Airbands energize sleepy dancers during weekend

The Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon has a number of traditions. Counted among the most popular is the Airbands Competition. This weekend, about 30 groups of students competed against each other in the form of small skits designed to keep the dancers entertained.

The music varied from the Beach Boys to Michael Jackson to New Kids on the Block, and costumes ranged from traditional clothing to cheerleading uniforms and gangster suits to outfits right out of "The Brady Bunch." The purpose of the airbands was to keep up the morale of the dancers while providing good comical entertainment.

Each group was assigned a child to sponsor to help contribute to the Four Diamonds Fund at the University's Hershey Medical Center. The groups then prepared a small skit complete with music and dance to perform on stage periodically throughout dance marathon.

Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, 508 Locust Lane, and Sigma Delta Tau sorority, 1 Shulze, worked together to perform their version of George Michael's "Freedom."

One airband, consisting of members from the American Society of Civil Engineers and Society of Women Engineers, copied the music video "Mickey."

"We're happy to look like fools for the kids," Kelly Stratton (senior-civil engineering) said.

The group prepared its skit about a month prior to dance marathon. It was still a last-minute thing until they got the costumes together, said Jennifer Klarman (junior-secondary education).

Alpha Phi Delta fraternity, 402 S. Burrowes, joined together with a sorority and created their skit of The Lion King's, "Just Can't Wait to be King." The group worked on their theme for over three weeks. The final result was several rambunctious dancing flowers and colorful singing animals.

A lot of practice went into the group's skit, said Dennis McMichael, (sophomore-recreation and park management) dance marathon chairman for Alpha Phi Delta. Their sponsor child was unfortunately unable to see their performance, but did intend to be there, McMichael said.

The College Democrats had their own airband in which they rocked and rolled to the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations."

Leah Moore, chairwoman of College Democrats for dance marathon, said the group was desperate for an idea and the Beach Boys was the first thing suggested. The group worked a week in advance on their performance.