Deloris Carter started twirling in Tampa, FL at Hillsborough High School and attended the University of Tampa. She moved to Eustis, FL in 1955 and started teaching twirling. Through the years she taught twirling in Eustis, Umatilla, Mt. Dora, Tavares, and Leesburg. She started the Show Dolls competition twirling group and numerous other locally named twirling groups that later took on the name of Dee’s Dolls. Majorettes came from surrounding counties to join her competition group the Show Dolls.
By the age of two, her daughter Dee Ann was twirling and competing. In seventh grade she started teaching baton along with her mother. Dee Ann taught twirling for over 50 years in Umatilla, Eustis, Mt. Dora, and Tavares to the Dee’s Dolls and Show Dolls. These twirling groups won many state championships for the National Baton Twirling Association (NBTA) and Drum Majorettes of America (DMA). Numerous students continued on to be college majorettes. Her daughter, April-Ann, also grew up twirling and started teaching the Dee’s Dolls in middle school. Dee Ann or Deloris directed Central Florida Baton Camp for over twenty-five years and All Florida Drill Team Camp for over ten years.
In 2007 Deloris and Dee Ann retired from teaching twirling. In 2010, at age 80, Deloris Carter was honored for the 52 years she had taught twirling to over 3,000 girls in Lake County. Former Dee’s Dolls, Show Dolls, Tampa majorettes, and even teachers from across the state who had taught at Central Florida Baton Camp attended the reunion. Do you recognize any of the faces in the reunion pictures below?
In 2014, Dee Ann Wilson restarted the Dee’s Dolls twirling group. Since her granddaughter, Hayden Creech, was now old enough to be the fourth generation to take twirling she decided it was time to let the fun begin all over again. Dee’s Dolls experienced group continues to win numerous awards at twirling competitions across the state. You can look for the Dee’s Dolls in local parades and shows throughout Lake County. You will also see April-Ann and Deloris Carter, great grandmother, helping out.
2022-2023 Dee’s Dolls
2022-2023 Florida State Champions Dance Line
2022 UCF Majorette Day
2021-2022 Dee’s Dolls
2021-2022 Florida State Champions Pom Pom
2021 UCF Majorette Day
2020-2021 Dee’s Dolls
2020-2021 Florida State Champions Dance Line
2020 UCF Majorette Day – Covid Style
4 Generations of Carter Twirlers
Mrs. Carter, who turned 90 this year, was honored when she twirled at 2019-2020 Twirlarama.
2019-2020 Dee’s Dolls Twirling at UCF Majorette Day
2019-2020 Dee’s Dolls
2019-2020 Competitions
2019-2020 Parades and Shows
2019-2020 Twirlarama Royal Court and Entertainment
2018-2019 Experienced Dee’s Dolls
2018-2019 Eustis Dee’s Dolls
2018-2019 Umatilla Dee’s Dolls
2018-2019 Competitions
2018-2019 Parades and Shows
2018-2019 Twirlarama Royal Court and Entertainment
2017-2018 Parades and Performances!
Experienced Dee’s Dolls Winning Awards for Dancing and Twirling!
2017-2018 Dee’s Dolls
2017-2018 Parades
2017-2018 Umatilla Festival
2017-2018 Twirlarama Royal Court
2017-2018 Twirlarama Entertainment
2016-2017 Parades and Performances!
Experienced Dee’s Dolls Winning Awards for Dancing and Twirling!
2016-2017 Dee’s Dolls
2016-2017 Parades
2016-2017 Twirlarama Royal Court
2016-2017 Twirlarama Entertainment
2015-2016 Parades and Performances!
2014-2015 Parades and Performances!
Reunion Pictures – 52 Years of Baton History!
