Penn State’s IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon is officially underway after more than 700 dancers stood up at 6 p.m. Friday in the Bryce Jordan Center. The countdown is now on in the 46-hour dance marathon known as “Thon.”
Soon after standing up, the 707 student dancers were introduced to this year’s line dance, which will repeat about once an hour throughout the weekend.
Below is a video so you can practice along at home:
Here are more photos from the Friday start to Thon:
Shiloh Crimmel, 6, dances on the shoulders of Molly Saltzman as the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon kicks off on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Dancers learn the line dance in the first hour of the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Dancer relation captains teach the line dance in the first hour of the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Dancers and organizations in the stands learn the line dance in the first hour of the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Blake Ray looks to members of his organization Atlas in the stands as they learn the line dance in the first hour of the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Anthony Garcia dances with his friends from the Lehigh Valley campus during the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Dancer relation captains lead teach the line dance during the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Brooke Ross, 9, lays next to Alicia Young as they wait for the stand up for the 46 hour Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Anushka Mohapatra and Megan Caputo make a diamond as they wait for the stand up for the 46 hour Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
For a guide to everything you need to know about attending Thon in-person this weekend or how to donate, read more here. To watch Thon throughout the weekend, check out the livestream at at thon.org/livestream.
Each year, Thon raises millions of dollars for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in Hershey. The fund helps fuel cancer research while covering medical bills for those struck by pediatric cancer.
This story was originally published February 17, 2023 at 9:00 PM.
Jessica McAllister has been the executive editor of the Centre Daily Times since 2019. She previously worked as a reporter at daily newspapers in New York and Colorado.
