Students danced around the world this past weekend to raise money for Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Clarion Dance Marathon was held in the Gemmell Multipurpose Room.
Krista Baselj, Clarion Dance Marathon president, said this year’s theme was “Dancing Around the World.”
Every hour a new theme dance was incorporated from a different country.
Mexico was the theme country for the first hour, and Jamaica was the second hour. Other theme countries were Germany, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Nigeria, India, Russia, China, Polynesia, Peru, and the marathon ended with the United States.
Every four hours a new team would come in and give another one a break.
“This is the seventh year that we have held the event,” said Baselj.
The event started on Feb. 27 at 8 a.m. and lasted until 9 a.m. on Feb. 28. There was music, dancing, games, crafts, live entertainment, and other activities to participate in and enjoy at the dance marathon.
Teams could register for $25, and all the money raised went directly to Children’s Hospital.
Activities included games modeled on the TV shows “Family Feud” “Deal or No Deal” and “Whose Line is it Anyway?” Those attending the event could also play corn hole, water pong, hot potato, “Scene It,” limbo, trivia and others. Participants could also create sand art.
The Hip-Hop Dance Team performed at 1 p.m., and the Dance Team performed at 2 p.m.
They had a variety of food throughout the dance marathon such as strawberry tortillas, fruit snacks, hot dogs, spaghetti, pizza, ice cream and s’mores. Breakfast was offered Sunday morning.
Baselj explained that video messages are recorded for the kids at Children’s Hospital to show what dance marathon organizers are doing and that they are thinking of them.
She said most of the children are chronically ill, so the group can’t make any crafts to give to them because of the potential for spreading any type of infection.
A $50 prize was presented to the organization that raised the most money. There were also prices for dancing and lots of enthusiasm from those who attended.
