NEW ORLEANS — Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport threw a parade for a group of honored guests from Milwaukee. When the Dancing Grannies arrived in New Orleans, the 610 Stompers greeted them on Thursday
“The comradery between marching groups is so special,” 610 Stomper Kris Sekinger said. “When we started talking with the Grannies early on, they said dancing is part of the healing process.”
It was an emotional welcome for a group of women still battling tremendous grief.
Three of the Grannies and one of their volunteers were killed when an SUV plowed into a Wisconsin Christmas parade they were performing in two years ago.
“There’s going to be 17 performing with about five or six volunteers,” Grannie Jean Knutson said. “After the tragedy there were about six grannies left and we have been rebuilding since then.”
“It’s been amazing and it is going to be a healing process to be out there with them dancing and dancing in honor and memory of those that we did lose,” Grannie Donna Kalik said.
The Stompers and the Krewe of Thoth invited the Grannies to be part of this year’s carnival celebration.
“It’s so special,” Krewe of Thoth member Phil Rau said. “They’re coming down from Milwaukee and the tragedy that they went through.”
“My expectation is a lot of fun, a lot of beads, everyone just smiling and having a good time, including us,” Grannie Sharon Millard said.
And yes, there will be a dance-off between the two beloved groups with extraordinary moves.
“If anyone wants to put odds on the Stompers beating the grannies in the dance off, well, we’ll see,” Stomper Alfred Richard said.
“Okay, it’s on,” Knutson said.
If you want to catch the Dancing Grannies along with the 610 Stompers again, they will be performing in the Krewe of Thoth which steps off at noon Sunday on the Uptown route. The Thoth organization is asking parade goers to display signs along the route that say, “Granny Strong” in honor of those who died.
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