Hour 1: 10 a.m. to 10:59 a.m.
It all started with Sandstorm.
USC’s 2015 Dance Marathon began with a total of 1,138 participants, including miracle makers, participants and volunteers. All of them gathered in the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center for the Opening Ceremonies that started the 14-hour event.
“Our goal is to raise $500,000 for Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital,” Leslie Knight, the executive director of Dance Marathon, said in the ceremony.
One of the miracle families, the Tippings, came forward to share their story with the crowd. Their daughter Zoe was a miracle child and benefited directly from Dance Marathon.
“Thank you for letting us be here, thank you for your generosity,” Alan Tipping, Zoe’s father, said. “Our family has 100 percent benefited from what you are doing — dancing and sweating.”
The Morale Team debuted their line dance that they will teach the participants throughout the day with notable musical highlights from the "Friends" theme song, “Uptown Funk,” “Shut up and Dance” and “Hero.”
Representatives from the Palmetto Health Foundation and the Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital came to thank the participants for all their hard work.
“Y’all are our champions,” Dr. Caughman Taylor, the senior medical director for the Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital, said. “On behalf of all our doctors and all our medical students, we thank you. You’re doing great.”
Even Henry McMaster came out for his very first Dance Marathon to show his support for the kids.
"I'm proud of you and I say be proud of SC. Go Carolina. Go gamecocks. FTK!" - @henrymcmaster @USCDM
— Lauren Shirley (@SurelyLauren) March 21, 2015
The end of the opening ceremonies was a chance for the six teams of DM — the grasslands, rainforest, aquatic, temperate, desert and arctic teams — to show off with a "chant-off" pep rally.
Hour 2: 11 a.m. to 11:59 a.m.
The hour opened with the video about Ryan White, the inspiration for the Dance Marathon organization. The video honored his memory and his short life from 1971 to 1990.
Hour two also brought the beginning of the line dance. Taught by the members of Morale and the Morale Captains, the participants picked up the beginning four snippets of song and dance and practiced their moves.
It was a sea of green shirts dancing in the Strom gym.
“It’s fun, It’s not what we expected,” Michelle Anderson, a first-year participant, said. “We weren’t sure what we should expect but it’s actually a lot of fun and it’s going by really fast.”
Anderson, along with her Phi Mu sorority sisters Allison Pruden and Molly Koski, all participated as a part of their sorority’s philanthropy.
“I’m really amped. There’s so much energy in there,” Pruden said.
The Miracle Makers from Heathwood Hall presented a check to USCDM. The money was raised during their first ever Mini Marathon held on Feb. 27.
Hour 3: Noon to 12:59 p.m.
Hungry dancers grabbed lunch during the third hour of Dance Marathon. With snacks provided by Village Idiot, Jimmy John's,CQ-DCarolina Catering, Zoe’s Kitchen and the Woodlands, participants were able to spend the hour replenishing all their energy.
Meanwhile, the gym expanded to give the event even more room to work with.
Four corners was played in the newly expanded gym with alternating teams as the others grabbed lunch.
Marcus Lattimore and Knight were placed in Dance Marathon “jail” — made of multi-colored streamers in lieu of bars — where they were required to raise $100 each to be freed.
In less than 10 minutes, they were both released and back to pumping up the participants.
Hour 4: 1 p.m. to 1:59 p.m.
They were a sea of garnet in black.
The fourth hour of Dance Marathon brought a costume change for the dancers and the Morale team alike. They donned their favorite garnet and black attire for the Gamecock Athletics hour.
Members of the Volleyball, Equestrian and Swimming and Diving teams joined the participants for a friendly game of “Finish the lyric,” which had the whole gym singing Ariana Grande.
The Hammond School presented a check to DM for $6,517 that they raised during their Mini Marathon this year, and performed their line dance on stage.
Energy was high and Knight hoped to get the total amount fundraised higher, as well.
“We have developed the Gamecock Challenge,” Knight said as she took the stage toward the end of the hour. “We want each of you to raise an additional $80 throughout the event.”
It was Benjamin Brown, a miracle child, that brought the hour to a close. As the participants gathered, he too gathered up his courage to speak in front of the crowd.
“Because of the support of amazing Gamecocks like yourselves and the talented and skilled staffed of professionals at Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital, children like me have a better chance at life after facing severe medical illness,” the 8-year-old said. “Thank you! Go Cocks!”
Brown donated $20 of his personal allowance to USCDM and closed the hour by leading the crowd and participants by Sandstorming.
