Schools
Stanford Dance Marathon: Dancing for the End of an Epidemic
Hundreds of students dance the night and morning away to raise money for AIDS awareness, globally and locally.
In the middle of an unseasonably warm winter quarter, several hundred Stanford students spent the day and night cooped up inside the Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center. Studying for midterms? Hosting alumni? Attending a scholarship brunch? No.
This weekend's 24-hour charity function was Dance Marathon, an event that can only be described as epic. Hundreds of students raised and donated anywhere from a few to a few hundred dollars for local and global organizations by committing to dance, or at least to remain standing for a full 24 hours.
The event was coupled with Hackathon, where Stanford computer-science aficionados spent 24 hours performing free website coding for numerous nonprofits across the Bay Area. The proceeds, totalling more than $132,000, will be split between Bay Area Young Positives and Partners in Health.
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"It was amazing," said freshman staff member Olivia Thomas. "I mean, I'm exhausted, and I don't think I'll be able to move for the next couple of days, but it was really fun. I had a great time."
Inside the Arrillaga Alumni Center were plenty of Dance Marathon paraphernalia, snacks, board and video games, informational booths, a merchandise station, paramedics, a small film-screening lounge, storage for luggage, a contemplation room and, of course, a dance floor.
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"Everything was really smooth," reported sophomore Dance Marathon Morale Exec Elise Geithner.
Dance Marathon was founded on Stanford's campus in 2005 and has since raised $689,637.69, not counting this year's efforts.
While the fundraising total was outstanding, it is substantially less than in past years, when Dance Marathon has reached a high of $165,000 in donations in a single event.
This year's donations will go to maintaining and managing the newly built hospital in the remote Butaro region of Rwanda, which serves nearly half a million people, and sustaining the resources and services of peer health support and counseling for those living with HIV/AIDS.
First Shift
Performances by Fleet Street, Finding Jupiter
Public service fair
Presentation by Meryl Glassman of Partners in Health
Second Shift: Prehistoric Times
Performances by Fusion Belly Dance, Everyday People, Swing Time and DV8
Presentation by two longtime members of Bay Area Young Positives
Third Shift: Let's Get Physical!
Performances by Cardinal Calypso, "Dean Julie" and Olivia Haas, Sex Ray Vision, Talisman and more
Fourth Shift: Kings and Queens
Performances by Stanford Taiko and more
Fifth Shift: Ancient Civilization
Performances by Alliance Streetdance and Arabesque
Sixth Shift: Welcome to the 1920s!
Yoga
Performance by Tap Th@t
Seventh Shift: the Nineties and the Future!
Performance by the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band
Presentations by "Dean Julie" and Meryl Glassman again
