A brief escape: A rare father-daughter dance offers joy to prisoners and their families

Rare Reunion Behind Bars: A Night of Music and Tears for Inmates and Their Families

Inside the maximum-security Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as "Angola," a poignant scene unfolded last month. For the first time in its history, the prison hosted a "father-daughter dance," allowing nearly 30 inmates to reconnect with their daughters over music, tears, and joy.

The event was organized by the nonprofit God Behind Bars and marked a rare moment of humanity behind the prison walls. The inmates, who had been selected for good behavior, wore tuxedos adorned with pink boutonnieres as they waited to see their daughters, dressed in formal gowns, enter the prison's Bible college transformed into a makeshift dance hall.

For many, this reunion was decades in the making. One inmate, serving time for armed robbery, described seeing his daughter in tears and running towards him as "breaking me down." For some daughters, the night marked the first time they'd danced with their father, a bittersweet reminder of lost birthdays, prom nights, and graduations.

The event offered more than just a photo opportunity; it provided a glimpse into the lives of those behind bars. Organizers and prison officials hailed the dance as a potential new tradition for Angola, which has undergone significant reforms in recent years to improve living conditions and provide inmates with life skills training.

Angola's history is marked by its troubled past, including its role in the transatlantic slave trade and harsh sentences that earned it the nickname "America's Bloodiest Prison." However, over the past two decades, the prison has worked to rehabilitate itself, introducing incentives for good behavior like an annual rodeo, an inmate-run radio station, a 9-hole golf course, and life skills training.

For one night, the inmates were not defined by their convictions but were simply fathers reconnecting with daughters they feared would miss out on forever. The father-daughter dance has offered hope that even in the harshest of environments, humanity can prevail.

I think this dad daughter dance thing is kinda weird . Like, yeah it's great that these inmates got to see their daughters and all but it feels like some prison staff are just trying to soften up the whole "hardman" vibe of Angola. What's next? A prison choir or something? But for real though, I'm glad to see the inmates getting a chance to show human side... it's better than nothing . Can't say I'd want to be on the other end of those tuxedos tho

man this is really deep I mean who would've thought that behind bars u got inmates & their families vibin like nothin matters? its beautiful but also sad at the same time...u see these dudes been locked up 4 decades & they're still tryna make amends w/ thir loved ones, it's like they're sayin "hey I know i messed up but pls forgive me & give me another shot" u feel?

This whole thing just feels too good to be true, you know? Like, why are we seeing this "humanity" behind bars for the first time ever now? I mean, Angola's been around for like 150 years and suddenly they're having father-daughter dances? It's almost like they want us to think they've changed, but is it really? The history of that place is pretty dark, and now they're trying to spin it as some kind of success story? Maybe this is just a PR stunt to make the public feel all warm and fuzzy about the prison system... Just saying.

I'm seeing this story and I'm just getting emotional ... 30 inmates reunited with their daughters for the first time in years... it's a beautiful thing! The pink boutonnieres on the tuxedos were such a nice touch too . It just goes to show that even behind bars, family is everything . I'm glad to see the prison is trying new things and giving the inmates opportunities to learn and grow - life skills training and all that . But let's be real, it's the reunions like this one that really get me... there's just something so special about fathers meeting their little girls for the first time .

I just saw this video of the father-daughter dance and it's literally breaking my heart I'm so glad that there are people like the ones organizing this event who care about giving these guys a second chance. Seeing them reunited with their daughters after all these years is just...wow. It's amazing what music can do, right? I mean, I've seen some sad things in my time, but this is something else. The fact that they get to experience those moments of joy and love again, even if it's through a tuxedo and a boutonniere , just makes me appreciate life so much more.

I'm all for this kind of reunion event! It's amazing to see how something as simple as music and a night to spend time together can bring so much joy to people who've been through some tough stuff . But at the same time, I have to wonder about the practicality of it all – I mean, 30 inmates in tuxedos and daughters in formal gowns is just a lot of logistical hassle . And what about the emotional toll on the families who've been separated for so long? It's clear that this event was a game-changer for them, but I'd love to see more support systems put in place to help them cope with the aftermath . Still, it's definitely a step in the right direction towards showing people they're not just inmates, but human beings with families and feelings .

