Father Daughter Dance benefits youth & families
More than 100 fathers and daughters from across Del Rio donned their best Friday night attire to attend the second annual Father Daughter Dance hosted by BCFS Health and Human Services-Del Rio on February 17. The event celebrated the special love between a father and his daughter, and gave families an opportunity for a memorable night of fun, music and bonding.
Several talented father-daughter couples were awarded for their skills on the dancefloor in six different categories: Best Line Dancer, Best 80s Dancer, Best Slow Dance Dancer, Best Cumbia Dancer, Best Country Dancer and Best Overall Dancer. Winning duos in each category received a certificate. DJ Sammy Lopez spun family-friendly tracks that kept dads and their daughters grooving all night.
<blockquote“As soon as people knew there were prizes available for their dancing, they hit the dancefloor!” said BCFS-Del Rio Case Manager Raquel Torres.
During a short intermission, a few dads and their daughters were asked to share with the crowd what their father-daughter relationship means to them. Each attendee spoke lovingly about how special the time is that they spend together – a few proud dads even became teary eyed.
“We had a great turn out,” Torres said. “We had a lot of people who came last year, and just about everyone said that they are looking forward to next year.”
Emily Ray Photography provided professional photographs for fathers and daughters to keep as a memento. The Mexican Consulate in Del Rio also provided gift bags to all those in attendance. Several airmen from nearby Laughlin Air Force Base attended the dance with their daughters.
The dance was held to recognize February as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
“A daughter’s first example of how men should treat women often comes from her father, said BCFS Director Delia Ramos. “The dance is a fun way for dads and their daughters to get together and make memories that last a lifetime.”
Sponsors who made the dance possible included DJ Sammy Lopez, Emily Ray Photography, Sugar & Spice Event Decoration, the Mexican Consulate in Del Rio, individual community members, and Queens for a Cause, a local group that donated refreshments for the event. Proceeds from ticket sales at the dance will benefit BCFS-Del Rio’s domestic violence program.
BCFS-Del Rio provides domestic violence prevention and treatment, and crisis intervention and counseling for families. BCFS-Del Rio operates the Services to At Risk Youth (STAR) program to help families reduce conflict, and prevent delinquent behavior like running away or truancy. STAR works with youth and their families to learn to resolve crises and develop coping and parenting skills.
For more information about BFCS-Del Rio, call (830) 768-2755, or visit DiscoverBCFS.net/DelRio.
