Father-daughter dance provides positive experience

Not many things are more touching than seeing a daughter in her father's arms. The annual Father/Daughter Dance at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau is the perfect place to witness it. The Southeast Missourian caught up with a few attendees as they graced the dance floor with their fathers on Feb. 18.

This year's "Under the Sea" theme brought out decorations that included jellyfish balloons and characters from The Little Mermaid. Little girls celebrated with colorful dresses, some of which were mermaid-shaped for the occasion. They were escorted by proud fathers, many of whom matched their daughters' colors, as well as their enthusiasm.

Michael VonHasseln and his daughter Caitlin have a yearly routine: Their colors match, they get dressed up and they dance the night away. He said he would never miss it. Caitlin feels the same.

"I'm his princess," she said.

Every girl needs to feel this way, experiencing the security embedded in that simple sentence. The Father/Daughter Dance shines a spotlight on how fortunate families are who have one another and enjoy one another's company.

The dancing, of course, was a sight to behold. Some got wild and kicked off their shoes as Charlie's Music Revue provided the beats for the evening. Natalie Nicholson's dad, Josh, said "she can't wait to get on the dance floor." This was their second year attending. "My favorite part is the dancing," she said, "and spending time with my dad."

Kids being kids, they're not all dad-and-dance. The event gave them a chance to spend time with their friends and take pictures in the photo booth, which allows their fathers to catch their breath. After all, they're not as young as the daughters who expect them to be as energetic as they are.

Eric Schlosser and his daughter Brynn stopped to rest, but it didn't take long before Brynn was tugging him back onto the dance floor.

"She loves to dance," Schlosser said. "She's ready to get back out there." And off they went.

It's great to see the growth of such a fun-loving event. Cassie Dennis, recreation coordinator for the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, said attendance surpassed last year's.

"This event keeps growing every year," she said. "We're excited."

We're excited, too! Every daughter in her father's loving arms is one who knows she's loved and who learns at a young age what it feels like to be treated like the royalty she is.