Twist and Shout Cheer and Dance Center will open it’s doors Saturday to introduce gymnastics, dance and competitive cheerleading to Union County.

Program Director Linda Nies said she has been consulting with Christi Stanton, owner of Starmakers Dance Company in Inman, and that classes will be taught by qualified instructors from Stanton’s facility.

Nies said she will also use some instructors from Union County.

Former competitive gymnast Amanda Robinson will serve as tumbling director. Robinson cheered at Lockhart High School where she was a two-time All American, earning a spot in half-time shows of the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama and The Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Having started gymnastics at the early age of four with the encouragement of a neighbor who was a gymnast, Robinson stresses the importance of starting young and sticking with it.

“These days you pretty much have to have a tumbling background to even make a squad, much less be successful at the competitive level.” said Robinson. “Cheerleading has come a long way since 1997. Competitions were not as prevalent then as they are now.”

Robinson competed in regionals in Alabama and on the national level in Tennessee and was a South Carolina state champion two years in a row.

Alongside Robinson, Elizabeth Wilson Ireton will head the cheerleading portion.

Ireton has coached high school cheerleading for 12 years, serving at Gaffney High School for 10 of the 12. Nies said Ireton started Gaffney’s competitive cheerleading program and was very successful.

Twist and Shout Cheer and Dance will offer tumbling for all ages, Mommy and Me classes for children under two, cheerleading classes, and a competitive cheerleading squad.

The facility is located at 708 S. Duncan By Pass Suite L at the Nixon Center and will have a full spring floor for tumbling.

Open house and registration is Saturday Aug. 27 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. There is a $15 registration fee with discounts available for more than one class and for siblings.

“It is our wish that through Twist and Shout Cheer and Dance Center, we can bring up strong and talented cheerleaders in Union County,” said Robinson. “Hopefully they will love and cherish it the way I did when I was growing up.”

You can find Twist and Shout Cheer and Dance Center on facebook for upcoming news or visit their website at www.twistandshout@charter.net.