Daughters, Daddies, and an Enchanted Forest Dance at Lincoln Christian Church
 

[March 18, 2024]    Princesses, flower girls, and lovely young ladies in their fanciest dresses along with their daddies, grandpas, stepdads, and uncles gathered at Lincoln Christian Church (LCC) for the 3rd annual Daddy-Daughter Dance.

This year’s theme was Enchanted Forest and the entirety of the ground floor of LCC embodied enchantment. Trees, vines, potted plants, and fairy lights adorned the entry hall, enchanted treat room, and dance floor. All of this space was needed as the church welcomed approximately 600 to this popular family event.

In the entry hall, three professional photographers took photos of the Daddy-daughter duos and two craft tables provided additional entertainment for daughters. One craft table offered the opportunity to create beautiful butterfly pictures, and at the other table girls made flower-crown wreaths to wear for the dance. More than a few dads were also spotted sporting a special flower-crown.

The enchanted treat room was also popular with a line for the buffet stretching down the hallway. Homemade treats and a punch bowl fountain provided a boost of energy to get out on the dance floor and run around in circles with your friends.

Lines also formed for the professional photographs provided by Michael Gowin, Jim Coop, and Amanda Johnson. Dads received a time table to pick up their printed photographs later in the week and an invitation to LCC for any without a home church.

Tinkerbell (Maura Gowin) was also on hand throughout the night offering hugs, stories, and photo ops.

Out on the dance floor (the church fellowship hall and gym), DJ and Dance Instructor Suzanne Gowin taught the box step and some simple wedding reception-style line dances throughout the evening, so that daughters and dads could dance together. DJ Gowin’s music strategy was “a mix: a little fast, a little slow, some line dances, some old ones like “Twist and Shout,” some ‘80’s for the dads.” She said her hope was “to create a moment when they can say ‘Hey, remember when we danced to that?’”

As Gowin indicated there was a little something for everyone at the dance. Daughters had a ball screaming the lyrics to Taylor Swift and twirling in dizzying circles to Disney favorites, while Dads got to show off their sweet moves to “Cotton-Eyed Joe” and “Church Clap.” Some dads accepted their lot as wallflowers while little daughters pirouetted and pranced with other little daughters for many of the songs.

The Daddy-Daughter Dance at LCC is a community event held every year in mid-March for all daughters and their fathers and father-figures. Sunday morning services at LCC are 8:15, 9:45, and 10:45 a.m. with youth and children’s programs on Sunday and Wednesday evenings. For more information, visit www.lincolnchristianchurch.org.

[Stephanie Hall]