Portage Parks and Recreation Department is proud to announce registration is open for the 2015 Daddy Daughter Dance taking place from 6-8:30 pm on Friday, February 6, 2015 in the Oakwood Hall. The dance is a time for girls to be honored, loved and to create lasting family memories. Daughters of all ages are encouraged to attend, from toddlers to adults.
“Girls ages 3 and up are encouraged to attend,” said Lori Wilkie, Director of Marketing and Development at the Portage Parks and Recreation Department. “We even have adult daughters who attend with their fathers. It is a special tradition that many families participate in each year. The cost is $40 per couple and $15 for each additional daughter. The money raised from the registration fee goes right back into the Daddy Daughter Dance program.”
Click here for photos from the 2014 Daddy Daughter Dance!
Research in psychology strongly suggests that daughters model their romantic relationships based on the type of relationship they’ve had with their fathers. It is important for fathers to engage in a variety of activities with their daughters to form strong bonds and be a role model for healthy, respectful and loving relationships. The Portage Parks and Recreation Department offers a number of opportunities and programs throughout the year for the whole family, including the Daddy Daughter Dance.
Portage Chief of Police Troy Williams and his daughter attend the Daddy Daughter Dance each year.
“We’ve been attending the dance for 4 or 5 years now. It’s a great program. Each year it’s grown, last year they had 500 people so they are actually limiting it to 400 people this year so everyone can fit comfortably.”
Williams coaches his daughter and her friends in softball. Each year, he and the softball dads take their daughters and sit together during the dinner.
Click here for photos from the 2013 Daddy Daughter Dance!
“One year, we got a limo - it was a hummer - and the girls just lost it! My daughter is 12 now, we love going. It’s really the best of both worlds because as the girls get older, they want to hang out with their friends more, and they are there with their dads and we’ll do maybe one slow dance. They get to see their friends, and we get to spend quality time with our daughters.”
Part of being a dad, Williams explained, is embarrassing your daughter whenever possible.
“Each year I request the song ‘Ice, Ice Baby’ by Vanilla Ice, and sing and do a little dance on the dance floor. My daughter laughs and it’s a good time. The park does a great job, and it’s a great venue.”
The dance includes dinner, beverages, entertainment, a corsage for the ladies, and a complimentary 5x7 photo.
“The girls love dressing up. I wore a tux one year. They have a photographer on staff, and we get a photo of all the softball girls together, and a separate one with each girl and their dad. It’s fun to look at the pictures from year to year.”
Part of the Portage Parks and Recreation Department’s mission is to provide opportunities for all persons to participate in meaningful, enjoyable and satisfying leisure-time experiences and activities, including the Daddy Daughter Dance.
The Portage Parks Department is located at 2100 Willowcreek Road. For more information about the Daddy Daughter Dance or other programs call Lori Wilkie, Director of Marketing and Development at 219-762-1675 or visit http://www.inportageparks.com.