Members of Twirling Club practiced their dance for their upcoming invitational service project during their cafeteria meeting after school on April 30. NAMIWalks is an annual walkathon event that raises mental health awareness and social injustices within the youth community.

Before practicing for their dance, the club celebrated the Bellaire International Student Association Festival (BISA) performance earlier in the month on April 17 with cookies and cupcakes. Senior, president and club founder Kayla Horn is a part of Houston’s Mayor’s Youth Council, asked Twirling Club to perform for the event on May 16, filled with booths of games, food and performances.

“I don’t recall telling them I run Twirling Club, so I was kind of shocked,” Horn said. “I thought, ‘How did they find that out?’ Then I realized that my Instagram has Twirling Club content.”

Sophomore Azania Sims has been a part of Twirling Club for two years alongside her sister sophomore Haddas’ah Sims, and said that her grandma inspired her to start twirling.

“I’m a really great dancer,” Azania Sims said. “I’ve been dancing since I was four, so I really liked the dancing part of twirling. My grandma was a twirler, so I guess it’s genetic.”

After turning her passion into a reality by joining the club, Azania Sims said she reflected on the BISA performance and thought she did really well.

“I was nervous at first, but then I got excited,” Azania Sims said. “There were a few parts that I messed up on, but I wasn’t thinking about that. I was just thinking about having fun.”

Similarly, junior Charlotte Hart joined the club and found passion in twirling after she saw the club’s “phenomenal” performance at the annual Black History Month performance.

“It was really cool,” Hart said. “I was inspired to join because they did just such an amazing job. I saw how hard they worked, and the club seemed like they had such good friendship.” 

Prior to joining the club, Hart fractured her foot and was in a boot, so she practiced twirling on her own. Her first meeting with the club was in preparation for BISA.

“I love having a craft that I can focus on that doesn’t just help me improve at whatever it is I’m doing, but also helps me build discipline,” Hart said. “I have a great group of friends, and it was a lot of fun getting to perform.”

NAMIWalks will be the last event Twirling Club will have for this school year, and Horn said she is hopeful for the future now that the club is in good hands.

“I’m really going to miss them,” Horn said. “That’s why I was really excited when we got the offer because I want to give our twirlers more opportunities to perform. They’ve really put in the work with these routines, and I’m so proud of them.”

To keep up with Twirling Club, join its Remind @bhs-twirl or follow its Instagram @bhs_twirling_club.