With one simple act of kindness, Marc Daniels ’96 gets our vote for dad of year
It’s likely you’re one of the millions who saw Marc Daniels ’96 in a video that went viral last summer. If you haven’t: the clip opens with a row of tiny ballerinas happily dancing in unison, except for one—Daniels’ 3-year-old daughter, Bella-—who is having a major meltdown. Without missing a beat, Daniels hops on stage, carrying 4-month-old baby Suri in one arm, and begins dancing alongside Bella and her troupe, including third sister, Giada. Magically, Bella calms down, and resumes her routine, which Daniels performs perfectly by her side, as he had many times when they practiced together at home.
The video (see it on YouTube) garnered Daniels lots of media attention and a collective “Awwwww!” from fans, who dubbed him “Daderina.” The Washington Post, USA Today, and Inside Edition covered the story, which seemed to tap into the zeitgeist at a moment when people are exploring the nature of fatherhood and masculinity. Daniels sees that as a good thing.
“I have, surprisingly, been approached by a lot of men who have expressed their appreciation,” he said. “Some said that they were inspired to be more engaged with their own children after watching the video, so that has been pretty profound and beautiful to experience.”
By day, Daniels is a lawyer in Bermuda. After working in firms since law school in London, he founded his own Bermuda firm, Marc Geoffrey Barristers & Attorneys, in 2015. He argued (and won) two criminal cases in the Bermuda Supreme Court this past winter, and has a murder case coming up.
Outside of work, he is devoted to his three daughters and family life. “We want to raise our children to be beautiful, wholesome human beings who are thoughtful and kind,” he said. “We want them to fulfill their passions and their purpose.”
Speaking of “passion” and “purpose,” Daniels said he gained much from his time at Williston. “The learning environment was so different from what I was accustomed to in Bermuda—the small workshop-style classrooms, the approach to critical thinking, the manner in which the teachers challenged us rather than forced us to regurgitate information,” he said.
He said he also valued the sporting experience, dorm life, meeting students from other parts of the world, playing my music on the quad, and hacky sacking for hours.
“I felt like I was truly being prepared for university,” he said. “I loved everything about being at Williston.”