Fathers cherish dancing with their daughters at annual Rotary event

Fathers and daughters danced the night away during the 12th Annual Father-Daughter dance at The Moon on Saturday night.
Photos by Elegance Davis

By Ashia Glover
Outlook Writer

Lorenzo Ellis couldn’t help getting a little emotional as he danced on the floor at The Moon with his three daughters.
Thoughts of not having his father who died recently and the fact that he is the only parent to his daughters made the moment even more moving. Not once did he let go of any of the girls once they got on the floor.
It was an obvious cherished moment for Ellis last Saturday night.
“This is our first time at the dance and we are really enjoying it,” Ellis said. “The environment of dancing with your daughters; trying to do something positive and being a positive impact on these girls’ lives I think is really great. All I can say is try to make that time with your daughters. It’s very important.
Ellis was one of the many fathers who walked into the night club hand-in-hand with their daughters for the daddy-daughter dance staged by the Tallahassee Rotary Club Northside. The event is an annual fund-raiser for local and international charities funded by Rotary.
About 50 fathers brought their daughters to the event. Between dances, they had plenty of food and drinks to chose from. They stomped and clapped as a disc jockey belted out tunes such as Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ and the Village People’s ‘YMCA.’
For many of the fathers dancing with their daughters was an opportunity to create a little keepsake in the form of videos and photos. While it was a first-time event for Ellis, fathers like Terrance L. Barber and his three daughters have been there before.
“This is our second year out,” said Barber, who like many in attendance was glad to jump at the opportunity to step out with their daughters for quality one-on-one time. “I encourage all dads to attend and participate.”
Danny Goter’s daughter danced with her father for the first time at the event, although it wasn’t the first time that his daughter, Annabelle, attended. Her father was out of town and she danced with her grandfather last year.
Danny Goter seemingly was ecstatic for the opportunity to be there with his daughter this year.
“Annabelle and I are having so much fun dancing,” he said. “We don’t really just dance around like this, but it’s a good cause, and it’s a special night for both of us. You have to make time all the time. Every day is daddy day and this dance is just another special day.”
While the fathers were able to loosen their neckties for a night out with their daughters, the number of children who won’t get such an opportunity is astounding, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. As of 2007, an estimated 1,559,200 children have a father in prison.
Such statistics was enough for Barber to make an appeal to fathers who missed the chance to dance with their daughters.
“It starts at home,” he said. “You have to get out and make your little girl feel special; it’s only right.”