Students dusting off 'dancing' shoes

At 8 p.m. tonight, dancing queens and kings will pack the Health Physical Education and Recreation building to kick off the 14th annual IU Dance Marathon. \nIndiana University Dance Marathon is a 36-hour event, where more than 600 dancers will participate, said senior Denise Feldman, director of public relations for IUDM. Each dancer was required to raise at least $300 to participate. \nIndianapolis-based radio station 93.1 FM RadioNow will be broadcasting from IUDM and Landon from "The Real World: Philadelphia" will be visiting the dancers Saturday afternoon, Feldman said. However, the most important aspect of the weekend is raising money for Riley Hospital for Children, she said.\n"People think college students only care about partying and drinking," Feldman said. "This is a great way to prove we are more than that. The Riley families love it because they know the money is going to a good place."\nRiley Hospital for Children, which was established in 1924, serves only children and each year treats over 150,000 patients. \nIUDM was created after Ryan White passed away in 1990. White was a child from Kokomo who contracted AIDS through contaminated blood transfusions he received because he was a hemophiliac.\nThis is the first year sophomore Alicia Treesh, sister of Gamma Phi Beta, will dance during IUDM. She is looking forward to seeing the children. Treesh said she thinks it is important to get involved because children look up to students and it's important to make a difference in their lives.\n"I think it's a great cause," Treesh said. "These children need people like us to be involved in their lives. I enjoy children so much. Adults like us make a big impact on them. We are people they look up to."\nTreesh said the hardest part will be staying on her feet for 36 hours, but she said the looks on the children's faces will be worth it. Treesh will contribute $400 to what IUDM hopes will be the grand total of $500,000.\n"Being there for 36 hours, being on your feet the whole time except to eat, and not being able to leave will be the hardest part," Treesh said. "But it will be worth it after you see all the children and the looks on their faces."\nWhile the committee that plans IUDM changes year to year, there are some things that are a tradition for IUDM, said junior Joshua Jenkins, special events director for IUDM. The logo for IUDM has been the same since the event started in 1991, he said.\n"I think dance marathon will take on its own face each year because different people are involved," Jenkins said. "It's a student-run organization, 100 percent. Everyone has worked hard and the commitment is there for a great marathon."\nIUDM is the third largest dance marathon in the nation, Feldman said. Both Butler University and IU-Purdue University Indianapolis hold dance marathons that benefit Riley Hospital for Children, but IUDM is the largest in Indiana, she said.\n"Penn State is the largest dance marathon," Feldman said. "They raise millions. The difference between us is we are a student-run organization and get no help from the University. We are leaders in Indiana."\nBoth Feldman and Jenkins agree there is competition between different universities to raise the most money and have a successful dance marathon. However, Feldman said she believes this competition is harmless and only encourages people to work harder.\n"I really think it is friendly competition," Feldman said. "Everyone is supportive of one another because we are all doing this for the same reason, to help people. We want to build a stronger dance marathon."\nIt is not too late for dancers to register, Feldman said. Registration will begin at 6 p.m. and dancers need to have $300 to participate. \nThe closing ceremony will begin at 6 a.m. Sunday. The dancers will form the Circle of Hope and the grand total will be announced, Feldman said.\n"This is the most important time at dance marathon," Feldman said. "The Riley families speak and the total is announced. It is a great experience."\nJunior Becky Gensler, a sister of Alpha Gamma Delta, participated in IUDM last year and said she anticipates the physical pain of being up so long. \n"This year will be harder because I participated last year, so I know what to expect," Gensler said. "I had no expectations last year, but this year I know at the end my feet are going to hurt. But it will be rewarding in the end."\nGensler raised $590 and is looking forward to spending time with the Riley children again this year. She hopes everyone that isn't participating in IUDM will come out to support the dancers and donate money.\n"I encourage everyone to come visit and donate," Gensler said. "Once you do, you will see that it is a great cause and want to participate next year."\nFor more information about IUDM visit the Web site at www.iudm.org or the Riley Hospital for Children Web site at www.rileyhospital.org.\n-- Contact staff writer Maggie Bozich at mbozich@indiana.edu.