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." - Zig Ziglar

I think it's amazing how this event brought tears and joy to both the inmates and their families. It just goes to show that even behind bars, we can still find moments of humanity and connection. The fact that these inmates were able to reconnect with their daughters after all these years is truly heartwarming

man this is just too much for me ... like what's next? They're gonna let the inmates watch Netflix and eat pizza too ? all jokes aside tho, I'm glad to see they're trying to humanize these guys, but don't get it twisted, we shouldn't be letting them out of their cells on some whim . gotta keep that safety in mind while still giving 'em a chance to turn their lives around . and yeah, the dad-daughter dance was pretty sweet, but let's not forget about the system they're trying to reform ... Angola's got a long way to go before it's a place I'd wanna visit .

Man this is so cool I was reading about this event and it's literally giving me all the feels I mean think about how hard it must be for these dudes to have a connection with their kids after being locked up for so long... and then they get to see them again, dance together, and just enjoy some quality time . It's like, even in the toughest places, there's still room for love and humanity. And I love that it's not just some PR stunt but actually a sign of progress for the prison Angola's been working hard to change its vibe, introducing all these new programs and stuff. Maybe this is the start of something beautiful

I'm still getting used to these dad jokes during events like this, it's amazing how much emotional depth there is when inmates get to see their kids again... I mean, what's a tuxedo without some pink boutonnieres tho . Seriously though, Angola's trying to put its dark past behind it and create something positive, it's heartwarming to see that they're taking steps towards reform. But at the same time, I wonder how many more events like this are happening behind closed doors...

Man I just saw this story and it's really got me thinking about how we treat people who've made mistakes. These guys are doing their time but they're still human beings with families and loved ones. It's heartbreakin' to think that some of them have been locked up for so long they might not even get to see their kids graduate or grow up . But this "father-daughter dance" event is a reminder that we can still be kind and compassionate, even in the toughest places.

I've had friends who've gone through similar situations with family members and I know how tough it is to balance love with anger. But seeing these guys reunited with their daughters just makes me want to say more, you know? It's like, yeah, we make mistakes but we're not defined by 'em. We can work towards redemption and showing up for the people who care about us .

I think it's amazing how this event brought a little bit of joy and love into those hard lives behind bars . I mean, who doesn't love a good father-daughter dance ? But seriously, it's incredible that the organizers were able to make this happen and give people a chance to reconnect with their loved ones after so many years apart . And I'm loving that Angola is trying to turn its dark past into something positive . It's all about giving inmates more opportunities to learn life skills and behave well, you know? Maybe it's not just about "behaving" but also about showing them there's a better way of living . Whatever the reason, I think it's awesome that this event brought hope to everyone involved .

Wow this is so beautiful ! I mean, think about it, these guys are serving life sentences, but for one night, they get to be dads again and show their daughters how much they love them. It's like, a breath of fresh air in there . The fact that the inmates were selected for good behavior and got to wear tuxedos and boutonnieres is just amazing . I'm glad the prison is trying to reform itself, it's a step in the right direction . Can you imagine seeing your dad for the first time after years apart? it's a tear-jerker, but also so uplifting .

you know what's wild? i was just thinking about this and have you ever noticed how hard it is to find good BBQ places near prisons? like angola's got all these amenities but i'm sure the inmates are still getting served some questionable meat on their birthday cake

OMG did u know that I just tried this new avocado toast recipe and it's literally changed my life? i mean i've had guac before but this one's got some crazy-good crunch on top from crushed up pecans anyway back to the dads & their daughters... i feel so bad for those guys who missed out on so many milestones just cuz they made a mistake in life. can u imagine not being able to attend ur kid's prom or even just having a dad-daughter date night? it's like, we get it u messed up but still gotta have some human connection, right?

Ugh, this whole thing just feels like a PR stunt to me ... I mean, come on, 30 inmates getting to wear tuxedos and have a "father-daughter dance" is basically just a fancy way of saying they're gonna be locked down for one night with their daughters. Like, what's the real motive here? To make the public feel all warm fuzzy inside or something? And don't even get me started on the fact that these guys are serving time for armed robbery... like, what did we expect from them? Good behavior isn't exactly a new concept in prison life. But hey, at least it's a chance for some families to reconnect, right? The thing is, once you're in, it's hard to get out, and this event just feels like a temporary Band-Aid on a much bigger wound...