Dance For Those Who Can't

Alicia Berdeguez
Alpha Xi Delta

Put on your most colorful outfit, complete with glowsticks, and blast the music as you head to campus this Saturday. The Dance Marathon is raising money for the Children’s Miracle Network, while impacting the entire student body with a wave of enthusiasm for dancing. Pump up the music and support this great philanthropy!

This weekend on Feb. 4, 2012, there will be a very special event for Auburn’s campus. The annual Auburn University Dance Marathon, began in 2009 with the influence of Miss Auburn. Each year hundreds of students gather together to dance for 12 hours. This extravaganza will feature entertainment from across the board, with lights and jamming music.

Back in August, the staff of the Dance Marathon began advertising for this unique fundraiser. They’ve been creative in their entertainment techniques. The “Who is Maddie” campaign had us all wondering why the school was covered in ambiguous flyers. Maddie is a child from the Columbus Regional Medical Center who was born premature. She is a beautiful girl who challenges us to raise awareness, raise money and throw your hands up in the air to dance!

How will we stay entertained for 12 hours? Don’t worry about it. Every hour there will be different theme contests. Teams will be encouraged to show their diversity through spectacle and enthusiasm. There will be nonstop popular music from the DJs, games, and of course lots and lots of food!     

There are Dance Team Captains, Morale assistants and dancers. However, do not be intimidated by the emphasis on the word “dancers.” It is my belief that everyone deep down is a dancer. As long as you come out to support and keep your body moving, you are a dancer. Teams are also created in order to allow people to rest when they get tired. On this day alone from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. we can ask, “Are we humans, or are we dancers?” and the answer is dancers.

As a Zumba instructor, I am excited that dance marathons have become popular. I would much rather dance for hours than run a 5K marathon. But I have gone to 5K events and I challenge the 5K runners to dance with us! Both events are extremely beneficial to the community. It is the spirit of altruism that bonds us together as a student body.

As a Greek community, it is vital that we show the campus that the Greek world knows how to dance. Greek Sing is not far away and a 12 hour warm-up is always a great idea for preparation. Encourage your brothers and sisters to join this day of dancing because this event is also filled with opportunities to gain lots of valuable spirit points!

Dance Marathons have been popular in recent college culture. Universities across the United States are learning that if we come together for a common cause, we really can make a difference. Dance is one of the easiest ways to bring students together for a simple day of philanthropy. Rachel Senyitko (Alpha Xi Delta) said that she was excited to get involved with this children-based philanthropy, “I love kids and as a nursing major I would like to work with kids in pediatrics or the neonatal ICU. This philanthropy supports exactly what I want to do and who I want to help.”

More information on this event, along with registration can be found at: www.audancemarathon.com. Find the perfect team for you and sign up today! We are only days away from an event that you will remember for the rest of your college career. Don’t miss the most exciting philanthropy event of the season! War Damn Auburn University Dance Marathon!

Alicia is a sophomore studying English, creative writing and Spanish. You may contact her at arb0017@auburn.edu.