A majorette steps in uniform with a majorette corps, marching and making dance moves to the beat of the music of an accompanying band (fanfare) or drum corps, while she juggles a baton. The baton is a rod with a tip (small button), the ball (large button) and the shaft (the metal center section). The majorette can also use other attributes as pompoms, light batons, fire batons etc.
Majorettes do a combination of show dance, drill, ballet and twirling. Twirling is running with the baton.

The uniform usually consists of a dress or a combination of a top packet with mini skirt or petticoat, tights, boots and a hat. Some corps uniform consists of a track -like outfit and sneakers. This is especially so when twirl associations focusing on the boundary of ballet, gymnastics and show which predominantly occur in halls. The level of twirlers is generally much higher than the majorettes. Nowadays there are many majorette associations which both act on the street as show on the stage with own chosen music in high gymnasiums, where the most spectacular tricks are done. They can show routines in a variety of music, including popular dance numbers. Nowadays it is no longer mainly the march, the girls learn complicated dance steps from a variety of dance styles.

Majorettes perform at shows, demonstrations and parades. Some majorettes start very young. As a rule, they are not older than 25. But the real top twirlers often continue until their 30th.

In April 2006 the Netherlands won at the world championships in Eindhoven Baton Twirling and Majorette eight gold medals and finished behind the winning United States.
Some majorette corps got with their shows national or even international fame, as well as acting in television shows.

Special appearances of majorette are:

the cheerleader or cheer girl: girls who act to encourage the players of sports teams. They also entertain the audience. The custom originated in the United States, but entered also increasingly in other countries;
the Tanzmariechen: the majorette occurring in Germany at carnival sessions, and wears a uniform of the 18th century, in Limburg she is also called dance marieke.

the drum major, as leader of a marching band.