Brightening DM

Dance Marathon received $3,000 during Winter Quarter from Associated Student Government to help defray lighting expenses.

In this year's DM, 20 moving lights and 24 stationary lights were hung from the ceiling trusses where they projected colorful beams onto the dancers below. A disco ball circled overhead during some songs, complementing the music.

The market-rental price for such equipment is about $16,000, said Dave Leuchter, a second-year lighting veteran and McCormick senior. According to Leuchter, DM pays "much less than that." DM requested $7,732 from ASG to help fund the lighting expenses.

Corporate sponsorship also helped DM slash costs this year. Computers donated by Apple Co. were used to help monitor and operate the lighting devices.

Still, all the new technology in the world might not keep students awake.

"It's really hard staying awake for 30 hours," Leuchter said.

Good thing lighting operators work in shifts.

Text: Paul Takahashi/The Daily Northwestern
Photos: (Top) Joanna Allerhand/The Daily Northwestern; (Middle and Bottom) Paul Takahashi/The Daily Northwestern