- Valdosta, Ga. - February 3, 2012 -

The largest father-daughter dance in the nation kicked off its 16th year at the Lowndes County Conference Center in Valdosta.

Fathers and daughters of all ages came out to celebrate each other. Last year the event had nearly 5,000 attendees. This year it is on track to beat that number.

The Dance's founder Jeff Stewart spoke about one of the positive issues that the dance highlights. He said "these girls now have gone for 3,5, 10 or 15 years with their dads and their dads have set the bar on how a man should treat a lady on a date."

Stewart created the dance 16 years ago holding it in his local church. Since then it has grown every year. He initially founded the event as a way to spend time with his daughters who were 2 and 6 years old at the time.

Other fathers spoke about the importance of the dance. Mark Starr said "It's really special because I try to hold on to every moment. She [daughter] is almost 4 and it just seems like she grows up so fast."

All profits from the dance go to the First Presbyterian Church in Valdosta.