24 hours. In that time, life-changing memories have been made. Many children who are ill and in hospital beds normally, danced in tutus and face paint. College students normally going out with their friends on Friday and Saturday night spent it with complete strangers, who are also family. Hundreds of songs, thousands of footsteps, roughly [...]

In usual fashion, University of Iowa President Sally Mason paid a visit to the Big Event Saturday afternoon as dancers prepared for Power Hour. Mason gave a short speech praising the dancers for all their hard work and encouraged them to just keep going. “I want to tell each and everyone one of you that [...]

Excitement thrums through the Iowa Memorial Union as power hour draws near. Both new and veteran dancers are anticipating the hour of straight dancing that pulls the Big Event to a furious close. “It’s the closing of the big event and we’ve been putting all this work into it — it’s just exciting to think [...]

While several big names have already made their appearances at the Big Event — singer and performer Jamie Lono, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, and soon to be UI President Sally Mason — many of the kids were excited to see a different bunch of people: The Iowa Hawkeye football team. 18 hours into Dance Marathon, [...]

An aisle widened within the packed ballroom, leading up to the stage. Pomp and Circumstance played over the speakers — but in contrast to the solemnity that usually comes with graduation, cheers and applause pressed against the walls of the ballroom. Amid the bright and crazy colors of dancers, children marched in gold graduation gowns, [...]

The tables were turned when the student dancers became the cheering supporters and the children took the stage for Dance Marathon’s annual talent show. For Sarah Waul, eight years old, the talent show meant giving back to those that supported her through treatment. “She just loves Dance Marathon,” said Kevin Waul, Sarah’s father. “She loves [...]

For the Kids. The chant that can be heard every hour, throughout the IMU — everyone is dancing for the kids. And just across the river, Dance Marathon reaches out to the children staying in the hospital. For the second year, the UI Children’s Hospital hosted its own “mini Dance Marathon” in the gymnasium for [...]

Cutting off her own introduction, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds thanked the cheering crowd of dancers for all they have done. For the second year in a row, Gov. Terry Branstad was unable to attend the event, with Reynolds speaking on his behalf. “He would be here, but his father is experiencing health problems—he is with [...]

Nine a.m. brought more than just breakfast to some of the dancers. Members of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority brought goody bags to their dancing sisters in a show of support. “They are cheering us on, saying you’re almost done, keep going,” said sorority member Katie Rhodes. The bright purple and green bags were laden [...]

In the midst of countless stories, endless songs playing loudly over speakers and constant dancing, Dance Marathon participants can take a break in the game room — where flat screens cover the walls and video games are heard throughout the air. The room — sponsored and hosted by Best Buy — has worked with Dance [...]