Monday, February 17, 2020
"This is the social event of the year," Mayor Tom Barrett said to kick off the festivities.
On Saturday, Feb. 15, families from around Milwaukee hit the dance floor at North Division High School for the 17th annual Daddy/Daughter Dance.
"It truly takes a village to raise our young people," Milwaukee Public Schools superintendent Dr. Keith P. Posley, who attended the event with his granddaughter, said. "This is an example of all the love and support that we have for our young people on a daily basis."
A village was once again in attendance on Saturday, as the Daddy/Daughter Dance maintained its status as one of Milwaukee's winter tentpole events. The dance has now sold out for seven consecutive years and reached 1,000 participants in each of the last five.
Tradition remains a vital part of the event's lore, as families make time to return to the Daddy/Daughter Dance each year. Ricky Grandberry and his six-year-old daughter, Journee, have now attended the dance in each of the past three years.
"It's just a day for me and my daughter to have time together, and to let her know that I am always there for her," Grandberry said. "We look forward to this every year. [Journee] talks about it all year long. It's just about seeing the smile on her face."
Even for families who are new to the Daddy/Daughter Dance, it doesn't take long for them to recognize the value of the event. Joshua Wilks attended the event for the first time in 2020 with his four-year-old daughter, Kai, but is already planning on making the dance an annual staple for his family.
"It's nice to come out with my daughter, and have some time where it's just us," Wilks said.
Even beyond the father-daughter relationship, the Daddy/Daughter Dance allows community members to connect with other families in a positive way.
"As fathers, its a way for us to come out and support each other. You can see that there are a lot of really good fathers in the community that love their kids," Grandberry said.
The Daddy/Daughter Dance continues to thrive and positively impact families in Milwaukee and beyond. We look forward to seeing you in 2021 for the 18th edition of the event! Visit our Facebook page for the full photo gallery.
A special thank you goes out to our sponsors, the Brewers Community Foundation, as well as Gruber Law Offices, Colectivo, and Grand Canyon University!