Father & Daughter dance brings generations together

Young and older cut a rug at the sixth annual Father & Daughter Dance held Saturday (Feb. 18) at the Riverfront Pavilion. This year's theme was "Under the Sea" and decorations included sand, sea shells, coral, mermaids and fishbowls with a pair of live goldfish in each.

Jennifer Oberste, recreation supervisor for the Fort Smith Parks and Recreation Department, said she started the dance after reflecting on her childhood and realizing the activities she and her father participated in together.

"I knew how important it was for dads to show their daughters what it's like to be treated like a lady; what to expect when it's time to go on their dates; that sorta thing," said Oberste.

The $20/couple admission covered four hours of fun, light refreshments, commemorative photos and door prizes. Oberste said more than 50 tickets were sold this year making it the largest turnout yet.

Bill Oberste, Jennifer's husband, took portraits which Jennifer overlays in Photoshop with the event name and year and has printed at Bedford Camera & Video. Two 5×7 prints are given to each couple.

Ryan Black of MS Sound Works provided the music and light show. Much of the music played was from the 80s and 90s so it would be familiar to the parents. Along with the upbeat tunes, Black added some slow dance songs into the mix. Additionally, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift got some play specifically for the younger generation.

Throughout the evening, ticket stubs were drawn for door prizes. The 10 winners got to take home the table centerpiece fishbowl and goldfish.

Hula hoop and limbo contests challenged the adults while the kids, whose younger and more agile bodies, breezed through both events.

"We tried the first couple of years to do musical chairs — the girls are really competitive. To avoid accidents, we cut out musical chairs," Oberste said while laughing and recalling the memories of a near-fiasco event from the past.

"We Love it. We're having a blast. It's a better turnout than we thought," said first-timer Kortney Marsden who was the oldest daughter in attendance.

Marsden, 35, danced with her father, Domenico Valentini, while Mardsen's husband, Edward, danced with the couple's daughter, Gianna, 1. Marsden said it was her father's idea to attend the dance with his only daughter and granddaughter and bring three generations of family together.