Purdue Today

Macy's Parade fulfills childhood dream for solo twirler

Rachael Bazzell, Purdue's newest solo twirler as Miss Boilerette, will realize one of her childhood dreams when the twirlers lead the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band through Manhattan in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 25.
 
At her home in New Carlisle, her parents will be glued to the NBC broadcast (which starts at 9 a.m.) because that's what they always do. "Every family has its Thanksgiving traditions and, outside turkey, ours is watching the parade," she says. "It was always my dream to be a Rockette or to perform in the Macy's parade."

By second grade she knew she wanted to be a twirler, not a dancer, and set her sights on Purdue. In 2010, Purdue Bands & Orchestras created the position of Miss Boilerette specifically for her talents.
 
Not being a Rockette doesn't bother her because twirling has provided equally exciting opportunities like being Miss Purdue -- she won the preliminary talent competition in the Miss Indiana contest. Although the Rockettes' famous kick line is cool, "on the parade route we'll toss under our kicks and they don't do that," she says with a smile.
 
Bazzell is majoring in cancer biology with the goal of being an oncology research assistant. She plans to do graduate work in Texas after completing her Purdue degree in 2012.
  
But it's hard for her, and all band members, to concentrate on academics when the parade they've been looking forward to for more than a year is only days away.
 
Twirling in cold temperatures presents challenges. "When my hands get very, very cold, it stings to catch the baton," Bazzell says.

Macy's requires auxiliary units like Purdue's twirlers, dancers and flags to wear warm-ups during the parade if temperatures are below 40 degrees. As she does at Purdue football games, Bazzell anticipates wearing thermal heat wraps around her waist. She's found that "once your body gets to a certain point you don't feel the cold any more. It's mental strength too. Sometimes you just have to get out and do it."
 
All five solo twirlers -- including the Golden Girl, Girl in Black, Silver Twins and Miss Boilerette -- plan to twirl the entire 2.65-mile route.

"We practice two hours a day so we are used to constant twirling," she says. Besides, "whenever you're in front of a crowd, you just want to put on a show."
 
Having never been to New York City before, Bazzell wants "to be a typical tourist and see everything. I want to buy a shirt that says I (heart) New York!"

As a group, the band is planning to visit the Statue of Liberty, and on Thanksgiving night they'll attend the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show.
 
Undoubtedly the parade will provide the most special memories -- and Thanksgiving Day will start early. It's likely that Purdue will be assigned a 3:30 a.m. or earlier rehearsal in front of Macy's for the TV spotlight number, and everyone has to be in full uniform. For the twirlers that extends to hair and makeup.

"I have to get up two hours before call to do full attire, makeup and hair and be ready to go," Bazzell says.
 
But it will all be worth it, she says, because "I will actually perform on the star, have that experience, and be able to say 'I stood on the Macy's star at the parade.'"