Break in your dancing shoes and practice the line dance — the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon 2001 is tonight.

Starting at 6:15 p.m., dancers will arrive in Rec Hall for a brief opening ceremony. At 7 p.m. on the dot, the dancing will begin.

"Right now I'm filled with emotion," said Jessica Muri, member of Alpha Delta Pi and dancer in Thon. "I'm really excited to be dancing. I see it as a challenge, one of the biggest I've ever faced, but I think it will also be one of the most rewarding. Right now I'm ready to start."

Tonight, 652 dancers will hit the floor to participate in the largest student-run philanthropic event in the world. Last year $3,076,983.97 was raised for the Four Diamonds Fund, prompting this year's theme of "Within Reach."

"The event council has created a medley of dances based on different dance groups," overall public relations chair Kelly Croce said. "The medley is a surprise, it should be really fun."

Dancers are not permitted to sit down, kneel or sleep for the entire 48-hour marathon, which ends 7 p.m. Sunday.

Moralers are in charge of keeping dancers occupied, happy, energized and satiated. They are each assigned a couple for whom they must provide food, water and massages.

"A moraler's job is to keep dancers going when friends and family aren't there," Croce said. "They come in at random hours, at all hours and keep the dancers motivated."

Family members involved with the Four Diamonds Fund will be arriving tomorrow and be staying at the Nittany Lion Inn, 200 W. Park Ave. Families should be present at Rec Hall all day Saturday and Sunday.

The Four Diamonds fund provides financial assistance and emotional support for families with children being treated at Children's Hospital at the Hershey Medical Center.