28 Hours of Dance

Despite the notoriously grim economy, Columbia students raised over $44,000 this weekend to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in the ninth annual Columbia University Dance Marathon.

The 28 hours of dancing were kicked off on Saturday at noon in Roone Arledge auditorium with a speech by Jake Glaser, the 24-year-old son of Elizabeth Glaser, who serves as an ambassador for the Foundation. Beneficiaries of the organization also attended the marathon—two daughters from the Belfiore family, who has received support from the foundation for the family’s four HIV positive children, spoke to the importance of the Elizabeth Glaser’s mission and work. Some more familiar names also graced the stage: Judah Friedlander from 30 Rock, Gloria Reuben from ER and Raising the Bar, and Pamela Barnes, the CEO and President of the Foundation, all delivered speeches at the event.

This year, each hour had its own theme, including Caribbean, Teenybopper, Disco, and Old-school Hip Hop. The Columbia/Barnard Hillel organization sponsored Bar Mitzvah hour, and the InterGreek Council sponsored Greek hour. Columbia dance groups Sabor, Bhangra, the CU Dance Team, Raw Elementz, and CU Swing Dance Club performed during the course of the 28 hours. There were also musical performances by the Metrotones, Non Sequitur, and Uptown Vocal, and a performance by comedian Taylor Williamson.

Over 80 dancers participated in the marathon, each of whom were required to raise a minimum of $500 in order to dance. Not surprisingly, dancers reported that fundraising proved more challenging this year than in it had been in previous years. “People who gave $50 last year only gave $25 this year,” said dancer Stef Goodsell, CC’09, who has participated in the marathon for the past three years. “But the team structure was very helpful and supportive.”

Dance Marathon organizers kept busy these past few months coordinating and planning for the marathon. But once the marathon commenced, the planning committee’s work was not over. Co-Overall Chair Elizabeth Landesberg, BC’09, spent most of the marathon collecting tickets, managing performance groups, and picking up and delivering donated food for the dancers.

When they weren’t eating, watching performances or listening to speakers, dancers kept busy by documenting the event. CUDM kept a live blog at cudmlive.blogspot.com and recorded happenings on the dance floor with dancer-cam.

Exhausted dancers left Roone Arledge yesterday at 4pm after spending 28 hours straight on their feet. But not everyone planned to go directly to bed—some planned to stay awake (although seated) to watch the Super Bowl. But most dancers’ plans included sleep. As Goodsell said, “I may wake up for The Office after the Super Bowl, but I’m definitely going to sleep.”