Northwestern University Dance Marathon March 7-9, 2008
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 29, 2008
For More Information, contact
Northwestern University/Dance Marathon
Elizabeth Campbell, 847.951.4787
pcr@nudm.org

Dance Marathon 2008 announces unprecedented growth

More than 750 students registered to dance on March 7, 8, & 9.

EVANSTON, IL – Northwestern University Dance Marathon is proud to announce a historic moment for the completely student-run philanthropy. More than 750 dancers are registered to dance in Dance Marathon 2008, the highest number of participants in the organization’s 34-year history.

“We sought to get more students involved in DM because we feel it is an event that everybody can participate in,” said Communication senior Tara Corrigan, co-chairwoman of the organization. “We feel DM should be accessible to everyone.”Club DM

To accommodate dancers on waiting lists, DM is extending its space from the Louis Room at Norris University Center to include Club DM, located in a heated pavilion on the south lawn of Norris. All dancers will spend one to three of the 10 blocks at Club DM. Dancers will rotate through a heated marquee at scheduled times. Dancer groups and couples will stay together.

“Club DM will give dancers an exciting change of scenery during the 30 hours of dancing,” said Communication senior Krysta Kauble, co-chairwoman of the organization.

Strong outreach to student groups played a big role in the increased participation for DM 08, Kauble said. The success of DM 07 and past DM’s, the overall excitement on campus for this year’s Chicago-based beneficiary, Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, plus DM’s usual publicity efforts, are all factors in the record growth.

This year, more student groups are registered than ever before. More than 30 student groups signed up, and several groups are dancing for the first time.

Typically, DM has about 600 dancers registered to dance. The inaugural DM in 1975 had 21 couples dance in the Blomquist Gymnasium. The following year, the event moved to Patten Gym, and the next year, DM found its home in Norris. The support of the administration and Norris staff has been phenomenal, Corrigan said.

About NU Dance Marathon

Now in its 34th year, Northwestern University's Dance Marathon is one of the world's largest student-run philanthropies, having raised a combined total of more than $8 million since its founding in 1975. More than 750 Northwestern University students will dance for 30 hours to raise funds in March. In 2006, students raised more than $708,000.

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