The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) is a year-long fundraising and awareness campaign that culminates in a 46-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon every February. More than 15,000 student volunteers dedicate their time and effort to THON, making it the largest student-run philanthropy in the world.
The Bryce Jordan Center radiates contagious energy for 46 consecutive hours every February during THON. The dance marathon attracts over 15,000 student volunteers, 700 of which are dancers who are required to stay on their feet for the entire weekend. So, what is it that keeps the dancers alive and pumped up all weekend long? Music, of course!
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A vibrant array of colors and lights fills the Bryce Jordan Center as THON 2015 members dance through the night. With an animated crowd comes a crazy colorful wardrobe. Valley hit the floor to find the best hats of THON.
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Amongst a blend of rainbow color on the dancefloor, THON participants and committee members use their accessories to really stand out. From capes to blow up dinosaurs, the people of the floor find small ways to show off their creativity and have a little fun with it! We went around and talked to some of the best accessorized!
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THON weekend is one of the only times where fanny packs are in style. However, there’s another fashion item that becomes increasingly popular over THON weekend: the tutu. Valley took a look at the tutus being worn this year. Here are some of our favorites:
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During THON weekend, dancers and volunteers sport their best and craziest outfits. Bright colors, headbands, hats and caps fill the BJC. Valley went on the floor to scope out some of the best outfits. Here are some of our favorites:
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On any regular day, a rainbow tutu and pink and blue knee high socks wouldn’t necessarily be anyone’s go-to look. However during THON weekend no…
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Every year, the THON dancers get to pick what their “dancer name” will be. These names are on the back of the dancers’ white t-shirts during the first couple hours of THON. Valley went on the floor of the BJC to check out some of this year’s names.
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THON is the one weekend of the year where there is no such thing as too much bedazzle, bright colors and mismatched high socks. It is the weekend for super puffy tutus, crazy haircuts, wacky hats and of course, decked out fanny packs. We took a glance inside some of the fanny packs that really caught our attention.
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Excitement and anticipation has been building up for THON 2015 since last year’s THON weekend ended. THON, Penn State’s 46 hour dance marathon, is officially less than a week away.
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If you’ve been to THON before, you’ve definitely seen Rules & Regulations committee members in red shirts trying to keep everyone in line. You might see them as the bad guys, but they’re really just trying to keep everyone safe. To help them out, here’s a list of things that you should avoid doing THON weekend.
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Solidarity is second nature to a true Penn Stater. We stand together, without hesitation, through the good times and the bad. Here in Happy Valley, unusual yet bold acts of kindness and support are the norm.
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Small Things, Great Love is a fashion and accessories organization dedicated to combining style and charity into one cohesive unit. With THON serving as her first charity, founder Erin Gillespie is tapping into her alumni roots to give back to a cause that has directly influenced her.
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THON will be here soon, and everybody is preparing in many different ways. From the committees, to the dancers, to various clubs, everyone has been preparing since the beginning of the school year. And get this – 46 LIVE, the THON webcast, has people who have already put in over 400 hours to prepare for the weekend.
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Each year, the THON Executive Committee makes important decisions and implements changes in an effort to improve THON. Although many of us have heard about this year’s changes, most people remain unclear on the reasons as to why they are being made. We talked to THON 2015 PR Media Relations Captain Graceanne Domino to learn more about the changes being made for THON 2015.
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The Penn State Dance Marathon is so much more than just THON weekend. There are many exciting events held throughout the year to raise money for THON, get everyone pumped and provide some fun for the Four Diamonds families. If you’re into running, sports or just dancing and chowing down on some cotton candy, come out to one of these upcoming events to show your support for THON!
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What do you get when you combine 46 hours of dance with over 700 people standing for the cause? Cravings, delirium and a ton of fun – and that’s not even the tip of the iceberg. By now, the dancers have been standing for over a day, and are still going strong.
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When the going gets tough and the dancers have to keep going, mail call keeps them sane and inspired. Here are some mail call moments that captured the importance of those envelopes.
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We all get to see the line dance and big performances on the live webcast, but what else is going on on the BJC floor? Valley went to the floor to ask dancers how they pass the time.
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When you’re on the floor at THON, it’s easy to overlook the smaller details (there’s a lot of neon going on, so if you don’t see spots before your eyes, that’s an accomplishment). We love the small things in life so we took to the floor to spot our favorite nail designs.
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Whether you know them as the official Fun-Suckers of THON or the Behind-the-Scenes Heroes, we’ve probably all had a bone to pick with the Rules and Regulations committee at one time or another. With a new bag policy, line system and the ever-pressing concerns surrounding floor passes, it becomes easy to point fingers at the Rules and Regs team as Public Enemy Number One.
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