Dancers play to keep sleep away
Slinkys, yo-yos help guide marathon dancers through 48 hours on their feet

By SHARON SARGENT
Collegian Staff Writer

Multicolored beach balls soared aimlessly through the air, beanbags flew randomly from one hand to another and fluorescent Nerf footballs whizzed in perfect spiraled arcs across the gymnasium.

At first glance, it seemed like the scene of an enormous second grade birthday party; a closer look, however, revealed the country's largest student-run philanthropy -- the 1995 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

Staying on their feet for 48 hours was an almost impossible task for the 500-plus 'Thon dancers. But with the help of toys, music and each other, everything got a little easier.

"It's the other people who keep you awake," said dancer Debbie Levenson (junior-English). "Someone gave me a blow pop so I'm on a major sugar rush, but I also have a yo-yo, Slinky, paddle, Play-Doh and a dart gun to keep me going. They all keep me moving -- just like a little kid," she said.

Jennifer Boudway (freshman-communication disorders), who danced for the Episcopal Student Ministry, said, "Toys are good because of short attention spans. . . . We just have to keep busy doing something -- something fun to do."

Yo-yos, which most dancers haven't played with for years, were a unanimous favorite for passing the time.

"Yo-yos become your life," said Tara Dressler (senior-speech communications), who danced for Sigma Nu fraternity, 340 N. Burrowes Road.

Dan Scott (junior-management), who danced for Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, 524 Locust Lane, also realized the importance of his yo-yo.

"I have a light-up yo-yo which is really great," Scott said. "When you're really tired and it starts lighting up, you're mesmerized."

Even the simplest of toys entertained the exhausted dancers. Word searches, coloring books and trolls amused dancers throughout the marathon. For hours, glazed eyes watched the amazing feat of tennis balls bouncing against the matted floor.

"Tennis balls are great because you can play with them and use them to massage your feet," Scott said.

Eric Richardson, adorned in a Hawaiian lei and carrying a Mad Libs book, whipped some Silly Putty and a golf ball out of his shorts pocket. Richardson (senior-electrical engineering), who danced for Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, 408 E. Fairmount Ave., found that a golf ball made a better foot massage than a tennis ball and was also a more interesting thing to bounce against the floor.

Though keeping themselves busy, and therefore awake, was the dancers' ultimate goal, some exhausted souls attempted to entertain their fellow dancers as well.

"The time's beginning to fly by. I wear my sombrero to keep me busy and when I'm bored, I put on my fake glasses," said Ben Tinker (junior-business), who danced for Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, 417 E. Prospect Ave. "They keep other people from getting bored -- it's all in the entertainment."

But dancers didn't have to rely solely on little toys and each other to occupy their time. Video games, foosball and various local bands were also available for the dancers' entertainment.

"The secret to being good at dance marathon is playing Four Square," Scott said. He also said, as he hopped from one foot to another in time with a band's rhythmic tunes, that constant movement was another key to a successful marathon.

"If you don't keep yourself entertained -- or at least moving -- it's impossible to get through it," Richardson said. Many other dancers agreed that if they stopped moving, they might not be able to get started again.

Chris Berret (senior-biology), who danced for Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, 351 E. Fairmount Ave., said that each dancer experiences ups and downs. "Every hour you get really tired and then you get another wind," he said.

One thing that many dancers relied on for an automatic pick-me-up was the line dance. Friday night, moralers took over an hour to teach dancers the line dance, a special choreographed dance that would boost spirits throughout the marathon.

"The line dance gets you back into things when you're spacing out," said Rachel Schulman (senior-film) who danced for Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity, 328 E. Foster Ave.

Regardless of the entertainment -- whether it be a line dance, a video game or a tennis ball -- there were times when complete exhaustion hung heavy over White Building's gymnasium. While some limp bodies slumped over tables, other dancers clung to each other for support. Worn-out dancers embraced, some crying on others' shoulders, others simply wearing a painful expression.

When the 48 hours of dance marathon came to an end yesterday evening, there were still tears, and the dancers still held each other for support. The exhaustion that had for two days hovered over White Building, however, disappeared. As the kids dedicated Alabama's song "Angels Among Us" to the dancers, the tears of exhaustion changed to tears of happiness and fulfillment, and the pained faces were suddenly overcome with joy.

Collegian Staff Writers Danielle N. Rodier and Paula Shaki contributed to this report.