Alumni gathered on stage Saturday to support current Dance Marathon dancers at around 12:00pm. (The Daily Iowan/ Chastity Dillard)
Aaron Naivitch doesn’t remember Dance Marathon being this strenuous when he participated as a University of Iowa student.
“I remembered [the Big Events] being a lot easier,” the 2010 graduate said with a laugh. “I’m definitely struggling. I go to bed at a normal time now, that’s probably it.”
Naivitch participated in Dance Marathon 13-16, and was a morale captain during his senior year.
“[Being back] is great. It’s my first one back as an alum,” he said. “It definitely brings back great memories.
And though he’s struggling to keep up, Naivitch said he’ll assuredly make it to the end of the 24-hour event.
“I’m doing it with friends, so I know I can do it. It’s just more of a struggle than I remember,” he said.
Naivitch, who is a full-time dancer this year, is also a member of the UI Dance Marathon Alumni Group.
The Dance Marathon Alumni Group came on stage shortly after noon to present a check indicating the combined amount raised by dancers and alumni. The combined total at approximately 12:15 p.m. was $52,287.
“Thank you for dancing on behalf of all our alumni,” said Adam Blind, president of the Dance Marathon Alumni Group.
Blind and others in the alumni group are asking graduating seniors to provide their emails — once that don’t end in uiowa.edu — to stay in touch for future UI events.
“The best way we have to keep in touch with all of you is through e-mail,” he said.
— By Kristen East
