'Thrilling': The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies will be performing in a New Orleans Mardi Gras parade this weekend

Dance routines? Check.

Endurance training? Check.

Sparkly gold tops, and purple hats with feathers and beads? Check and check.

The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies are ready to take on New Orleans. They'll be performing at the Krewe of Thoth parade on Sunday for Mardi Gras for the first time.

"To find out that we're going to be going some place, getting the national spotlight was thrilling for everyone," said Debbie Bigler, one of the group's 20 members.

The treasured group of dancers — a longtime fixture at Wisconsin parades — were invited to be a part of the parade by Louisiana's 610 Stompers, a nonprofit all-male dance group made up of 120 members.

"When we heard about that tragedy in Waukesha, it just kind of hit home with us," said Kris Sekinger, a member of the Stompers.

Three of the Dancing Grannies and one of their volunteers were killed when an SUV driven by Darrell Brooks Jr. plowed into the 2021 Waukesha Christmas parade.

The Stompers saw an interview where a Granny said that continuing to march was therapeutic and helps them heal, Sekinger said.

"If marching helps them recover, we need to put them on one of the biggest stages on earth for marching," one of the Stompers said, according to Sekinger.

Grannies feel it's an 'honor' to be part of Krewe of Thoth parade

The Krewe of Thoth parade, founded in 1947, was originally designed to go past institutions that cared for people with disabilities and illnesses, according to its website. The parade continues this legacy to some extent while also becoming "one of the highlights of the Carnival scene." What started with 50 members and five floats now has over 2,500 riders and 50 floats, the website said.

To break the exciting news about where they'd be performing, the Grannies' leaders told members that there was a surprise, and handed out green beads, then gold, and finally purple.

"The entire group feels the honor it is to be able to go down there," Bigler said. "We know that we are so fortunate to have the 610 Stompers recognize us and invite us down there to join them. We are so thankful that they gave us this opportunity."

On the route, the Grannies will be rotating between four routines to the tunes of "We are Family," "Old Time Rock & Roll," "Celebration," and "Pretty Woman."

While the group practices together once a week, most members also practice on their own every day, said Bigler, who joined the group about a year ago.

"I've been practicing, practicing, practicing," she said.

Half of the 610 Stompers will be performing just ahead of the Grannies, and the other half will be right behind them. They'll be dancing to five songs, including "Ice Ice Baby," "I'm So Excited" and "Tell It To My Heart."

"We have so much fun in what we do," Sekinger said. "And I think we both have the same end result in making the crowd enjoy that parade experience."

Dancing Grannies will have special costumes, hats for New Orleans parade

The Grannies are used to doing parades that are around 1-mile in length, but the Krewe of Thoth parade is about seven times that.

To prepare for this, most members have been doing endurance training, Bigler said. Bigler, who recently ran the Key West Half Marathon, continued her jogging, and other members have formed walking groups or have been mall walking.

For the parade, the Grannies will be sporting sparkly gold tops with black skorts, but their Mardi Gras-themed hats are "the highlight," Bigler said. All members started with the same purple hat and could decorate them how they wanted. Bigler's features purple feathers, and gold beads and lace.

Members can also add flair to their outfits to make them unique, such as adding a hip scarf with gold coins like Bigler is doing.

"Every time I'm able to put on that costume, you can't even imagine how wonderful it is," Bigler said. "It is an honor to wear that costume and be a part of that group."

Bigler had wanted to join the Grannies ever since she saw them perform at a Hales Corners Fourth of July parade about a decade ago. After retiring from being a case worker for the state's Department of Health Services, she was able to fulfill that dream. She said she still has to pinch herself.

"It is wonderful," Bigler said. "I have such respect for the group, and all of the women that are a part of that group. It truly is a sisterhood."

As a 501(c)(3), the 610 Stompers have also selected the Dancing Grannies to be the recipient of donations they receive this year, according to Sekinger.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Dancing Grannies performing in New Orleans Mardi Gras parade