It's a middle school dance with a lot of extra flair: a laser show, more than a thousand balloons dropping on to the dance floor, and six hours of music and entertainment.

But the dancers are there with a goal bigger than having fun. The 3rd annual Dance Marathon at Wake Forest-Rolesville Middle School is a benefit for Duke Children's Miracle Network and The North Carolina Children's Hospital.

In the past two years, the dance-a-thon has raised about $22,000 for the charities. This year, students have set a goal of at least $15,000.

This year's theme is 'Blast From The Past', and segments of the evening will feature music spanning the last five decades.

Students who want to participate in the dance-a-thon have to raise at least $15, but they are encouraged this year to raise at least $50, by asking friends and relatives to contribute to the charities.

The students do almost all of the planning of the event, said staff advisor Mike Meyer, a counselor at the school.

"We have an after school program that organizes everything from getting sponsors to working out the budget, to figuring out what they want to have," said Meyer. "And this week they finally get to celebrate the event taking place."

He says the project is a lesson in character education and service learning.

"I learned that having fun is something you can do while working, and that it's fun doing things for other people," said Frances VonSpreckelsen, an eighth grader who has helped organize the event.

This year, some of the students involved took a trip to Penn State, to see the biggest dance marathon event in the country and bring back some new ideas.

Earlier in the year the kids took a field trip to Penn State to see the biggest dance marathon in the country. They got some ideas to bring back to their own event.

VonSpreckelsen and two other eighth graders hope to start a new tradition at their marathon. They made up a line dance and chant about their school that they plan to teach to the other dancers this year.

This year, the dance-a-thon members will also hold a fun fair on a separate day to encourage the community to donate to the children's hospitals.

Tuesday, May 27, a fun fair will be held in the school gym. It is open to the public and will feature inflatable games, pie-in-the-face, slime-a-teacher, and a dunk tank.

Related Links

1. For More Information About The Event