Thatcham dancers perform at Buckingham Palace parade

A Thatcham dancing instructor has explained how she and her students ended up dancing at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee pageant in London – all while dressed up as tropical fish.

“Even before we set off for the parade, people were piled high, there were crowds spilling out from every corner, it was crazy,” explained a very tired Sonia Brown as she recalled joining more than 200 other performers on Sunday (June 5).

Miss Brown and her dance group of over 60s were ‘scouted’ by London-based community organisation Emergency Exit Arts, when their debut performance was noticed at a Thatcham Visions of Recovery event last year.

“I thought it was a Thatcham Jubilee Parade but when I had my Zoom meeting in January [2022] and they said Buckingham Palace I suddenly realised what it was,” she laughed.

“I said wait hang on, this is not a local event? This is what?”

Miss Brown was then tasked with picking six out of 160 students to accompany her in the once in a lifetime performance.

In an attempt to make her decision as fair as possible, she resulted to picking names out of a hat and beginning what would be a “crazy” but “exciting” few months of rehearsing.

“They were so excited,” she said about how she revealed, in February, which lucky six would be joining her.

The selected dancers, from Miss Brown’s classes across Berkshire, joined other arts groups, each with their own unique part to play in the large scale parade.

“Our part was fish orientated so we were swimming around The Mall," she added.

“We were joined by the House of Wingz group from Blackpool, Gangster Grannies from Preston. There were Day of the Dead dancers behind us and they were insane.

“They were straight into character and they maintained that the entire time.”

The pageant parade dancers were joined by a giant oak tree on a float, representing British roots, a seven-metre high Maypole and an array of “playful costumes” – with Miss Brown’s fishes designed by Mandinga.

As well as representing nature, animals and Mother Earth, the fish theme represented Thatcham’s links to fishing.

After a series of last minute song changes the group were put through their paces in what was a “crazy” experience.

“Choreography goes out the window on The Mall," she laughed. "You’re trying to run and keep up with your group. We ended up just blowing fish kisses. I was running around like a lunatic."

She recalled the moment she saw her partner and father watching on in the audience.

“As we were coming up to where the royal box was we spoteed our family and so we had a swim over there," she said.