Jason Bischoff, far right, with daughter Gabrielle.

TIFTON, Ga. — Tiftarea YMCA is gearing up to host its 15th Father Daughter Dance on Feb. 16.

Even before he worked for Tiftarea YMCA, Jason Bischoff knew about the annual Father Daughter Dance.

He found out one day after work when his daughter, Gabrielle, told him about it.

“As a dad, if it’s important to her, then it’s important to me. We bought tickets and went,” said Bischoff. “It’s been a tradition ever since.”

This year’s theme is “A Night in Paris.”

Previous themes have included Oz, Wonderland and Under the Sea.

“It’s a chance to spend quality time with your daughter, to make it a special night for her, showing her what a date should look like, how she should be treated. I want her to know what she should be treated like on a date.“

And it’s not just for kids.

Some fathers bring their daughter while their wife brings her own father, turning the night into a multi-generational affair.

“We see them grow up and then come back with their down daughter years later,” said Bischoff.

The dance has grown every year, from 50 participants in that first year to last year where the dance had 856 people.

The money raised goes towards Tiftarea YMCA’s Youth Development Program, an after-school program that tutors kids while teaching them about exercising and healthy nutrition, among other things.

Picture taking will start at 5 p.m. at the UGA Conference Center, with the music and dancing starting at 6 p.m. and lasting until 9 p.m.

Advance tickets are available at Tiftarea YMCA on Carpenter Road.

If there are any tickets still available on the day-of, they’ll be available at the door.