Email   Print   Share By Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Facebook Digg Delicious November 1, 2012 | Leisure

Children and their parents at the Baby Loves Disco party try to bend under the limbo stick at Comanche Youth Center Oct. 25. Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Aiden Withers, 4, gets a football painted on his cheek to go with the dinosaur on the other side during the Baby Loves Disco party Oct. 25 at Comanche Youth Center. Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Jasmine Withers, 6, shows off her dance moves in the center of the dance circle at the Baby Loves Disco party Oct. 25 at Comanche Youth Center. Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Fort Hood’s Comanche Youth Center hosted the Baby Loves Disco dance party Oct. 25 when they stopped at the Great Place during their “We Are Family” tour.

Baby Loves Disco is a dance party that travels around the country bringing fun for children and the rest of the family.

“This is not your average Mickey Mouse Club or Barney event,” said Andy Hurwits, Baby Loves Disco founder. “This is a party that the parents can enjoy, too.”

Hurwits worked in the music business for some time and then started Baby Loves Disco eight years ago after his oldest son was born.

“Having kids and working in the music business can be challenging, unless you’re doing something that they can be a part of, too,” Hurwitz said of his foundation.

Hurwitz said the Baby Loves Disco tour has only recently started touring to Army bases, and added that he still has a lot to learn about the Army, because they are continuously teaching him so much.

“My family didn’t grow up around any kind of military, and my kids have no idea what goes on,” Hurwitz said.” Most people outside of military life don’t realize how hard things can be for a military Family, and how strong they can be. Once we began coming to Army bases, we couldn’t stop, because we love being with these Families.”

Hurwitz said their trip to an Army base was at Fort Stewart, Ga., and since then, they have always said yes to installation requests.

He also said being around the Army has been teaching his oldest son, Sam, that children his age have to deal with their parents being deployed sometimes, and it’s a good lesson for him.

“Now even my kids think it’s important to tour to Army bases, just to let these Families know we’re thinking of them,” Hurwitz said.

Comanche’s gym was filled with children of all ages, dancing with their parents and the official Baby Loves Disco masters of ceremonies – Gina Ferrara “Foxy Le Tigre” and Alex Zebede “MC Al. Phabet.”

Children and parents also had the options for other activities, such as a manicure station, a sock puppet-making station, a face-painting station and a healthy snack bar.

The dance floor was a constant activity spot with freeze dance contests, “Cha-Cha Slide” competitions and limbo, all led by Foxy and MC Al. Phabet.

Amanda Belton, who is new to Fort Hood, came to Baby Loves Disco when she read about it on Facebook, and said she thinks holding events like this are important because it’s great for the kids to get out of the house, and she added that it’s great for her because she has the perfect opportunity to meet other parents while her children meet new friends on post.

Kimberly Marin echoed Belton’s opinions on the event by saying, “This is so great because it’s a different type of atmosphere for our kids.

“It provides something fun for them that isn’t on the everyday agenda – plus it’s safe for them,” she added.

Marin brought her three children out for the dance party, who only took a break from dancing to

have a piece of pizza, and she laughed while her son showed off his dance moves.

“We’re so excited that we got to come to Fort Hood,” Hurwitz said. “And we can’t wait to keep touring to other Army bases and interact with more of these incredible Families in the future.”

To check out future tours and events held by Baby Loves Disco, visit their website at www.babylovesdisco.com.