Posted 12:58 am Sunday, February 05, 2012
Valentines Fun For Fathers, Daughters
By JACQUE HILBURN-SIMMONS
Staff Writer
Tyler dad Boyd Sanders knows how to pace himself at a dance -- groove a while, stop for a snack.
Staff Writer
Tyler dad Boyd Sanders knows how to pace himself at a dance -- groove a while, stop for a snack.
Groove, grab a snack. Groove, grab a snack.
Sanders was among about 200 men escorting special young ladies to the sixth annual Daddy Daughter Valentine Dance at Tyler's Glass Recreation Center, 501 W. 32nd St.
"I've been coming to the Daddy-Daughter dances for about five or six years," Sanders said, helping his little one, Kinzi Sanders, 5, collect a cookie. "I'll be back later tonight with my older daughter. I'll be worn out by the end, but I'm having a blast."
Sanders said lessons to be learned from the occasion are far-reaching.
"We get to come out and have fun together," he said. "But this kind of evening also lets them see how a gentleman treats a lady."
The family bonding opportunities weren't limited to just dads and little girls -- mothers and sons had their turn on the dance floor Friday night.
Tickets for both evenings sold out fast, with proceeds benefiting Tyler Parks and Recreation, officials said.
"Every year, we have dads, grandfathers and uncles who come out to participate in this event," Special Events Manager Debbie Isham said. "This is a really important event -- it creates a special night for them to remember."
Some participants were newcomers to the occasion.
Nervous dad Evan Reese was careful to make sure his daughter, Ella Reese, 5, got a sip of punch without spilling any on her shimmery evening gown.
"So far, so good," he said with a grin. "This is really nice. I'm glad we're here."
Watching the child twirl around in her new dress, Reese said he had been looking forward to the evening and the opportunity to spend time together.
When asked how her father looked all dressed up, the child blushed and said, "Ham-some."
Flint dad Edward Murrell and daughter, Madison Murrell, 6, wore complimentary ivory-colored outfits, accented with touches of yellow and black.
He wore a hat and boutineer while little Madison donned a delicate corsage.
"I'm a little nervous," Murrell said with a smile, trying to retrieve flaming red punch from a small fountain without a spill, "but we're having fun."
On the dance floor, there was plenty of action and fancy dresses.
Dozens of men and little girls could be seen twirling, laughing and bonding under a spinning kaleidoscope of colorful lights.
"This is something we do all the time," Tyler dad Kendrick Duncan said, escorting his daughter, Kamryn Duncan, 6, toward the music. "This is not our first dance ... I adjusted my work schedule to be here."
Duncan, a state worker, said he was determined to participate in the occasion.
"I came here just to spend time with my daughter," he said. "It's important. My oldest is in college and I wanted to spend time with the younger one."
Tyler grandfather James Alexander was not to be outdone on the dance floor by granddaughter, Alana Jones, 7.
He maintained a steady rhythm, as the child bobbed and bounced to the beat.
Pausing for a breather, Alexander said they were both having a great time.
"It's nice, really nice," he said. "I'm impressed with how things are set up. I think it's really important to be here."
As he leaned down to see if the girl wanted any refreshments, Alana whirled around and scooted back to the dance floor for more.
"We're having fun," he chuckled, disappearing into the crowd.
Glass Recreation Center Manger Ann Santana said she considers it an honor to help families connect and have fun.
"This is where we need to get back to," she said. "As a society, we have to slow down and connect with our kids. Time is so short ... it's gone before you know it."
