Twirl-M's Perform with Mariah Carey at 2005 Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Game
The Twirl-M’s of Walled Lake and Saline Twirlettes of Saline were invited to join Mariah Carey and 500 other performers in the 2005 Thanksgiving Day Detroit Lions Halftime Show. Thirty-one baton twirlers took to the field performing for more than 55,000 game spectators and one million live television viewers.
The groups were invited by a California production company. The spokesman for the company indicated that it was Ms. Carey herself who requested baton twirlers in the show. The Twirl-M’s featured 13 twirlers from Walled Lake ranging in age from 10 to 15 years. The group included Moriah Muscaro, the 2005 Miss Pre-Teen Majorette of Michigan, and Hailey Henehan, the 2006 Juvenile Michigan State Solo Champion. The Twirl-M’s, who are two-time national dance twirl finalists, are under the direction of Rhonda Muscaro and the assistant director Rachel Gatny.
Eighteen twirlers were featured from the Saline Twirlettes based out of Saline. Ranging in ages from 10 to 17 years, the Saline Twirlettes are six-time national dance twirl champions and featured Mary Ciotta, the 2005 Junior Regional Miss Majorette; Madeline Johnson, the 2005 Juvenile Miss Majorette of Michigan; and Conner Potter, the 2006 Pre-Teen Michigan State Solo Champion. Susan Usher is the director of the group with Amie Branch serving as assistant director.
According to Usher, “The students practiced all week prior to Thanksgiving to ensure a tremendous performance. This was a wonderful chance to put baton twirling on the map for all twirlers in the country,” added Usher.
Muscaro remarked, “We are honored to have been invited and enjoyed working with our fellow competitors and friends in Saline. This performance was indeed extra special.”
Student performers who twirled in front of sell out crowd were: (Twirl-M’s from the Walled Lake Area area:) Rosie Dodd, Meagan Dullack, Sami Hays, Hailey Henehan, Mackensy Lakian, Marissa Moore, Moriah Muscaro, Abby Oates, Marybeth Rice, Meghan Shaffer, Jennilee Smith, Courtney Stachowiak, Amy Vailliencourt. (Saline Twirlettes from the Saline area:) Mariah Austin, Cindy Bruckner, Mary Ciotta, Erin Cunningham, Katelyn Dauer, Tara Dauer, RaeAnne DeBest, Abby Dotz, Stacey Girbach, Christine Houle, Madeline Johnson, Mary Johnson, Samantha Kennedy, Kelsey Lamkin, Conner Potter, Jessica Potter, Kate Swierz, Haley Williams.
Both groups each feature approximately 60 twirlers. The Twirl-M’s are in its 7th season as a group, while the Saline Twirlettes are in their 12th season together.
Twirl-M's Team members joined top level twirlers with the Saline Twirlettes in performing at the 2005 Thanksgiving Day Detroit Lions football game.
Twirl-M's Team wore matching shirts with their twirling friends from Saline.
Abby Oates concentrates during her performance in front of 55,000 people and one million TV viewers.
Rosie Dodd and Mackensy Lakian get a quick snack in between rehearsals at Ford Field.
Sami Hays and Marybeth Rice enjoy their time together on the chartered bus ride to the game.
Moriah Muscaro is excited to perform with Mariah Carey.
Courtney Stachowiak gets a quick break during the dress rehearsal for the show.
Team Members Marissa Moore, Amy Vailliencourt, Mackensy Lakian, and Moriah Muscaro showcase their smiles at Ford Field.
Amy Vailliencourt does a quick take before running down to the field to begin practice.
Marissa Moore, Amy Vailliencourt, Mackensy Lakian, Moriah Muscaro, Sami Hays, and Marybeth Rice are great friends and members of Twirl-M's Team Nationals 2006.
For questions or for more information, please contact Twirl-M's Director Rhonda Muscaro at TwirlM@aol.com.
