Halfway Home

As 10:00 a.m. — Dance Marathon's halfway point — approached, the dancers on the floor seemed most excited to have made it through the first night of the event.

"I didn't really know what I was going to be in for," said Weinberg freshman Erin Royals, who is dancing in her first marathon.

For Royals, the traditional opening of the Louis Room blinds at sunrise "put into perspective" how long the dancers had been going.

Weinberg senior Adeeb Hakim predicted the second half of DM would be easier. He said he anticipated "the second wind" to carry him through.

Weinberg sophomore Ariana Vergara said her experience in DM last year helps with the onset of fatigue.

"I know it's going to happen," she said. "Knowing everything's going to happen makes it funner."

But the dancers' excitement was muted as the break finally began. Most just found a spot on one of the walls outside the Louis Room, propped their legs vertically and closed their eyes for some much needed shut-eye.

Text: Nomaan Merchant/The Daily Northwestern

(Top)
Weinberg sophomore Laura Colee tries to catch a few ZZZ's during the fifth break.

(Bottom)
Beverages were handed out between the fifth and the sixth blocks.

Photos: Tommy Giglio/The Daily Northwestern