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Started in 2009, the 610 Stompers are the first and only all-male dance group in New Orleans. Named for the Superdome section where the founder, Brett Patron (“Slab”), had season tickets to the New Orleans Saints, the 610 Stompers march in Mardi Gras parades, perform at charity events, and dance at halftime shows.

The 610 Stompers don a 70s-esque look, wearing white tank tops, headbands, tube socks, blue shorts, gold spray-painted sneakers, and a signature red bomber jacket. They lead with the motto: “Ordinary Men. Extraordinary Moves.”

There is also a subgroup of the 610 Stompers, known as the 610 Splits, who act as security on parade routes.

610 Splits

The female counterpart to the 610 Stompers is the 610 Splits. The Splits march alongside the Stompers on the parade routes as security. They, too, have a strict uniform - tennis skirts, jackets, and visors - to match the men.

Events

Tryouts

To join the 610 Stompers, those interested must go through two sets of auditions. Tryouts are a public, ticketed event held in August and begin in the early morning. Only the first 75 people in line are allowed to audition. Participants receive a number and must learn one of the 610 Stomper dances before performing for the judges, members of the Stompers and Splits, and a larger audience. Final round participants are chosen based on their performance in the first round.

Ball Crawl

Held on the Saturday closest to June 10 (6/10), the Ball Crawl is a chance to be a 610 Stomper for the day. Participants join the Stompers in a second-line bar crawl throughout New Orleans. During the event, of which the proceeds are donated, attendees learn 610 Stomper dances, participate in contests, and attempt to win prizes and 610 Stomper merchandise.

Debutante Ball

The Sweet 610 Debutante Ball is the 610 Stomper's largest event of the year. A play on New Orleans’ Debutante season, the Stompers introduce their new Mardi Gras dances and that year's Rookie class. The Rookie class - both Stompers and Splits - receive their Stomper name (this name is sewn onto their jackets). All money raised is donated to charity.

Holiday Spectacular

During the holiday season, the 610 Stompers join the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at Mahalia Jackson Theater to perform a multicultural mix of song and dance for the community.

Parades/Performances

Charitable Efforts

While the 610 Stompers are known for their marching, charity is also a large part of the organization's mission. Over $530,645 of money and dances have been donated since their inception.

Stompers Give Back is a charitable grant where proceeds from public events are used to fund and support local nonprofits in Greater New Orleans. It is an initiative that community groups can apply to.

One of their most notable charitable efforts is their work with the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies. After three members of the Dancing Grannies were killed in the Waukesha Wisconsin Christmas parade in 2021, they were invited to perform with the Stompers during 2023's Mardi Gras season. The Dancing Grannies reciprocated the invitation, leading the Stompers to participate in several Wisconsin parades.

A full list of charities and organizations supported by the 610 Stompers:

• A Shared Initiative Inc.
• AdvanceNOLA
• ALS Association
• Alzheimers Association
• American Lung Association
• Angels on Earth Foundation
• Aquarium of the Americas
• ARC
• Be the Match Registry
• Bethlehem Lutheran Church
• Bodacious Bras for a Cause
• Boudin, Bourbon, and Beer (Emeril Lagasse Foundation)
• Boys Hope Girls Hope
• Brain Injury Assn of Louisiana
• Bridge House/Grace House
• Camp Tiger Paw
• Children's Neuromuscular Foundation of Louisiana
• Crescent Care - NO/Aids Task Force
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
• Deutsches Haus
• Downs Syndrome Association of Greater New Orleans
• Dress for Success
• Drew's Tunes
• Easter Seals Louisiana
• Educators for Quality Alternatives, Inc.
• Good Shepherd School
• Grow Dat Youth Farm
• Habitat for Humanity
• Hand-On New Orleans, Inc.
• Harry Thompson Center
• Japan Club of New Orleans
• Jefferson Parish Dollars for Scholars
• Krewe de Camp/Friends Helping Kids
• LCIW Drama Club
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
• Louisiana Lions Camp
• Louisiana Organ Procurement Association/Agency
• Lowernine.org
• Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
• Magnolia School
• Milwaukee Dancing Grannies
• Mo's Pizza Fest
• Movember
• Muscular Dystrophy Association
• NAMI New Orleans
• New Orleans Children's' Hospital
• New Orleans Kids' Partnership Mentorfest
• New Orleans Night Out Against Crime
• New Orleans Society for Infectious Disease Awareness
• NOPD Mobile Crisis Unit
• Ochsner Hospital
• Para el Mundo USA
• Playworks NOLA
• Ripples Summer Camp
• Roots of Music
• Safe Harbor Domestic Violence Program
• SPCA
• The Spinal Research Foundation
• St. Baldrick's
• St. Tammany Parish Hospital
• Susan G. Komen Foundation
• Team Gleason
• Upbeat Academy
• Upturn Arts
• Xavier University
• Yes Foundation, Inc.
• The Zack Strief Dream Big Foundation

References

1. ^ Times, Neela Banerjee Neela Banerjee is a former staff writer for the Los Angeles (2014-03-04). "Camaraderie, goofy moves fire up New Orleans dance troupe". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
2. ^ "610 Stompers". 610stompers.com. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
3. ^ "Do you have the moves? 610 Stompers hosting dance team tryouts in August". NOLA Now. 2022-07-26. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
4. ^ Andrews, Victor (2022-01-28). "Need plans this weekend? Fun things to do Jan. 28-30 in New Orleans". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
5. ^ "610 Stompers Debutante Ball | Jan 21 | Gambit Weekly". calendar.gambitweekly.com. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
6. ^ Rousseau, Randi (2024-01-11). "Pop culture takes center stage at the Sweet '610' Debutante Ball". WDSU. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
7. ^ "Loyola University". Loyola University New Orleans. 2020-02-18. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
8. ^ "Marching Groups of Mardi Gras". Where Y'at New Orleans. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
9. ^ "'Marching Gras' Guide 2018: a look at local marching groups". wwltv.com. 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
10. MacCash, Doug (2023-06-27). "Why are the 610 Stompers Mardi Gras dancers bound for Wisconsin?". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2024-03-17.

• Dance groups
• Culture of New Orleans