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School's Father-Daughter Dance Proves Popular

Klint Lowry/SUNCOAST

Greg and Freya Stephan check out the decorations at Gulf Trace Elementary school's second annual father-daughter dance. Hosted by All Pro Dads, the Jan. 30 dance was meant to give little girls a special night that was all about them and the special men in their lives, their fathers.

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By KLINT LOWRY | The Suncoast News

Published: February 6, 2009

Updated:

HOLIDAY - Even with streamers and balloons hung from the ceiling, special lighting and a DJ playing dreamy dance music, no one would ever mistake the Gulf Trace Elementary School lunchroom for the Stardust Ballroom.

But in the eyes of more than 100 little girls, the simple but carefully arranged decorations were enough to transform the space into a palace ballroom for them and their respective Prince Charmings for one night.

Last Friday, Jan. 30, Gulf Trace Elementary School's chapter of All Pro Dad held its second annual father-daughter dance. It's an old-fashioned concept resurrected to address a need in modern life for families - particularly fathers - to prioritize what matters most, namely their families.

"We're all busy in our day-to-day lives," said the chapter's captain, Phillip Kupczyk. "It's good to know that once a month for an event like this that is planned out ahead of time, you set aside some time."

All Pro Dad is a program within the Family First Foundation, a Tampa-based national nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing the family as the top priority in people's lives. Created in 1997 with the assistance of Tony Dungy, then head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, All Pro Dad is aimed at helping men become better fathers.

With regularly scheduled events and motivational talks by current and former NFL standouts on the subject of fatherhood, All Pro Dad has about 900 chapters in 48 states and nine countries, reaching about 42,000 fathers and their children.

Kupczyk started the Gulf Trace chapter two years ago. "We do monthly group meetings with everybody, and I thought it would be neat to do individualized things," he said.

For fathers and sons, sports provide all kinds of opportunities for activities. For dads and daughters, Kupczyk looked back to a tradition that was once more common but has all but faded away in our culture.

"These girls love it," said Scott Baker, who assisted in organizing the event.

Of course, little girls love getting dressed up, Baker said. But if you think about, they only usually get to do it for grownup events.

"This is only for them," Baker said. "They get to dress up for themselves."

First-grader Aleia Green was all smiles from the minute she entered the door. This was her first dance, she happily announced.

"I've been practicing in my bedroom," Aleia said, adding that she was particularly good at spinning around. She wasn't sure if her dad, Dustin Turnbull, was a good dancer.

No, he confided, he isn't, but he would give it a whirl. Turnbull added he'd never heard of a father-daughter dance before, but he likes the idea.

"I thought it was pretty neat," he said. "It's good for the girls - no boys are here. It's good for them."

As the guests began to fill the makeshift dance hall, it was obvious that given a chance, some things never change or go out of style. Girls will be girls, and it will always bring out the soft side of the men who care about them.

The girls held their escorts' hands; they sat together and shared refreshments. As the girls greeted classmates, they complimented each others' dresses and ran off to play in groups, too excited to wait for the music to get the party started. Meanwhile the men who brought them stood off to the side, mentally recording the moment.

While it was labeled a "father-daughter" dance, Kupczyk said, it was really for girls and any male figure in their life - fathers, grandfathers, uncles or any other positive male role model. Statistics show a positive male presence in a child's life, their chances for success in school greatly improves.

As the music started and the couples took the floor for the first dance, there was a palpable feeling in the room that could never be measured, a moment of success in all their lives.

Klint Lowry can be reached at 727-815-1067 or klowry@suncoastnews.com.

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