Loving dads, doting daughters dance night away

Father Daughter Dance at Boardman Park

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BOARDMAN

Chris McCallum was quick to confess that when it comes to sheer dancing prowess, he’s not exactly in the same league with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

On the other hand, he’s not shy about making a few moves on the dance floor when his 10-year-old daughter, Kelsey A. McCallum, is in the picture.

“I just like to watch. You don’t want to see me dance; that’s not pretty,” the Boardman man said with laughter.

Father and daughter found themselves enjoying a healthy dose of dancing and laughter, though, thanks to having been at the 14th annual Boardman Park Father-Daughter Princess Dance on Saturday evening in the park’s Lariccia Family Community Center.

The Valentine’s Day-themed, family-friendly gathering continues from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday and next Saturday as well as 5 to 8 p.m. next Sunday in the community center, noted Karen McCallum, the park’s recreational director who’s also Kelsey’s mother.

An estimated 50 fathers and daughters age 5 to 12 were on hand Saturday for the semi-formal event, which also included professional photographs as keepsakes, crafts and a buffet dinner that consisted of pasta and meatballs, mashed potatoes, corn and chicken.

Chris McCallum, a sales representative, said he and Kelsey have attended the dance every year since she was 6 months old. It’s easy to literally see Kelsey growing up because a table near the front door to their home contains a series of pictures of Kelsey in chronological age order at the dance every year, her father said proudly.

Chris also described his daughter as someone who loves to have fun and who has a take-charge personality, like her mother.

“My dad’s quiet,” said Kelsey, a Boardman Center Intermediate School fifth-grader who listed English as her favorite subject and reading realistic fiction as a top passion.

“She’s smart, attentive and very loving,” Randy Horton said of his 9-year-old daughter, Abriana Horton, a Stadium Drive Elementary School third-grader. “She would do anything for anybody. I’m very proud of her.”

Randy Horton, chief executive officer of a Warren-based cellphone- and smartphone-repair company, said he, Abriana and his 4-year-old daughter, Stella, arrived at the dinner and dance in a limousine. More important than the mode of transportation, however, were the virtues the event promoted, such as added quality family time as well as self-confidence and respect in the youngsters, he continued.

“He’s a nice dad,” added Abriana, who enjoys playing softball and singing. “Sometimes he’s funny!”

It wasn’t long before this father-daughter duo joined many others on the dance floor to a number of popular fast tunes such as “YMCA” by the Village People, “The Cha-Cha Slide” and “Who Let the Dogs Out” by Baha Men. Mixed in were a few slow tunes that included the 1997 version of “Butterfly Kisses,” by Bob Carlisle, a Christian/gospel singer.

The festivities also allowed the fathers and daughters to serenade one another to “My Girl,” the famous 1965 hit by The Temptations.

“It’s the perfect song and tribute – ode to the daughters from the dads,” Karen McCallum said.