10 Steps to Mastering the Father Daughter Dance
Posted on 03 05, 2009 under The Manual by Noodad | Comments
Father daughter dances. The one time a year where you actually have to get dressed up and dance. You may be able to finagle not dancing with your wife but when it comes to your daughter, you are no match. Even if you are a wallflower or have 2 left feet, when that invitation comes for the Father Daughter Dance, you know what you need to do.
Fortunately, I can tell you what you need to know to master the Father Daughter Dance. I am by no means a veteran of these things but I have cut a rug with my daughter twice and from some of my polling, most dances resemble the ones I went to. Here’s what you noodads need to know:
1. It’s About Her, Not You
This is a special time for your daughter to show off her dad. She is not showing off you to her friend’s dad or her dance teacher. She is showing you off to her friends. Knowing that you need to know this: the way to impress your daughter is to actually get off your arse and dance with her.
2. You WILL Look Like A Fool
This is important. You WILL look like a fool. But guess what? Every other dad will too. In fact, the ones who stand out are the ones not participating.
3. Dress Nice, But Not Too Nice
You don;t want to look like you just cut the grass but you also don’t want to look like you are heading to a charity auction. The big thing to remember is you will break a sweat. We aren’t talking about slow dances for half an hour. We are talking about such festive classics like the Bunny Hop and the Chicken Dance.
4. She May Not Want to Dance
Depending on the age of your daughter and her comfort level, she may not want to dance. This isn’t like taking her to the dentist: you don;t have to force her to do anything. What you do need to do is concentrate on what she wants to do and encourage her to have a good time. At my last Father Daughter Dance for Valentine’s Day, my 5 year old was shy for the first 3 songs. Then she spent the next 2 dancing with her friends. Then the rest of the dance, she was by my side. Don’t force it and you’ll have a good time.
5. If You Have Twins, Do It Twice
There was a guy at my last dance that had twin girls. He did it right, he did the first session with one of his daughters and then went back and did a second session with his other daughter. This is not a chance to consolidate. This is the same if you have 2 daughters that are different ages. Treat them individually.
6. Let Her Pick Out the Dress
This is sort of like a prom for your daughter. Let her pick out a new dress especially for the occasion. Wanna be the best dad in the whole world? Let her pick out a tie for you that matches.
7. The Songs You Need to Know
It may be helpful if you reacquaint yourself with the following songs: The Chicken Dance, The Bunny Hop, The Mexican Hat Dance, The Macarena, Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes, and the robot. Note: the robot is necessary to break the ice with your fellow fathers. It can be substituted with the worm, the head spin, or the Roger Rabbit. Use of the white man’s overbite or the moonwalk is not recommended.
8. Make it a Date
It may be a good idea to plan to take your daughter out after the dance. Maybe a lunch or dinner, maybe ice cream. Believe me when I tell you these memories you can’t get back.
9. Meet the Teacher
It is always important to meet the teacher. This is true for 2 reasons: you will be able to put a face to the name you write on the check every month and when she sees what a great dad you are being dancing with your kid, she will inevitably tell your wife and that can only mean good things down the road.
10. Take a Picture
Make sure you capture the moment with a picture. You may not think it is a big deal but it will be a huge deal to your wife and most importantly, your daughter. Remember, like everything, you want to build great memories for your kids so that when you are 80 and need someone to change your diaper, your kids will be gentle.
Good luck noodads.
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