Majorettes

[Spudthespanner]

Remember this? In the 90s there was always a couple of wee lassies in your class that went to majorettes. What happened to majorettes? Vanished like steering wheel locks. Just gone from society.

That’s sad. Poor you. I’m sorry that you had to miss out.

I would have been shit at it. I’m not a natural dancer/marcher….!!

Huge where I lived I got to one class then someone stole my baton and I didn’t get another. Cousin was brilliant at it. Seemed to just disappear x

I was one, did a few competitions too. I can still twirl now. Bloody loved it, but haven’t heard or seen a troop for donkeys years (based in the south east)

Majorettes is still a thing here (south west) - the troupes do all the local carnivals!
I did it as a child, can still spin a pen across the back of my hand 😂

It wasn't a thing when I was growing up and still isn't where I live.

I remember being deeply impressed by my friend’s baton twirling but a bit confused at what they actually did at the club for an hour a week or whatever. Was there a gymnastics/dancing sort of element like cheerleading? I just imagined that they twirled their batons for a full hour and then went home so Brownies with its campfires and crafts and plug wiring seemed much more attractive.

There's an artist called Lucy Wright and she researches folk cultures. I noticed she posted on Instagram about carnival morris which is similar to majorettes. I think it must come from similar heritage.

I took it for granted growing up in north east. Wasn't something I did but was aware of majorettes. I live in the Midlands now and I realise all the towns here seem to have carnivals which I don't remember growing up. I hadn't heard of carnival morris dancing before Lucy's work though.

West Scotland had marching bands but that's from orange lodges and all that business. (Lived there a while long time ago).

It's interesting to think about the history of these things.

interested in the link with Morris dancing as other posters have also mentioned this. I’m completely ignorant and all I imagine with morris dancing is skipping round a pole with ribbons.

I fell down a carnival Morris dancing rabbit hole on Tiktok. It's utterly bewildering, none of them look like they're having fun, and the comments are always a hoot!

Oh yes! The same girls that could do splits in gymnastics. I had neither the coordination nor the ability to want to care. But I was a little envious when they did the summer fetes.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DN4x3krDMSg/?igsh=MWgwb2UzMHQ2N3YzcQ==

And this seems to be another related thing...kazoo bands. Fascinating!

I did Majorettes in the early 90s in Norfolk. We wore pink pinnies and had to have sock garters to make sure our socks were always perfect. I can still remember how we were taught to turn on the spot.

I was a majorette. My sister and I led the procession at the village cattle show. We must have been very early primary school.

We had Morris dancing in my town (near Preston) and it was all the really popular girls who did it. The dresses and the travelling were quite pricey so I wasn’t allowed.

I knew the moves though as we all did them in the playground. Foot up to the opposite knee while you did a little hop, then toe pointed to the ground across the other leg. They were very competitive. Leyland were the best. They had their own bus that they went to competitions on.

Nostalgia

Not what it used to be is it.

Never heard of majorettes but I know someone who uses a steering wheel lock (the only one I’ve seen in use for about 2 decades).

Yes I think I have seen steering wheel locks, when Ive been peering through car windows looking for one to steal.

Puts me right off

Still a thing here I think. To support the marching band