Family matters: Windermere hosts Daddy Daughter Dance

Yes, Windermere’s first Daddy Daughter Dance was filled with sparkles, blooming corsages, ruffly dresses and more tiaras than one could count. For every princess — including 6-year-old Amabelle Olivo — it was like stepping into dream. 

For the dads who brought their special girls, it was even more than that. It was an opportunity to create memories, to assume their spot as their daughters’ first male role model and, most important, to deepen and strengthen that relationship.

“It’s one of those things that you will go back and think about as being such a special and unique moment we shared together,” Amabelle’s dad, Adolfo Olivo, said of the evening. “We have three kids, so we take pride in doing different things with each one of them. I really think our bond is all about trust. The more space and distance you create between you and your kids, the worse things are. If you can have open communication with them and show them you value your relationship from early on, then I think that leads to a better understanding in the long run.”

The dance, which took place Friday, Oct. 6, at Town Hall, featured a deejay, dance floor, photo booth, sweet treats, face painting and crafts.

The special dance was a resident-organized event led by longtime Windermere local Milani Walters and the rest of the Daddy Daughter Dance Committee: Brittany Grier, Kirby Filar, Lana Marchitelli, Jessica Strickland, Caitlin Karr, Amanda Lewis, Lisa Scott and Margaret Ross.

Walters said mothers who used to be on the committee for Windermere Elementary School’s Father Daughter Dance came up with the idea a few years ago, because the school is no longer allowed to sponsor the Daddy Daughter Dance.

“After the COVID-19 pandemic hit and events were put on hold, the Daddy Daughter Dance never really came back,” she said. “The dances turned into sort of open family events, because the school district wanted all of the events to be inclusive of everyone.”

Walters said she thinks the event is a unique opportunity.

“We just really think it’s so special,” Walters said. “The girls have been looking forward to this. Every year, it’s a tradition in town. It’s the only time the dads and daughters really get something that’s their own. The girls get to dress up, and they get quality one-on-one time with their dads. It’s a function where it’s not a whole family event. It’s a time for dads and daughters to share a special night with a bond that only a father and their daughter could have.”

Windermere resident Stephen Lewis, who attended the dance with his daughter Hayden, 7, said the event was more than just a dance for participants. 

“I think that any opportunity for dads and daughters to get together, show the strength of families and the importance of male role models in their lives; show them how they should be treated as young ladies, will hopefully translate into them setting their expectations high as they grow older,” he said. “Watching how excited she was getting ready for the dance was my favorite part. Being able to share that special moment with her as she chose my outfit and her outfit, and just seeing her get excited to come and hangout with her friends and their fathers is something I’ll never forget.”

Rickie Weeks accompanied his daughter, Alexi, 6, to the dance.

“I was actively trying to find something that was father and daughter related, because I do a lot of stuff with my son, and I never want her to feel left out,” he said. “For me, I still want to have that special bond with my daughter. Fathers really do serve as the first male figure in their daughter’s lives, and I want to set a good example of respect.”

Sponsors for the event included Victoria Jewelers, Horizon Land Management, Land Plus, Greenery Productions, The Heinz Group and Victory Martial Arts.