New Stowmarket majorette troupe celebrates successful first session with funding from Stowmarket Town Council
The new majorettes troupe met for the first time on Tuesday at Stowmarket Community Centre. Picture: ALI HUGGINS
A brand new Stowmarket majorette troupe battled through the freezing weather on Tuesday to host its very first session.
The Stowmarket Stars troupe, which teaches a traditional kind of dancing with batons, wheels, flags and pom poms, is currently formed of ten children between the ages of four and eight – and leaders are looking for new recruits.
The group has already received a £500 grant from Stowmarket Town Council, and has been promised a slice of Mid Suffolk District Council’s locality budget by leader Nick Gowrley.
Ali Huggins, troupe leader, said the session was a big success.
“We had a full house, so everybody on the registration form turned up,” she said.
“I was worried that the weather might put people off, but it was absolutely fantastic.
“The mums really enjoyed it as well – they want to do an adult majorette troupe!”
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After the session, the children were sent home with party bags including a pair of pom poms to practise with.
Mrs Huggins said she was thrilled that some of the shy children really improved in confidence, and parents had noticed a big change.
“I have already had six messages to say thank you,” she said.
While Stowmarket has been home to majorettes in the past, this is currently the town’s only troupe.
Mrs Huggins added: “I wanted to start up a troupe for a long time as I was a majorette many moons ago and every time the carnival goes through the town I think it would be great to have our own town troupe.
“I applied for the Stow Town Council grant in December in ancicipation of starting the troupe in the new year, and they were brilliant. We received the maximum amount of £500.”
Now that Mrs Huggins has acquired a couple of helpers, she hopes to expand the troupe to include up to 30 members. However she stressed that for now there is no pressure on the children to compete, and they will instead be performing for fun at local events – such as Stowmarket’s carnival and the Rattitude festival.
Sessions will be every Tuesday from 4-5pm at the Stowmarket Community Centre on Hillside.
To sign up your children up for the troupe, contact Ali Huggins via her Facebook page, or by email at stowmarketstars@gmail.com.
