There’s nothing like spending quality time with your children. These moments of bonding are things that they will never forget.
Being there and supporting your children builds trust and helps to solidify that they can do anything they put their minds to. Believe it or not, your support alone makes them feel that possibilities are truly endless.
That’s why whenever a video or photo comes along showcasing precious moments between parents and their children, we “ooo” and “aww.” We are able to share in such special moments and that is an unparalleled feeling.
But when images of fathers spending time with their children, particularly with their daughters, our hearts grow a little larger.
Oftentimes, men receive more attention for being absent in their child’s life rather than being present. But twelve fathers in a recent viral video show that these men are determined to not be a statistic.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4p16DtBBqK/
Erin Lee is the owner of E’chappe Dance Arts studio in Philadelphia.
Lee started the class after recognizing that many of the young girls were being dropped off and picked up by their fathers.
Lee told Good Morning America:
“Year-round those dads are here and it’s very rarely acknowledged. We wanted to show the world that this happens.”
She thought why not create an opportunity for dads to join in on the fun?
https://www.instagram.com/p/B41ChLMhvIb/
Thus, BOGA Dads was born.
The name is derived from the type of dance taught in the class, ballet and yoga.
According to their website, the class is two hours and is offered once a month. It’s free for those whose daughter is already enrolled in their primary program and just $35.00 for those who are dropping in.
The video Lee posted on the company’s Instagram account was a viral sensation. It’s caught the attention of celebrities like Ava DuVernay, Jennifer Garner, Michael Ealy, and others.
DuVernay praised the fathers for being there and shared how much she missed her father.
“He would have done this for me.”
Garner reposted the video after seeing that Ealy shared it. She wrote, “Dads are the best!”
Ealy captioned the photo writing, “Proud to say I don’t know one father who would be afraid to hold down his child this way.”
What an amazing response. After going viral, Lee says that she has received numerous calls from fathers seeking more information on how they can sign up for the next class.
The class was a part of their “Dancegiving” dance classes for the month of November. They also offer “mom and daughter hip-hop.”
The video is not only adorable but it also helps to break stereotypes of African Americans in ballet and black fathers not being a part of their children’s lives.
Lee told BBC News, “Primarily we are an African-American dance school which we love so much just because a lot of our fathers are stigmatized. You look at them and you don’t think they are going to be great fathers or they have tattoos or their hats are to the back, and it’s totally not the case.”
She continued, “So it’s really good that we get to use our platform to change people’s minds a bit.”
Julian Myers, 30, whose daughter, Nola, 5, is a student at the school, agrees.
“In today’s climate that side of black men doesn’t get seen … black men who are there to support their daughters and be soft and vulnerable and show a different side.”
He went on to call the moment “moving” and “character-building.”
What’s also pretty awesome is that the daughters get to be the teachers and instruct their dads on proper form and such.
Lee says that the girls go into “full leadership mode.”
“They’re so ecstatic and they’re like little teachers themselves.”
How great is this?! Would you like to do this with your father or your daughter?
Feel free to share!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
