By Kristine Thomas
Four-year-old Leah Martin reminded her dad, Andrew, about the dance in December. Three-year-old Avery Satern has mentioned the dance more than a few times to her parents, Brent and Kelly Satern.
Megan Wavra, 5, and Brittyn Wavra, 4, eyes lit-up with excitement when their dad, Eric Wavra, told them he had bought tickets for this year.
After having a blast at the first dance, all four girls and their dads are looking forward to the second annual Silverton Rotary Daddy-Daughter Dance Saturday, March 11, 6 to 9 p.m. at Silverton High School.
Along with the dancing at the Moonlight Masquerade, guests can enjoy a formal daddy-daughter photo, face painting, photo booth, crafts and games, snacks, desserts and chocolate fountains. Brent Satern said the dance is an opportunity for fathers to show their daughters how “special they are to us.”
“It is a tangible way that we can show our daughters that they are loved unconditionally and that does wonders for these girls as they start to navigate through life,” Satern said.
Andrew Martin said he and Leah had a great time at last year’s dance.
“It was fun to see Leah so excited to go and spend time with me,” Martin said. “To see her feel special and adored. She also had a great time playing, dancing, and laughing with both friends and the big kids.”
Last year, members of the SHS Interact Club volunteered at the dance, with several students dressing up as prince or princesses. The students are volunteering again this year.
For dads who aren’t too sure about attending, all three men shared it was a fun and welcoming event with plenty of activities to keep everyone busy.
Dads were dressed in everything from suits and ties to blue jeans and cowboy boots to golf shorts and sandals. For the dads, the evening was all about seeing their daughters’ smile and hear them laugh.
“This is a time for daughters to be influenced by the male figures in their life and to understand how men should act towards women with love and respect and the ability to have a good time,” Wavra said.
Satern, who is working with fellow Rotary Club members to organize the dance, said last year’s event showed him there are “a lot of great dads in our community and some very lucky daughters.”
Whether it was dressing up in oversized sunglasses and wearing silly hats at the photo booth, making crafts at the craft area or having fun on the dance floor, Satern said the dads jumped in with both feet for an opportunity to treat their daughters to a special night.
“You couldn’t help but leave the dance last year knowing that the dads and daughters in attendance left the dance in a better place than they started,” Satern said.
Martin said it was fun to see all the girls with huge smiles and a few clinging to their dads due to shyness.
“It was also great to see all the dads in this community willing to invest in their kids’ life,” Martin added.
Wavra said coaching his son created a chance to spend time with him.
The dance is a perfect way for him to have some one-on-one time with his daughters at a young age “which is traditionally harder for dads to do.”
Going to the dance is special for Wavra because he gets to have a “date night” with his daughters.
“I have a very hectic schedule with traveling for work and a special evening allowed me to reconnect with them,” Wavra said.
Satern said he heard a quote from George Bell: “You can pretend to care, but you can’t pretend to show up.”
Satern said children see their parents’ actions more than they hear their words.
“This event gives us dads a chance to show our daughters how much we love them by devoting an evening to them and only them,” he said.
