DANCE EVENT BENEFITS RILEY
More than 40 University of Indianapolis students, 12 Riley kids and their families, one Greyhound football team, one year’s worth of planning, thousands of dollars and dozens of dance moves all came together for a 12-hour dance marathon on March 28.
Students play a game of ‘Human Jenga’ at the March 28 “Dance for a Chance”marathon. The 12-hour event benefitted Riley Hospital for Children and is held annually at UIndy. Photo by Abby Gross.
UIndy’s Riley “Dance for a Chance” Marathon was organized by the organization UIndy for Riley. The organization described the marathon as “the chance of a lifetime…to give a lifetime of chance.” The event is the group’s biggest of the year, according to UIndy for Riley Co-President Kayla Mughmaw.
For the marathon, Schwitzer’s UIndy Hall A was transformed from its regular carpet-and-walls appearance into a dance floor.
“It’s a time commitment, but it really does save lives,” said UIndy for Riley Co-President Elizabeth Eads. “By standing for those who can’t, you’re supporting Riley [kids], physically, emotionally and financially,” Eads said.
Although the event boasted 12 hours of energizing music and a marathon-style frenzy of dancing, much more went on in the half day of charity and fun. The marathon, which took on a Mardi Gras theme, featured various games, crafts, food and service projects. Members of UIndy’s Campus Program Board led a game of Human Jenga, in which students and Riley kids spent a half hour attempting to remove themselves from a tangled mass of people.
Each hour, UIndy for Riley members taught the combination of dancers and Riley children a few simple dance moves. By the end of the night, the moves had evolved into a fully choreographed dance.
The rules were simple for the event: No sitting. Dancers were allowed to rest for only 15 minutes during each of the three meals that were provided. Beyond that, it was a night of staying on one’s feet and shaking out the fatigue on the dance floor.
Mughmaw described the day as exciting and upbeat, but she admitted that the seventh hour brought a slump that the dancers had to push through to get to the midnight finish.
Dionte Keys, a sophomore football player who attended part of the marathon along with some of his teammates, described the experience as inspirational.
“It was good to help the kids,” he said after dancing and playing tag with the Riley children.
The dollars raised for the Riley kids come from a variety of donations. UIndy for Riley gathers donations through letters, corporate sponsorships, online donations and the dancers’ entry fees. All funds go directly to Riley Children’s Hospital.
Many of those involved danced for a Riley child involved in their life, and their commitments could be seen scribbled up with hearts and “I love you’s” on a wall display that asked, “Why do you dance?” The wall featured biographies of various Riley patients, accompanied by their photos.
Mughmaw said she is a former Riley patient and enjoys giving back to the hospital through UIndy for Riley.
“You take a step back and see how fortunate you are,” she said.
Students interested in getting involved with the organization or attending next year’s dance marathon can check out the group’s Facebook page, titled “UIndy for Riley.”
