On a recent Saturday at 4:53 p.m., a father and daughter duo duck through blue and silver streamers and step into a ballroom bathed in bright blue LED lights. They take in the sight of 20 round tables draped with royal blue tablecloths— some topped with white flowers, others with starry, globe-shaped centerpieces.
They pause for a photo, grinning widely and walk through the ballroom, admiring the decorations, before taking a seat. They’ve arrived early to the event, which officially begins at 5 p.m. The DJ cranks the music up in anticipation of more guests.
This duo has come to the Ties and Tiaras Sneaker Ball at the Durham Armory, hosted on Feb. 8 by Durham Parks and Recreation and sponsored by The McNair Harris Crescent Foundation with the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. The foundation serves Durham and Orange counties and seeks to “enhance the quality of life for minority, impoverished, and other underserved residents” through partnership programs, community service, and educational enrichment.
This is the fourth year for the Sneaker Ball. “Dad’s chance to take his favorite girl(s) out for a fancy night of dancing and fun.” It’s for Dads and girls ages 2 and up.
Favorite activities are announced as fathers and daughters fill the ballroom: “McDonald’s on Fridays,” “playing Roblox,” “tickling,” and “doing nails.”
Some daughters arrive in pretty pink princess dresses paired with white platform Nike sneakers. Another wears a checkered pink and white suit dress and elegant high heels. Fathers showcase their own unique styles, ranging from classic single-colored suits to beige and white striped ones, as well as cardigans and jeans.
Tierney says that his daughter, Tamiah, 9, chose her own outfit. Tamiah nods in agreement, with a proud, confident smile. She wears a dazzling, two-strap white dress with baby blue and mint green flowers, accessorized with a matching mint green sash tied around her waist, beige heels, golden heart earrings and a glowing emerald, sapphire and amethyst jewel necklace. Tierney tried his best to find a matching suit and tie and succeeded with the tie — baby blue with white stripes.
This is the second year they are attending the Sneaker Ball, which Tierney calls a “fun time to spend together.” A cherished moment from last year’s ball was when Tamiah sang “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys during karaoke.
As the event progresses, some fathers and daughters mingle at the tables, while others complete crosswords on their sneaker-themed placemats. Others take videos, dancing on a stationary circular platform connected to a camera mounted on a long, black pole that rotates around the platform’s base, capturing fathers on one side of the platform and daughters on the other. Attendees grasp different props — green beaded pearls, a jeweled tiara, and a laminated fire emoji fastened to a wooden stick — and sway to the music and smile as the camera passes by.
A few girls gather by the stage at the front of the ballroom, where dozens of blue, silver, and white balloons litter the floor. They toss the balloons in the air, giggling and squealing as they try to keep them from touching the ground. Eventually, some fathers join them in their game.
Around 5:45 p.m., fathers and daughters make their way over to a long banquet table where members of Phi Beta Sigma, dressed in royal blue cardigans and dark slacks, greet them with glove-covered hands and smiles. The menu is catered by Maggiano’s and Texas Roadhouse and for dessert, cupcakes topped with white and royal blue frosting await their fate in the attendee’s stomachs.
Fathers and daughters settle into their seats, sharing smiles and conversations over their plates of food.
A father and his two elementary-age daughters linger on the platform at the photo booth. One of the sisters dons a tiara and wears a glittery, pink dress with ruffles, a white cardigan and silver Chelsea boots. Her sister wears a dress with red and pink hearts, a light jean jacket and white ballet flats.
The girls are back-to-back with their father, standing still while their father busts a move — extending his arms and moving his fists together in a circular motion as the camera whirls around them, capturing the moment.
Pictured above: Scenes from the recent Ties and Tiaras Sneaker Ball at the Durham Armory. Photos by Abigail Bromberger — The 9th Street Journal.
Yaa Bame
