2016 Down Syndrome Community Sweetheart Dance

On February 20 I photographed the annual Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Dance, put on by the Down Syndrome Community of Puget Sound.  This is always a very fun event, with entire families showing up to eat pizza and dessert, catch up on how everyone is doing, and (of course) dance to the music of DJ Anthony Jacob of MobileGrooves.

There were several dozen families in attendance, with kids ranging from as young as 6 months old well into the teens.  A number of adults with Down Syndrome were there as well.  Anthony did his usual great job of keeping the crowd happy on the dance floor.  He has been the DJ for this event for ~6 years now, and seems to know just the right music to keep everyone dancing.

In addition to pizza, there was a HUGE pot-luck style dessert buffet, with dozens of wonderful desserts ranging from cookies to pies and cakes.

I have been the photographer at this event for ~20 years now.  As many of you know, my daughter Kerri has Down Syndrome, and I volunteer my photo services every year to the Sweetheart Dance and the Buddy Walk, which is held every October at the Seattle Center (photos from the 2015 Buddy Walk can be seen by clicking this link).

Enough talk.  Here are some photos from the dance.  The entire collection can be seen (and copies can be downloaded free of charge) at the Sweetheart Dance link.