More than 700 student dancers are now on their feet inside the Bryce Jordan Center, where they won’t rest until Sunday afternoon during the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.
The annual 46-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping event kicked off at 6 p.m. Friday and soon after, students learned the moves and words to this year’s line dance.
Penn State’s Thon is annually recognized as the largest student-run philanthropy event in the world. Each year, it raises millions of dollars to fight pediatric cancer by supporting the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in Hershey. Those funds benefit cancer research efforts and help cover medical bills for families whose children have pediatric cancer.
You can tune into Thon throughout the weekend by visiting thon.org/livestream, which will host a real-time stream of the weekend’s events. On Friday night, pop band Walk the Moon energized the crowd as the surprise performer.
Key events include the talent show Saturday afternoon, pep rally Saturday evening and “family hour” on Sunday afternoon. The finale comes at 4 p.m. Sunday, when dancers finally sit and the fundraising total for this year is revealed.
Here’s a look at scenes inside the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday evening:
Dancer for Ohana Giuseppe Silimperi reacts as he’s hit with water from a squirt gun during the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Lainy Johnston learns the line dance with her friends during the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Committee members laugh as they sing along to the line dance during the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at the Bryce Jordan Center. The line dance is performed once an hour through the 46 hours.
The Nittany Dance Project performs with a guest from a Four Diamond family during the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Morgan McCarthy sings along with the line dance during the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at the Bryce Jordan Center. The line dance is performed once an hour through the 46 hours.
The dancers for Phi Beta Lambda lay together on the floor holding up diamonds before standing for the 46 hour Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
The executive committee for the 2024 Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon and the Nittany Lion cheer on dancers as they prepare to stand for 46 hours on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
The crowd learns the line dance for the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at the Bryce Jordan Center. The line dance is performed once an hour through the 46 hours.
Dancer for Penn State Fayette Justin Byers sings along to the music during the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.
The crowd learns the line dance for the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at the Bryce Jordan Center. The line dance is performed once an hour through the 46 hours.
The crowd learns the line dance for the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at the Bryce Jordan Center. The line dance is performed once an hour through the 46 hours.
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