The 610 Stompers, a group of New Orleans Saints superfans, have transformed their passion for football and dance into a nationwide phenomenon.
From performing at events ranging from Mardi Gras parades to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
“We call it the Cinderella story of an all-male dance group,” one member said.
The group’s journey began with a simple idea.
“Why don’t you start your own dance school for men that’ll do Mardi Gras parades, and that’ll be your second job? You can pay for your Saints season tickets,” 610 co-founder Brett Patron said.
“This was an idea, and it was just like, we need to do this,” said 610 co-founder Paul Treuting.
As devoted Saints fans, the group remembers their “Domecoming” moment vividly.
“As I’m entering through the corridor, the music starts, and it felt like a movie almost,” Treuting said. “It was this moment in time where you felt like everything was going to be OK.”
The Stompers’ rise coincided with the Saints’ success.
“As we went into the Super Bowl in 2009, my dance moves kept getting better and better every year as the Saints got better and better. It’s the excitement and the joy,” Patron said.
The group has grown in size and reputation, earning love wherever they perform.
“When you show New Orleans love, they show it back to you tenfold,” Treuting said. “It’s in our culture, it’s in our roots. You see people parading through the streets, and if you’re not doing that, you’re the weird one.”
Reflecting on their journey, Treuting added, “I think we’re feeling that energy right now again, and it’s beautiful.”
The group hopes the Who Dat Nation can carry this energy all the way to another Super Bowl.
READ MORE:New Orleans’ 610 Stompers born from Saints superfans
