Dance Marathon Raises Funds for Hospital

Bright flags from around the world, fast-paced dance music and bouncing dancers filled the McCullough Social Space beginning at 4 p.m. on last Saturday, Jan. 19, kicking off the second annual Middlebury College Dance Marathon. The event was organized to raise money for the Vermont Children’s Hospital. Organizers in black and green t-shirts darted around making last-minute adjustments and welcoming eager dancers of all ages for 12 straight hours of music, food and (of course) dancing. “Twenty four hours in a day, 12 hours for a life” was the motto of the night.

The evening began with mixes from DJ Officer Chris, followed by a performance by the Middlebury Baby Ballet dancers and the annual welcoming address by head pediatrician, Dr. Lewis First, of the Vermont Children’s Hospital.

After thanking everyone for coming out to dance, First handed the microphone over to the keynote speaker of the night, eight-year-old Gavin Shamis, who is currently halfway through his treatment for leukemia at the hospital. Naturally at ease on stage, Shamis told the story of his leukemia diagnosis and expressed his thoughts about the hospital.

“They make it as fun as it can possibly be in a hospital and it’s not scary at all,” he says. “They treat you like an individual.” Shamis is also known for his successful lemonade-selling endeavor which last year raised over $1,600 for the hospital. “In the summer I do lemonade but thanks for dancing in the winter when I’m not doing lemonade!” Shamis said.

Shamis’ speech was followed by a song written and performed by First, to the tune of My Fair Lady’s “I Could Have Danced All Night,” successfully setting the mood for a night of laughter and energy. The dance floor filled up with students, little ballerinas, community members and even a couple toddlers clinging to the legs of their parents, wobbling happily to the music.

“It’s a great way to hang out with kids,” said Cooper Couch ’15, while taking a dance break. “You don’t really get to hang out with kids that much on campus.”

The nationwide Dance Marathon program was brought to the College for the first time last year, raising over $5,500 for the children and families of the Vermont branch of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in Burlington.

“Everyone around here has some connection to the children’s hospital,” said this year’s Dance Marathon committee co-chair Maureen Wyse ’13.

For the second time around, the marathon was moved to winter term and began earlier in the afternoon. Committee co-chairs Barbara Ofosu-Somuah ’13 and Wyse began planning for this event last spring when they were both abroad. Since then, they have been hard at work screening DJs, communicating with the hospital, coordinating performers and advertising throughout the community to make this event a reality. Their initial fundraising goal was $10,000.

“We figured we could be ambitious,” said Ofosu-Somuah.

The hours flew by as freestyle dancing was mixed in with Zumba routines, choreographed morale dances, a performance by the RIDDIM dance troupe and raffle drawings by enthusiastic MCs Cheswayo Mphanza ‘16 and Milcielys Baez ‘16. Chipotle, Starbucks, the Grille, Ben & Jerry’s and Bruegger’s provided the alimentary fuel to keep the dancers going through the night.

“I can’t think of a better way to bring the community together to celebrate our children and families, to see what Middlebury students are doing for our kids and the Children’s Hospital” reflected Dr. First between Zumba segments. “There are no words that can express the gratitude.”

The Dance Marathon has raised approximately $5,100 through the $10 admission fee, group pre-registration and donations. With about 30 tired but happy dancers left on their feet, the marathon came to an end at 4 a.m. Sunday morning. Although the event didn’t meet its initial fundraising goal of $10,000, First said there’s nothing wrong with being ambitious.

“As much as the dollars are important, it’s the effort that infuses the spirit in all of us to make sure we are here and delivering the highest quality care possible,” said First.

“Whether they raise $1 or $10,000, you have no idea what this means to the kids.”