Hour 5: 2 p.m. to 2:59 p.m.
The fifth hour of Dance Marathon was largely dedicated to the learning of the line dance. In fact, they reached the halfway point of the dance: Bon Jovi’s iconic “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
Carolina Ballroom joined the participants and taught them some East Coast Swing for a change of pace, giving them a little taste of what they normally teach in their hour long meetings.
The hour was also about fundraising.
Miracle child Brown was placed into the Dance Marathon jail where he had a total bail of $500. Brown was released within 15 minutes.
Knight’s Gamecock Challenge had participants itching to raise more for the kids.
As of hour five, 33 participants had raised the extra $80 with more and more coming to add their names to the list. Those who met the challenge received a morale metal.
Fundraising goals were growing by the hour and many participants were surpassing their goals.
"I set my initial goal at $500 and now it's $1500 dollars,” Emily White, the director of external productions, said. White hit $1000 during hour five. "I'm literally so motivated right now and I'm texting everyone I know and I'm literally going to cry.”
Hour 6: 3 p.m. to 3:59 p.m.
It was 72 and sunny out by the time USCDM’s Summer Hour rolled around.
Be the Match, a bone marrow registry, started off the hour by encouraging the participants to register.
“90 percent of donors are age 18 to 25,” Ashley Collier, a Be the Match employee, said. According to Collier, college students make up the vast majority of that number.
Their goal was to surpass the University of Iowa’s grand total of 240 registrations at their own Dance Marathon. Collier thought it was possible for them to break that ceiling.
USC has their very own Be the Match On Campus chapter which includes students who have actually donated bone marrow.
Students were encouraged to swab their mouths for the Be the Match registry as well as listen to an announcement made by the Palmetto Health Children Hospital Child Life team.
They announced that this year’s fundraising efforts will towards a more pointed effort.
“It’s the first time we’ve donated all our funds specifically to Child Life,” Jo Jo Winkelmann, a member of the Hospital Relations Team, said. “Child Life is anything that’s not surgery and being treated.”
At Palmetto Heath Children’s Hospital, that can include play, sibling support, pet therapy, music therapy, normalization, memory making, procedure preparation, pre-operation tours, patient education and family support.
Hour 7: 4 p.m. to 4:59 p.m.
USC Moksha opened hour seven with a five minute dance routine that wowed the Dance Marathon participants.
“This is the most hyped crowd that we’ve had so far,” Janki Dalal, a dancer in USC Moksha, said. “This is really an amazing experience. We’ve never really performed so close to an audience.”
USCDM dancers gathered around to cheer on the group right on the gym floor, putting them amidst the action.
Moksha is USC’s co-ed fusion dance team, incorporating styles of dance such as bharatanatyam, hip-hop, bollywood, bhangra, garba, contemporary and tollywood.
“Everyone was screaming and cheering for us, and it just gives us that much more energy,” Shiv Mehta, the president of the organization said.
The team said they loved being a part of something as great as Dance Marathon.
“Some of us are also dancing in Dance Marathon,” Ashini Desai, a Moksha dancer, said. “We all just love the chance to be able to perform such good for the community and the nation because this goes to everybody. This touches our hearts.”
Hour 8: 5 p.m. to 5:59 p.m.
5 p.m. was the halfway mark of USCDM and according to Katelyn Daley, the director of Family Relations, the moral was at an all-time high.
“I’ve been doing this for a really long time and I think everyone is just so motivated,” she said. “This is the first year that we’ve had a public goal, and I think we were a little worried about it at first, you know, the natural thing with making anything public, but I think it’s upped morale because everyone is just so excited.”
She felt that the best part of Dance Marathon this year has been watching all the participants doing the dance.
“We really are one team with one dream, striving to $500K,” Daley said.
Cardinal Newman raised over $54,000 for USCDM through their Mini Marathon on March 14 and presented their check to the organization on stage.
Two more miracle families presented their stories to the crowd: the Marshalls and the Schellings.
“The lengths you’re going to to bring awareness to these children is just overwhelming,” Betsy Marshall, the mother of miracle children Phillips and John, said.
The Schellings also have two miracle children in their family, David and Kate.
“The thought of you here, giving your money and your time is what got me through,” Todd Shelling, the father, said. “Thank you so much.”
Hour 9: 6 p.m. to 6:59 p.m.
The ninth hour of Dance Marathon was used to refuel and prep for the five hours still to come.
