As Russellville’s Studio X-Treme kicked off its summer twirl clinics in June, local twirlers prepared for a summer of hard work and the opportunity to learn from college twirlers with proven success.

Studio X-Treme is hosting five South Eastern Conference twirlers throughout the summer at its Russellville location, with about 25 spots open for each clinic.

“We are very excited to have them here, and I know the girls are excited to meet them and learn from them,” said studio owner Heather Davis.

The series kicked off June 17 with University of Tennessee head majorette Kaylee Kennedy. June 24 the studio hosted University of Alabama majorette Livi Thomas.

University of Mississippi feature twirler Sydney Spencer will be there July 17, Mississippi State University feature twirler Channing Perrett will be there July 31, and recent MSU feature twirler graduate Anna Shimkets will be there Aug. 21.

Davis said although getting in contact with the twirlers was not difficult through the number of contacts she has as a studio owner, finding a time when the clinics could be held was a challenge.

“A lot of the twirlers are still competing in nationals, so we had to work around that,” Davis said. “Our girls also have band camp and other things going on, so it took some work trying to find a way to make the schedules work.”

Studio X-Treme is no stranger to having big names visit the studio.

In January, Baton Twirling World Champion and former Baylor University  feature twirler Adaline Bebo held a clinic at the studio, and Baton Twirling Collegiate Champion and former University of Arkansas feature twirler Savannah Miller will return to the studio to hold a clinic for the third time in September.

“I think it is a great opportunity for the girls to learn a lot without having to go outside of their home studio,” Davis said.

Davis said of the 11 girls on her elite team this year, the majority have a goal of twirling collegiately.

“I think being able to meet with these girls gives them an idea of what it actually means to twirl in college,” Davis said. “They get to ask them questions and learn a lot more than they would just being in a small town. Being a college twirler is definitely different than being a high school majorette.”

Davis said it is also fun to watch the girls interact with other instructors and learn new things from twirlers doing what they dream of doing.

“We always learn a lot, and it is a lot of fun,” Davis said. “We are really looking forward to the rest of them.”