Boardman dance fit for a princess

11th Annual dance sells out at Boardman Park

By KALEA hall

khall@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

Six-year-old Lorieona Jannone of Struthers placed her toes on her father’s shoes, and together, they danced beneath the lights and shimmering pink decor at the Father-Daughter Princess Dance at Boardman Park.

Arrayed in soft pink and yellow adorned with flowers to match those in her hair, the dainty girl smiled as her father, Anthony Jannone, danced with her. This is the first year they made it to the dance, but probably not the last.

“She wanted to do it, and I never would turn down a date with my daughter,” Jannone said.

Saturday night was the third of four nights of twirling, dipping and twisting at the 11th annual father-daughter dance in the Lariccia Family Community Center. About 60

daughter-dad pairs came out decked in their best for the three-hour festivity that began at 6 p.m. Most of the tiny princesses sparkled on the dance floor from encrusted dresses, tiaras, jewelry and shoes.

“This is one of my favorite programs because everyone loves to be here,” said Karen McCallum, park recreation director. “Dads love to dote on their daughters, and their daughters love to be doted on.”

More than 200 came out this year for the event that began Thursday. Each pair receives dinner, a professional picture and an evening of dancing.

Some of the dads pull out all the stops to make sure their little girls understand what it feels like to be treated like a princess.

From hair to makeup, the perfect outfit and even a tiara and corsage to top it off, the girls, age 5 to 12, steal the show.

Morgan Cherne, 10, of Boardman was at the dance for the fifth time this year. She used to attend it alone with her dad, Chris, but last year her little sister, Mackenzie, began coming along. Morgan still cherishes the moments she can share with her dad and sister.

Her cousin, Sarah Williamson, 10, of Ann Arbor, Mich., has attended the past four years with her dad, Jeff. She said she enjoys it, even though it requires her to bring out her girly side. Her father complemented her purple and black sparkly outfit with a purple shirt and tie.

“It’s the one time a year we get you into a dress,” he told his daughter.

On the dance floor, Isabella Trimboli, 6, of Campbell, twirled her white, wedding-style dress to “I Gotta Feelin’” by the Black Eyed Peas.

Around her, fathers gleamed with joy as they danced with their daughters, took scrapbook photos on a park bench beneath a lighted archway and played with arts and crafts until their carriages arrived.

The sold-out event “is a testament to this Valley’s legacy that dads want to leave for their daughters,” McCallum said.

That legacy is for them to date someone like Dad. Someone who “treats them like a princess,” she said.