“Hungry dancers need to be fed,” Abby Scott, the Public Relations Director, said with a laugh.
Greek Village dropped off meals for the dancers’ dinner. There was different types of pasta, salad, drinks and bread. For dessert, they were treated with Insomnia and Rita’s.
Hour 10: 7 p.m. to 7:59 p.m.
DM’s most eligible bachelors were on parade during hour ten in the Morale Men Auction.
“Who’s ready to buy some dates?” The crowd was on their feet, crowding the stage as the men of the Morale Team were introduced.
To build their dossier for the crowd, the men were asked their idea of a perfect date, where in the world they would go if they could be anywhere right now, what TV show they would be in and the first thing they notice about a person.
Front runners included Casey Berry and Andy Kendrick who performed an a cappella version of “Yellow” for the crowd, as well as Jamie Irick, the head Morale Captain who shaved the letters “FTK” onto his head.
Dance Marathon surprised the crowd with the surprise auction of Chase Mizzell, the head Morale Captain from two years ago.
After all the men were introduced, the participants had a chance to bid on them next to the stage.
“I wouldn’t pay more than $200,” Caroline Parkes, an excited participant said. “It’s for the kids!”
Hour 11: 8 p.m. to 8:59 p.m.
Hour 11 started out with the line dance and a 30-minute flash sale on all Dance Marathon merchandise, but it quickly turned into a private concert for the dancers.
McKayla Kenner, one of the miracle children, impressed the crowd with her remixed version of “Shake it Off.” The song had the dancers singing, clapping and dancing along to the beat.
“Us as the Kenner family can’t begin to thank you guys enough,” McKayla’s mother, Natalie, said. “Thank you so much for all that you do.”
McKayla’s best friend Courtney also used the Children Miracle Network Hospitals when she was diagnosed with cancer last year. The environment was one that was safe and comfortable for both of the girls according to McKayla’s mother.
The miracle families weren't the only ones coming and going from the main event — visitors were in and out of the gym, but three adults seemed to be a constant throughout the day.
“We’ve been here since 8:30 this morning,” Mary Jane Rigatti, the mother of Molly Rigatti, a member of DM’s public relations team, said. “We’ve been in and out getting cheeseburgers and coffee.”
Mary Jane brought along her husband, Mark Rigatti and Molly’s grandmother, Jane Purcell, all the way from Atlanta, Georgia, to support their daughter and granddaughter.
“It’s so important to her then, of course, it’s then important to us,” Mary Jane said. “We think that a bunch of young people who could raise the kind of money that is being raised here tonight is phenomenal. Phenomenal.”
Hour 12: 9 p.m. to 9:59 p.m.
When 9:30 p.m. rolled around, the main lights dropped and the neon came out to play.
The Rave Hour of Dance Marathon, put on in partnership with Carolina Productions, invited students who weren’t participating in the main event to join in on dancing for the cause for $15. The registration fee also covered a “Rave the Roof” T-shirt.
Trey Flake took the stage as the guest DJ for the Rave Hour which welcomed fifty new dancers on top of the amount of participants already in Strom.
Some of the miracle children took to the stage to groove with the Morale Team while others took to the floor and danced among the crowd.
The students who came for the rave were invited to stay for the closing ceremonies.
Hour 13: 10 p.m. to 10:59 p.m.
While the DM Rave continued in the gym, life around Strom was nearly business as usual.
“It’s just been a lot busier, definitely a bit hectic,” Kaity Papdopolous, a front desk worker at Strom, said.
For the 14 hours of DM, Strom’s policies were a bit different regarding guests. The event restricts guests from coming into the fitness center during the main event.
According to Papdopolous, a few people tried to make their way into Strom by claiming they were a part of DM, even when they weren’t.
“Unfortunately, we had to kick them out,” she said.
Troy McGee, a Fitness Staff worker at Strom, said that he was rather enjoying the change of pace that Dance Marathon had brought.
“It’s a little more entertaining than just normal work,” he said. “It’s usually pretty slow this time on Saturdays.”
The pumped up rave seemed to be pumping up those who had come to work out, as well.
“I haven’t even had to use my music because there’s other stuff going on,” Meserat Zemui, a medical student, said. “It’s grooving!”
Hour 14: 11 p.m. to Midnight
At 11:50 it was official, USCDM had broken their goal of $500,000, with a grand total of $501,528 raised for Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital.
Closing ceremonies ended with another rendition of the line dance, accompanied by tears of joy and happiness.