Dance puts dads, daughters in spotlight

James Robinson and his 5-year-old daughter, Caylynn share a dance at the Date with Dad event.

By: Jeremy Slayton | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: March 16, 2009

Fathers and daughters were the center of attention last night at a benefit held at Art Works Studios and Galleries in South Richmond.

As more and more fathers and daughters trickled through the doors at the studios on Hull Street, organizers of the second Date With Dad Dance rushed to find enough seating to accommodate them.

With more than 200 people in attendance, it far surpassed the 25 couples of a year ago, signaling a successful fundraiser for the Camp Diva Summer Retreat.

Mayor Dwight C. Jones said the event is something Richmond can take pride in and can use as a springboard to "build a better society . . . in the time that is to come."

Last night's event raised $2,200 for Camp Diva, a free, educational empowerment program for girls ages 11 to 17. The girls attend workshops during the five-week day camp, which puts a heavy emphasis on issues currently confronting teens.

Tickets to the event were $25 for a father and daughter and $10 for an additional daughter.

Several of the girls who attended Camp Diva helped organize the benefit. They sparkled in formal dresses, some with corsages pinned on straps.

While the event was a fundraiser, it was also about fostering positive relationships between fathers and daughters. The pairs danced together and learned how to salsa. Later in the evening came a salsa-dance competition and an old-school-versus-new-school dance contest.

Richmond comedian Antoine Scott said: "It's a pleasure for me to be here. I want to make them laugh but also throw some information out."

Scott, who performed a stand-up routine at the event, was accompanied by his 14-year-old daughter, Mikala Morton. He said he wanted the fathers in attendance to learn the dos and don'ts of raising a daughter and having a positive impact on their lives.

Not all the men at the fundraiser were there with a daughter of their own. Jamal Kelly, a prevention specialist with the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, was a fill-in dad for Tashema Peace.

"I think it's very important to come out and support these types of events," Kelly said. "Also, it gives the young ladies a model of how to be treated and . . . to provide guidance and support."

Angela Patton, founder and director of Camp Diva, also started the Date With Dad fundraiser.

She said it's not a debutante ball or about the fathers dressing to the nines. It's a way to help fathers connect with other fathers and reinforce positive interactions with daughters.

"My whole point was, I want you to be in the house," Patton said of fathers. "I want you to be here because it's important for you to foster relationships with your daughter, or if you are a father figure."

While there were a few mothers and sons in the crowd, the night belonged to fathers and daughters.

"It's good to see so many fathers in the room tonight," Jones said. "It's good to see so many fathers taking the time to mentor and to show their little girls how much they love them."

Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or jslayton@timesdispatch.com.