Big Guys and Little Gals Dance the Night Away
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| Don and Holly Boudreau, 6, of Clarksburg.View Slide Show |
On Sunday night, Berkshire County daughters were the belles of the ball for an audience of their greatest admirers. The 14th annual Father and Daughter Valentine Dance attracted more than 350 decked-out couples to the St. Anthony's Parish Center in the early evening, despite freezing rain and chilly temperatures.
"I love seeing dads take time for their daughters and the daughters just love it," said Terri Cooper, the event's co-organizer. "It's just a great chance to get dressed up, dance and have a good time."
<L2>The yearly event is a combination community dance and fundraiser for a local charity. This year, proceeds from the dance will go to supporting the creation of the Angel of Hope Children's Memorial Park at Southview Cemetery.
For many, coming to the dance is a family tradition that continues year after year, no matter how old daddy's little girl gets.
Ben Acquista has been bringing his 5-year-old daughter Sophia to the Valentine Dance for three years - and he'll keep taking her as long as she lets him.
"It's our date. It's a chance to go out with her while she still thinks I'm cool," Acquista, of Adams, said.
Holly Boudreau's dad, Don, said the father/daughter outing is a chance to teach his 6-year-old how she deserves to be treated.<R3>
"It's my time to educate her on how a boy should act when he takes her out. I opened doors for her, pulled out her chair, gave her corsage. It didn't stay on for very long but I got her one. I don't think little girls get to experience that much anymore," said Boudreau of Clarksburg.
Holly, who demanded that her dance with dad include spins and lifts, has attended the last three dances and Boudreau expects she'll be there for many more.
"She loves this dance. We won't miss it," he said.
<L4>Snazzy dresser Bruce Whitney comes every year to make sure his twin daughters have a good time, even if it's not with him.
"I like to see my friends and sometimes, I like to dance with my dad, I guess," said Julia Whitney, 10, who shared time on the dance floor with sister Emma.
Bruce, dressed to the nines in an orange blazer (Emma's favorite color) and a purple polka-dotted tie (Julia's favorite color), enjoys the dance so much, he suggested having more than one every year.
"You don't need to have a holiday or special occasion or any excuse to have fun like this," he said.
The children's memorial project, coordinated by Donna Bona Morgan, was selected as this year's charity because "it's a real worthwhile cause," said Cooper.
Morgan is spearheading the project that will erect an "Angel of Hope" statue and engraved bricks in a memorial park in remembrance of children and young adults who have died. Money raised at the dance will help to construct, maintain and provide engraved bricks on a scholarship basis for families with financial constraints.<R5>
The committee needs to raise a total of $25,000 to complete the project, which has a projected completion date of this August. Thus far, $15,000 has been raised through various fundraising projects and donations. To donate to the park or to buy a brick to remember a deceased loved one, contact Morgan at 413-663-3555 or mail a contribution to Children's Memorial, 19 Pine Hill Terrace, North Adams, MA 01247.
