The Hyatt Regency Greenwich transformed into a lively country rodeo November 15, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. as Sacred Heart Greenwich hosted its annual Upper School Father-Daughter Dinner Dance. Three hundred Upper School students and their fathers attended the country-inspired event, honoring another year of father-daughter bonds. This tradition holds significance for students, but particularly the senior class, whose fathers, “The Dadrigals,” took the stage and dedicated a performance of songs and dances to their daughters.
Each year, a group of parent volunteers select a theme for the evening and aim to create a memorable experience that resonates with the student body. This year, senior class mothers, Mrs. Carrie Heffernan, Mrs. Eileen Langer, and Mrs. Kathleen O’Leary chose the theme, “Where Country Meets the Heart,” captivating a rustic yet vibrant charm at this celebration.
The Dadrigals began preparation for their performance October 7, giving the group six weeks to perfect their routine. The group rehearsed every Monday and Wednesday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Lennie and John de Csepel Theater, under the direction of Ms. Lora Haskins, Executive Director at the Studio for Performing Arts in New Canaan, and Ms. Cassie Austin, the organization’s dance instructor. Practices included running through music with lyric sheets, listening to vocal tracks, and mastering choreography.
The Father-Daughter Dance is meaningful for seniors as it is one of their last traditions with their fathers before graduating and moving beyond King Street. Senior Lila Caruso shared her thoughts on the event’s significance and expressed how the Dadrigals performance made her final Father-Daughter Dance even more memorable.
“The Father Daughter Dance is a vital part of what it means to be a child of the Sacred Heart,” Lila said. “Specifically, […] it brings fathers and their daughters together to further strengthen the familial bond as well as creating everlasting memories. I am a lifer at Sacred Heart, meaning that I have attended seven Father–Daughter Dances and [was] especially excited for this year as I [got] to watch my dad perform in the Dadrigals. The Dadrigals performance in prior years has always brought overwhelming laughter, and I [could not] wait to see what all of the senior dads [brought] to the performance this year.”
In his second year performing with the Dadrigals, Mr. Marco Caruso, Lila’s father, shared the most meaningful part of his experience. He highlighted how this special tradition embodies the spirit of the Sacred Heart community.
“The most meaningful part of Dadrigals is the performance at the father daughter dance, showing the bond in which we share with our Daughters,” Mr. Caruso said. “The performance is a tribute to the love and commitment to always be there for daughters. It gives true meaning to this great tradition for the future of the Sacred Heart Community.”
Featured Image by Maggie Heffernan ’25
