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[ Friday, Feb. 18, 2000 ]
Countdown begins for Thon 2000
By Colleen Hyland
Collegian Staff Writer
The clock counting down to the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon 2000 has been ticking all year and the final bell is about to toll.
At 7 p.m. today, 680 dancers, more than ever before, will begin their 48-hour stay on the Rec Hall floor.
The stands of Rec Hall will be open to interested observers, while those with floor passes will not be allowed to enter the floor until 10 p.m., said Walt Breuninger, overall public relations chair for Thon.
PHOTO: Frank Singley/Collegian
Bill Reid (sophomore-accounting and international business) sorts mail for Thon dancers on Wednesday.
Breuninger added parking for the event will be available at the Nittany Lion Parking Deck.
For the convenience of visitors of Thon 2000, Loop buses will run during all 48 hours.
Lisa Clapper, marketing coordinator at Centre Area Transportation Authority, said both the town and campus Loops will run and will follow regular routes.
Thon will kick off with an introduction at 6:30 p.m. followed by a performance by Dunston Ashe, who will go on stage right as Thon gets underway.
Other entertainment and events will be going on throughout the weekend to keep the dancers occupied.
Greg Pezza, overall entertainment chair for this year's Thon, said a record number of bands, 12, will perform one set each throughout the weekend.
Bands making an appearance include Thon veterans Velveeta, Green Eggs and Spam, and Bluesuedegroove. Tin Pan Alley and Superglide are just two of the eight bands who will be performing at Thon for the first time this year.
Other events for the weekend include a pep rally and a Tommy Hilfiger fashion show. Athletic teams, cheerleaders, the Nittany Lion and the Blue Band also will make appearances during the pep rally, Pezza said. The fashion show will include 10 professional Tommy models in addition to some local models who were chosen at an open casting call last Friday.
With the addition of a second smaller stage this year, a capella groups, such as None of the Above, and dance groups, such as NOMMO Performing Arts Company, the Penn State dance team and the Swing Dancing Club, also will perform throughout the weekend.
Six theme hours are planned for the weekend to keep the dancers busy, said Molly Skwirut, overall morale chair for Thon. The theme hours involve different events at tables and various related activities.
One of the theme hours, titled Kindergarten, will include arts and crafts and activities such as playing with parachutes.
"There are less theme hours this year than in the past, but in this case, less is more," Skwirut said.
The traditional line dance will have interaction with the audience, which is something new for this year, Skwirut added.
Overall, Skwirut is excited for the events this weekend.
"I am excited, stressed, but I can't wait for the families to get here and for the weekend to start," she said.
