By Donna Thornton/News Editor
The YMCA invites fathers and daughters of all ages to embrace a sweet opportunity to spend time together at the 6th Annual Father/Daughter Sweetheart Dance from 5-8 p.m. on Feb. 9 at Convention Hall.
YMCA of the Coosa Valley Director Leroy Falcon said in the past, the greatest percentage of daughters in attendance have been in the eight to 10 year-old range, but he hopes to see more older girls participating in this year’s Valentine’s tradition.
“I don’t want girls to get the idea they can age-out on this,” Falcon said. Children are never too old, he said, to strengthen the bond they have with their fathers.
There are good reasons for strengthening that bond, beyond having a fun evening and creating lasting memories.
There are studies that show stronger bonds between fathers and daughters can improve a girl’s academic performance, Falcon said.
The benefits, Falcon knows, can be as unique as the father-daughter couples who attend.
“We’ve heard all kind of stories,” he said, about what the event has meant to families.
“One dad brought his daughter just before he deployed to Afghanistan,” Falcon said. “It was one of the last things they did together before he left.
“You never know what’s going on in someone’s life,” Falcon said, or what a special evening like this could mean to a father or a daughter.
Whatever the long-range benefits may be, the event promises the immediate return of a good time.
“We encourage dads to take their daughters out to dinner before the dance,” Falcon said, but we will have finger foods and a dessert bar.
Punch will be served and Mix 102.9 DJ Dee Miller will provide the tunes.
Falcon said his daughter, 15-year-old Kate Falcon and her group Sweet Tea will be there, and may be performing a few songs.
“It’s going to be a red-carpet event,” Falcon said, with a Ryan Seacrest-impersonator interviewing the girls as they come in about who did their hair, etc.
Tickets are on sale now at the YMCA. The cost will be $15 for advance tickets. At the door, tickets will cost $20 each.
Proceeds from the dance will go to fund scholarships for the YMCA summer camps or lessons, Falcon said.