The most exciting part of the Father-Daughter Dance for Natasha Babb happened hours before the South Portland-sponsored Valentine party ever started.

The 7-year-old spent last Saturday at an Old Port salon having her hair, makeup and nails done before the dance.

“My lipstick is sparkling red to match my dress,” said Natasha, holding the hand of her dad, Steven Babb, as they walked into the dance.

Natasha and Steven Babb joined about 600 other South Portland dads and their daughters for what has become an annual winter tradition at the South Portland Community Center.

Tickets to the seventh annual Father-Daughter Dance sold out in advance, and the soiree included pink lemonade, sugar cookies and a dance floor bathed in twinkling lights.

The yearly Valentine dance, which started in 2001, is so popular that some father-daughter duos return year after year. “I was just thinking we probably have another year at the Valentine dance before Emma loses interest,” said parent Calvin Muse.

He and his daughter have been regulars since she started grade school. Emma, who wore a floor-length red gown, is now in the fifth grade at Dora L. Small School.

Added Phil Gotts, who came with his daughter, Stella: “We’ve been regulars, too, except for last year. It’s amazing. We had tried to buy tickets a couple weeks ahead of time, and they already were sold out.”

The annual Valentine dance is open to daughters and the special men in their lives – whether it’s their dads, grandfathers, uncles or family friends. The vast majority of male guests are dads bringing their young daughters.

“We take girls of all ages,” said Lisa Bingham, recreation coordinator, who organizes the event, which is limited to South Portland residents. “We’ve seen adult women bring in their fathers. But most are girls 4 to 8 years old.”

Moms, however, have to sit this one out. They’re not even allowed in the gymnasium to watch the girls and their chaperones dance.

The success of the Father-Daughter Dance has spawned a Mother and Son Date Night, held in January, where boys and their moms have dinner and a ballroom dance lesson at the Community Center.

Bingham says dads use the Father-Daughter Dance as an opportunity to indulge their daughters. Girls have arrived in limousines with their fathers. Dads and daughters have worn matching outfits. Some fathers come dressed in top hats and tuxedos.

It’s not unusual for dads to take their daughters to dinner in South Portland first – at Friendly’s, Beale Street Barbeque or Willows Pizza.

While most of the girls wear party dresses or long gowns, there is no standard garb for men. Some wear baseball hats and blue jeans, while others don suits and ties.

But the girls dress up like they’re headed to the prom. Some girls wear carnation corsages, a gift from their dates. It doesn’t seem to matter that their party wear may be hand-me downs, homespun creations, finds from Goodwill or Wal-Mart specials.

“A lot of the dads like to show off their daughters,” Bingham said. “It’s fun to see them at check-in time. We should just roll out the red carpet. It is a very big night for them to dress up.”

Sean Poage, a staff sergeant in the Army reserves, wore his dress uniform. Caitlin, his 6-year-old daughter, had on a pearl necklace and a party dress purchased from Wal-Mart.

This was the pair’s first year at the dance. Poage saw a flyer advertising the dance and paid $10 for a family ticket.

“This is our special evening,” Poage said, clasping Caitlin’s hand.

The staff at the Community Center put in time and effort to make the evening memorable. The gymnasium, which normally is used for basketball games, was transformed into the ballroom of a little girl’s dreams, complete with disco lights and a disk jockey who started the evening by playing “Daddy’s Little Girl.”

The selection of music appealed to both generations. The kids enjoyed the Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana and other Disney-label artists. The men were treated to rock classics by the Beach Boys and the Beatles.

The Community Center was closed to other activities, with the senior wing set up for refreshments. The men and girls sat at long tables, sipping pink lemonade in plastic cups and nibbling vanilla cookies sprinkled with pink sugar.

There also was a makeshift photo studio, where fathers and daughters could pay an extra fee for a professional portrait. Couples stood in a long line to take their turns sitting against a silky-white backdrop, with a vase of flowers as the prop.

Most of the dads said they liked the dance simply because it’s a way to spend time with their daughters. “Hopefully, this will be a memory they’ll cherish, as they grow up,” said Calvin Muse, noting his older daughter, now in middle school, chose not to come this year.

But Muse and his youngest child, 10-year-old Emma, kept their date, first dining at Au Naturals in Portland before the two-hour dance started at 6 p.m.

Kids clearly liked the activities, and seeing their friends. Many girls spent more time playing with peers than hanging out with the grownups. Moms, of course, got the night off.

“They’ve been running me rampant,” said Scott Smart, smiling but looking exhausted, as he prepared to leave the dance for home. Smart brought both his daughters to the dance – 7-year-old Sydney and 2-year-old Ava.

Saturday marked the first year that Steven and Natasha Babb came to the dance. Steven said he expects the Valentine celebration to become an annual event.

Steven and Olga Babb made the night into something special for Natasha. Steven first treated his daughter to a day at Cherry Pie Salon in the Old Port.

Natasha’s nails were painted red to match her lipstick. Her shoulder-length, blonde hair was curled into a flip.

Natasha wore a red satin and voile dress her mother hand-sewed and some funky white elbow-length gloves without the fingers. Natasha’s silk white purse was the same handbag her mother carried down the wedding aisle.

Asked whether she attends dances often, Natasha replied, “I’ve been to hundreds,” to her father’s astonished smile.

“This is Natasha’s first dance,” Babb said, gently correcting her. “This is a special night for both of us.”

Lauren Despins, 10, pulls on long white gloves in preparation for the Father Daughter Dance in South Portland. Her pink corsage was a gift from her father, Mark Despins.08053 – Natasha Babb, 7, holds the hand of her father, Steven Babb, as the two wait in line to get their photo taken at the Father-Daughter Dance.08124 Add2 Poage