Annual father-daughter dance provides some fun bonding time

Tiny daughters in sparkly dresses ran three steps ahead of their fathers in their matching ties and jackets against an undersea backdrop for the annual Father/Daughter Dance at Cape Girardeau’s Osage Centre.

The “Under the Sea” theme played out in jellyfish-shaped balloon arrangements drifting from the ceiling, a photo backdrop with an Ariel balloon and a Flounder and Sebastian statue from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” and a blue-and-silver balloon arch over the front reception desk area.

Music provided by Charlie’s Music Revue drew daughters and the more enthusiastic fathers onto the dance floor, where shoes were kicked into the corners and people danced in couples and groups.

Several daughters wore blue or teal dresses, strings of pearls or mermaid-shaped skirts.

Several fathers matched their shirts, ties, or jackets to their daughter’s dresses.

Michael VonHasseln and his daughter Caitlin bought his coordinating shirt the day before the dance, he said.

“This is our routine,” he said, referring to buying the dress and matching the shirt. “We wouldn’t miss this.”

VonHasseln said this is their fifth year attending the dance together.

“Until she decides she’s too big,” he said.

“I’ll never be too big,” she said. “I’m his princess.”

“My first year attending, I was real nervous,” VonHasseln said. “But I got here, and I saw there were a lot of other dads here. I thought, ‘OK, I can do this.’”

“I told him it was OK; there were lots of guys there without hair,” she said. “I wanted to reassure him.”

He said this year’s event seemed a little more calm than last year, “which is nice, too.”

Cassie Dennis, recreation coordinator for the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, said this year’s attendance was up a bit from 2016.

“As of 7:25 p.m., we’ve sold 1,122 tickets,” she said, which is about 20 more tickets than were sold last year.

“This event keeps growing every year,” she said. “We’re excited.”

Natalie Nicholson attended for the second year with her dad, Josh.

“My favorite part is the dancing,” she said, “and spending time with my dad.”

“She can’t wait to get on the dance floor,” Nicholson said of his daughter, who tugged him toward the floor as a new song came on.

In line for the photo booths, Charis Cheek peered up from under her flowered headband as she waited with her dad, Brett.

“We came last year,” he said. “She keeps running off with her friends, having a great time.”

She whispered to him her favorite part of the event was the chocolate.

She said she also liked the song “Uptown Funk.”

“We know that song because my dad had it on his phone,” she said.

Brynn Schlosser and her father, Eric, took a breather in the lobby.

“She loves to dance,” Schlosser said of Brynn. “She’s ready to get back out there.”

He said they had been dancing and were about to get their picture taken together.

“This is our first time,” he said, asking Brynn whether she was having the best night ever.

She nodded and hugged his knee, and they went back to dance.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

1625 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.