Twirl-N-Talent

Melissa Lankston

Melissa Lankston began her twirling and dance career at the tender age of 3 in Clinton, Iowa.  During her youth Melissa enjoyed being a member of the Gateway Contemporary Ballet, Carousel Dance Studio, and Sheryl’s Dance Academy where she learned a strong foundation in all areas of dance and performance.  As an accomplished Advanced baton twirler Melissa traveled across the United States competing on a State, Regional, and National level. She has won numerous awards and titles in both the National Baton Twirling Association and the World Twirling Associations. She enjoyed studying dance and baton under top teachers and choreographers by attending master classes, seminars, and competitions in Chicago, Los Angeles,  Omaha, and Las Vegas.  While in High school Melissa began to teach baton to local youth. Seeing that she could truly make a difference in the lives of so many she formed the first Twirl-N-Talent group in 1990. T-N-T has grown both in numbers and in talent over the years. While coaching and mentoring students remains Melissa's top priority she has also enjoyed hosting the Star Spangled Spectacular Baton Competition, Iowa State Twirling Championships, and forming SPIN, a baton convention and competition.
 
Twirl-N-Talent now has locations in both Iowa and Illinois. Over the past 20 years  Melissa’s students have carried on her winning tradition by capturing both individual and team titles in numerous competitions. They have been given many opportunities to perform and compete over the years including the Disney Dreams Come Ture Parade, and the Disney Spectro Magic Parade, as well as over 100 other local parades in Iowa and Illinois. They have performed at the University Of Iowa basket ball games, River Bandits Baseball games and many other community events. She has had the privilege to coach twirlers who have twirled for local high schools and eventually received college scholarships, for twirling. Her twirlers have also won Gold Medals at the AAU Jr. Olympics, received a variety of awards at AYOP the National Baton Twirling Associations national competition, local, state, and national pageant winners in the Miss America Pageant system as well as the National American Miss and Miss Co-ed Pageants, Advanced Miss Majorette of Iowa winners, and Bill Riley State Fair Talent winners and finalists. Melissa is proud of every student and is grateful for the many opportunities she has been able to provide for her students.
 
Currently living in German Town Hills Illinois with her Husband Jeff and two children Melissa stays very busy.  However, she continuously works to maintain an active involvement in the world of Baton Twirling as a coach and an accredited Judge with both the National Baton Twirling Association, and the Miss America Scholarship System. She is thrilled to be given the opportunity to travel across the United States teaching, judging, and choreographing for a variety of competitions, classes, and pageants.  

melissa@twirl-n-talent.com

Annabel McAtee

Maggie Gehlsen

Nicole Barreca (seasonal)

A dancer since age 3, Nicole Barreca has received many individual and team awards on the local, state and national levels. Nicole is pursuing double majors in journalism and graphic journalism with minors in history in English at Grand View University in Des Moines where she is a member of the varsity competitive dance team.  The Grand View dance team has earned three Iowa collegiate state championship dance titles since her freshman year and placed second at nationals in pom last season.  A graduate of North Scott High School where she was the school’s feature baton twirler for four years, Nicole is a former member of the North Scott Silver Shakers dance team that won the 2006 Iowa high school state championship in pom. She has been coaching baton twirling and dance at Twirl-N-Talent since 2007.

nicole@twirl-n-talent.com 

Rustin Matthew (seasonal)