History

This is an introduction into how the Huddersfield Crusaders Majorette Troupe was formed.

Troupe name – Huddersfield Crusaders Majorettes est. 1993.

We were first set up at the Brackenhall Community Centre in Huddersfield attending 2 hour sessions twice a week and after a year of learning how to twirl a baton got into competitions straight away.
We were a small troupe at first having just under 20 members, though we worked really hard to build up a reputation to get a lot of other people involved in the majorettes and increased the numbers to 35 - 40 members. These members ranged from as young as 3 years old, up to 21 years old.

The committee played a big part in the running of the troupe and a really dedicated parent became our secretary; her name Anne Rodgers. Throughout her years of being part of the crusaders she really did help to get the troupe where it is today.

As a troupe we worked together to train each other and this helped us to establish ourselves at competitions and develop our baton twirling skills. In 1997 the troupe came to the decision that we needed an official trainer to keep things in order, sophie simpson was appointed the position and took over training of the seniors and juniors aswell as dancing in both the sections.

Within the Crusaders we now only have just about 20 members which still makes us quite a small troupe but we find this a good thing because it ensures that we all stay a close troupe. The ages now range from 11 years to 24 years old. Since we started we have danced in all the majorette sections including Babies, Dinkies, Tiny Dance, Tiny Military, Junior Dance, Junior Military, Senior Dance and Senior Military. The sections have now been altered and a themed section has been added within this section you can use musical theatre/jazz in your routines to make them more entertaining. Previously we have performed 'Oliver', Which won first place several times thoughout 2005 season, 'Sister Act', Which won first place throughout the majority of the 2006 season along with Most Entertaining Routine and Section of the Year at the 2006 Universal Championships and 'Superheroes', which won 1st place a few times throughout the 2007 season as well as 'Best Choreography' at the 2007 Universal Championships.
We have also just started a new pom section that is more focused on dancing, musicality and choreography. (It resembles cheerleading)

The troupe are members of the Yorkshire Carnival Association which is a majorette organisation that arranges competitions and twirling seminars between April - November (which is the 7-month season period) as a troupe we have been taking part in local and national competitions aswell as the Universal Championships since 1994.

During this time we have won the Universals in Junior Dance Twirl (2000 & 2006), Junior Military Freestyle (2000), and in Senior Dance twirl (2002, 2003, 2004). We have also won Senior Dance Twirl section of the year at the Universal Championships four times since 2004.

We have a committee which is an important part of the running of the troupe. Committee members are:

Secretary: Sophie Simpson
Chairperson: Shelley Mclachlan
Treasurer: Denise Ali
Committee Members: Patricia Ahmad
Lisa Simpson
Amanda Rose

As a troupe we try to make the majorette experience a fun one for everyone involved and we aim to emphasise this within our unique routines, Majorettes for us is a way of expression - we use the art of baton twirling to bring out an enjoyable experience for all who take part.

Our Training nights are:

– Wednesday 5.30 – 8pm
- Saturday 5.30 - 8pm
- Sundays 11am - 1pm (On scheduled dates)