Barbara Lawlor, Gilpin County.

When “Let it Go” played, the atmosphere in the Gilpin County Recreation Center Valentine party

room changed.

The annual Dads and Daughters Dance with at least 40 girls and their fathers had always been a

couple’s event, a special time for them, a time to show off the moves they practiced at home; a time to

show off new dresses and bright new ties picked out by a four-year- old.

As the poignant notes of “Let it Go” floated over the dance floor, the girls drifted away from their

dads into a world of their own. They tilted their heads back, implored with graceful movements of their

arms and morphed into ballerinas, each of their bodies bending and swaying with the song.

The dads knew when to sit down and watch, see their daughters slip from energized bunnies into

poetry in motion.

Each year, the Sweetheart Dance has a new element, an addition to previous years. This year, with

the help of LB Wizulski, Lauren Levitt and Gabriel Chisholm, the girls got into a freeze dance, wiggling

and leaping and spinning until the music stopped. Those who couldn’t keep still were eliminated. It was

a study in fizz fighting for release.

But the dads were still the best part, according to the daughters.

Five-year- old Camila Miera says she remembered coming to the dance last year, and remembered

that the room was decorated differently. She was proud of the necklace her dad had given her last year

and said she only wore it once in a while; she wanted to save it for this year’s dance.

Camila held up her wrist to show the flowers her dad had given her that night. Her dad, Daniel,

wore a distinguished suit and tie. Camila says she would have picked out an orange and blue shirt.

Daniel says, “This is a good excuse for us to go out on a date. We went to the Century Casino for a

taco dinner and then came here. She heard her friends were going to be here. Last year she was glued to

my hip; this year she couldn’t wait to be with her friends.”

The Miera’s practice dancing at home, mostly country dancing, but every now and then, Camila will

practice ballerina moves.

“I like being alone with my dad,” says Camila. “My brother is going to watch a movie and eat

popcorn with my mom and wait up for us to hear all about the dance.”

Ruby Gustafson danced with her dad, Dave, saying he was actually best at the Hokey Pokey.

Four-year- old Lila Blake and Elise, 9, danced with Chris Vincent. Lila said she remembered when she

was three years old and came to the dance. She said she liked the love songs the best.

Bella Marques, 9, wore a stunning cranberry gown with her black high-top sneakers and be-bopped

vigorously with her dad, Jon, who said he loved spending time his daughter.

Drew Abrecht wore a hot pink shirt for his first time at the dance. He said they had heard about the

dance from friends and when his four-year- old daughter Olivia asked him if he wanted to go, he said,

“Heck, yeah. This the fun thing about living up here.”

After about an hour and a half of dancing, the lure of a cold, refreshing bowl of ice cream had

adults and children lining up for the sweet treat.

It was a night filled with fathers, friends and young females festooned in frills, light as feathers as

they floated over the dance floor, already planning their 2019 dresses.