. Dawn Burgess, my girlfriend at the time, twirled with Bel Air Lads and Lasses; The Blazers hired her as a twirling instructor. Lads and Lasses had been in existence for several years, and I knew that they were state, regional and national champions. I joined that group for a few years helping to teach color guard as well as marching with their guard program, spinning rifle, flags and flag baton for their indoor guard.
After several years of teaching Blazers together, Dawn and I took over the group, eventually turning it into a relatively successful indoor program. At one point, we had several percussion groups, several indoor color guards, and typically 10 to 12 twirling teams and competed in USTA, NBTA, TU, WGI and other indoor circuits. We would spend hours choreographing twirling routines together, teaching kids, picking up kids for practices and events, and celebrating a lot of their family events with them. As a teacher and lifelong learner, we went to USTA judges workshops together, learning everything we could to help improve what the kids in our corps were doing. I was too old to be in a real corps myself at this point, but I was convinced that we could influence a lot of other kids to become future champions. We had The Blazers for about 25 years and our own two children, Austin and Ashlee, marched with us for a number of years. Eventually, Ashlee joined Wheaton Dance Twirl Teams, where she twirled until graduating from high school.
Throughout this time, I continued to learn whatever I could, attending USTA meetings, eventually serving as the treasurer for the Maryland council, vice president of Northeastern Regional Council, on the board for the Maryland chapter of NBTA, the board for Tournament of Bands, secretary of the high school band boosters, and now assistant director of Rising Sun High School Marching Band. My daughter and wife teach the color guard for the high school band, and my son works with front ensemble and percussion for the marching band, too.
I got my USTA judge's certification in the mid 1990's, and eventually became certified to judge NBTA, TU, and AAU competitions. I still attend many twirling competitions, indoor guard shows, high school marching band competitions, collegiate band festivals, DCA and DCI drum corps events, and other related activities. I've been known to drive several hours alone to attend these types of events; I gain something from every performance I watch.
Inside Loop: Your interest and experience in corps is very intriguing. Can you give us more details about that?
Amos: Although there are not too many baton corps left in the United States, I think there's a lot of interest in corps-type events. If you consider organizations like WGI, US Bands, Bands of America, DCI, DCA and many other organizations that cater to corps, they've experienced incredible growth. With the current focus of USTA working toward Olympic recognition, it's understandable that twirling takes priority. At the same time, I think there's room for more corps style events, even if they are unsanctioned. There are indoor guard programs in many places throughout the U.S. that could be invited to perform as an exhibition event at twirling competitions. Drum corps and high school marching bands invite college bands to perform at their respective competitions and it's a great way to market all these activities. If the color guard world attended twirling competitions, I think there would be such mutual respect for both programs. My own daughter was able to go from twirling to a world class indoor color guard and drum corps with no difficulty. It was the strong training and background she got from baton twirling that made that transition so seamless. There is a lot that judges, coaches and athletes can learn, especially in terms of performance that can be gained from these other activities. We should make the conscious effort to make some connections with other organizations.
Inside Loop: And, lastly, what are three things the world of baton probably doesn't know about you?
Amos:
- I was an amateur clown growing up and considered attending clown school; I even had my high school SAT scores sent to Ringling Brothers College. I still dress up, in full make-up for local parades or school spirit days.
- I teach middle school math, high school algebra and geometry. Although I didn't really like middle school and high school, I graduated third in my high school class and apparently liked school enough to become a teacher. I went back to college when I was 29 to earn my teaching degree. I have my National Board Certification for middle school mathematics.
- I've been working at Baltimore Orioles stadium and Ravens stadium off and on since 1995. I've also worked at Philadelphia Eagles, Redskins games, Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Navy Stadium, Red Bull Arena, MetLife Stadium, Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Arena, Pier Six Pavilion, Cincinnati Reds and other large-scale venues for concerts and events. I've done everything from sell beer, tend bar, run a kitchen, manage concession stands and cook hundreds of hot dogs, burgers, sausages and other foods!