Capes were flying and fanny packs were bobbing as some of most daring dancers took a leap of faith -- down the giant slide of strength.

Group by group, dancers ran up to a huge blue mat coated with baby powder. Like penguins disappearing into icy water, the dancers dove into a dusty, white abyss in the middle of the Bryce Jordan Center.

Dust circled around the dancers as they sprawled on the mat to get a massage from OPPerations crew members. The slide of strength, also known as a bathroom break, takes place a few times throughout Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon weekend so dancers can lie down for 10 seconds and have their calves massaged.

Dancer Katrina Kissman (senior-premedicine) went down the slide twice, but said she did have some worries about participating in the 1:30 a.m. slide yesterday. "My first thought was that I hope I don't trip and embarrass myself," she said as she wiped powder from her clothes.

Kissman said participating in the slide is a little weird but feels good. "You're just lying in a big pile of baby powder, and all these hands are coming at you," she said.

Pallav Tamaskar (senior-industrial engineering) said being covered in baby powder is not too bad. "It was refreshing," Tamaskar said. "It's a small price to pay for a quick massage."

Tamaskar said he was feeling great after going through the slide of strength. "I'm ready to go for two more days [of dancing]," he said.

Betsy Yaros (senior-photography) wished she could stay on the mat longer but said the slide is an drenaline rush. "You hit the mats so hard that it knocks the wind out of you," she said.

Matthew Sterling (junior-science) described the slide of strength as an exciting sled ride, but said it's more of a spirit booster than anything.

"It doesn't really relieve the pain," he said. "But mentally it lifts you up."