A NIGHT OF ‘MAGIC’

More than 600 brave weather for 2nd annual Father Daughter Dance

More than 600 fathers, daughters, stepfathers, brothers uncles and grandfathers packed into the Pottstown Middle School gymnasium for the second annual Father Daughter Dance.

“This is a magical night I want everyone to have together,” said School Board Vice President Katina Bearden, the event’s founder and chief organizer.

Bearden started the dance last year, with the help of the school board’s Community Relations Committee, when 550 people turned out.

“It was a big deal since the very first time,” Bearden said with a laugh.

This year, the event was held Nov. 16, one day after a surprise snowstorm froze most of Southeast Pennsylvania in place.

“I was afraid we wouldn’t have a high turn-out, but we had even more than the year before,” Bearden said.

She got some help from parent and staff volunteers, a few from Franklin Elementary PTA and even a few alumni with whom she had gone to school.

“We also had some helpers from the middle school, including my daughter. She just loves to see the little girls come in with their dresses.”

“I love to see those fathers, uncles, brothers, step-fathers

out there on the dance floor with those girls. They did the limbo and I laughed so hard my face hurt,” she said

Designed for children in grades K-4, they arrive under a balloon arch put together by parent Melissa Caballero on a red carpet, have their photos taken and sometimes, like last year, they even get tiaras to wear.

“I overheard one little girl say this was the best night of her life,” said Bearden.

“It also gets the parent into the school and introduces them and their child to the school building they will be coming to, it makes it seem less scary,” she said.

“And it gets the parent into the school for something that is not a parentteacher conference or because someone is in trouble, it’s jut a night they will always remember and I guarantee you they will keep that photo for the rest of their lives,” Bearden said.

School board President Amy Francis, and members Susan Lawrence and John Armato were in attendance, as was Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez.

“I really enjoy going,” said Rodriguez. “When my daughters were younger, I didn’t want to go, and I said ‘I don’t dance,’ but I went and oh my God I had so much fun.”

So when a similar event got started in Pottstown, he was all in. “I am super proud of the committee and what they’ve accomplished. It was something to see,” said Rodriguez.

There is also a Mother Son Dance, which last year drew about 425 to the school. This year’s Mother Son Dance is scheduled for April 12.

EMILY OVERDORF — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Dads and daughters hit the dance floor during last week’s Father Daughter Dance held at Pottstown Middle School.

JOHN ARMATO — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Dads being dads, the phones were out shooting photos and video during last week’s Father Daughter Dance at Pottstown Middle School.

EMILY OVERDORF — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Sometimes a girl just needs the spotlght.

EMILY OVERDORF — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA The Father Daughter Dance at Pottstown Middle School.

EMILY OVERDORF — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA And when the dads got tired, the daughters kept on dancing with each other during last week’s Father Daughter Dance at Pottstown Middle School.

JOHN ARMATO — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA The Father Daughter Dance at Pottstown Middle School.

EMILY OVERDORF — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Fathers and daughters (and sometimes sons) danced the night away during last week’s Father Daughter Dance at Pottstown Middle School.

EMILY OVERDORF — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Fathers and daughters danced the night away during last week’s Father Daughter Dance at Pottstown Middle School.

JOHN ARMATO — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA It was hard to find room to dance, with more than 600 dads and daughters coming out for last week’s Father Daughter Dance at Pottstown Middle School.

EMILY OVERDORF — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Sometimes fathers were not needed for their daughters to keep danging during last week’s Father Daughter Dance at Pottstown Middle School.

EMILY OVERDORF — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Smiles were not hard to find during last week’s Father Daughter Dance at Pottstown Middle School.

JOHN ARMATO — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Dads and daughters spun the night away during last weeks Father Daughter Dance at Pottstown Middle School.

EMILY OVERDORF — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Fathers and daughters danced the night away during last week’s Father Daughter Dance at Pottstown Middle School.

EMILY OVERDORF — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA For the second year, Pottstown daughters were escorted by their fathers, uncles, step-fathers and grandfathers to the Father Daughter Dance at Pottstown Middle School.