Line dance steps into tradition

They keep it under lock and key -- hidden in a small room in White Building -- until they know it is just the proper time for release.

Then they teach the dance; dance the dance; and they dance some more.

The mystique behind the annual dance marathon line dance keeps many people who are not part of the morale committee curious as to what this year's unique choreography will be.

The line dance tradition can be traced back to 1976, although original line dances did not really develop until the middle of the 1980s, said Larry Moore, owner of Larry Moore Productions and 1979 University graduate.

"It's kind of grown into being one of the key traditions for dance marathon," Moore said.

Before formal line dances were conceived, Moore said dance marathon dancers did "The Hustle" and other line dances that everybody knew.

"We kind of made them up as the years went on," he said.

In the past, the memorable songs have ranged from 1981's dance song "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang to last year's "Open Up Your Heart" by M People.

Who knows what it will be this year.

Well, actually, someone does -- although she laughingly refuses to share the information.

"I really can't divulge anything," said Rhonda Penn, overall morale committee chairwoman for dance marathon.

A morale captain with the privileged information, Suzanne Clement, also would not tell what the dance is, although she claims that she thinks this year's dance is the best.

The suspense and excitement of the line dance is due to the fact that everyone expects there to be a line dance, she said.

"I don't think 'Thon would be the same without a line dance," Clement said.

And the morale committee captains work hard to come up with a good line dance theme song, Moore said.

"Every year, they get better and better," he said. "(The choreographers) just continue to outdo themselves."

Moore has seen the progression of the dances -- he's been involved with dance marathon since he was a student in 1977, when he danced.

"Since then, I've been involved in one fashion or another," he said, adding that he is disc jockeying at the 48-hour event this year.

The music chosen for the songs has represented the years they were played, whether they were songs of the '80s or "oldies but goodies," said David Dapko, adviser for dance marathon.

"I can't think of a bad (line dance song)," said Dapko, who danced in 1985.

He has the scoop on this year's song, although he has not seen the line dance that accompanies it, he said.

Those who are not privileged enough to have a peek at the dance will have their first exposure to the funky dance grooves during the first hour of dance marathon, Moore said.

But before the hundreds of students focus their attention on the stage in White Building, the morale committee has to decide what the line dance song will be.

Morale captains gathered together this year at a retreat to brainstorm ideas for the choice song and dance moves, Penn said. The morale committee members themselves only learned the dance this week.

The line dance is a part of dance marathon that the dancers, spectators and Four Diamonds Fund families look forward to learning, Penn added.

And this year seems to be no exception.

"It's really fun. It's just really fun," Moore said. "No one will be able to stand still when this is going on."

The dance is executed 24 to 28 times during the 48-hour stretch, at times that are scheduled, Moore said -- randomly scheduled, "just to mess up the dancers."

A large reason behind the tradition of the line dance lies in its benefits to the dancers -- physically and emotionally.

"It puts people in a zone," Clement said, about the dance's ability to energize the dancers and keep them focused on dancing.

Learning the dance keeps the dancers occupied because it takes time to practice and master, Penn said.

The aerobic moves of the upbeat dances bring dancers back into focus, if they are feeling down, Dapko said, adding that if the dance were known before the marathon, it may lose its impact on the dancers.

"I think the dancers actually like the mystique behind (the dance)," Penn said.

Whenever they feel the room needs a boost this weekend, a few people have the power to call the line dance, including Penn and Alyssa Cherkin, dance marathon overall chairwoman. The dance and the song is emotionally uplifting, Moore said, and it brings everyone in the gym together during dance marathon.

"It just reiterates that we're all working toward the common goal," Clement said.