Tom Ackerman and Beau Bowman

@Tom_AckermanDI | @beauknows2

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In a hot, sweaty room, college students celebrated the last hour of Dance Marathon, called Power Hour.

The ballroom of the main floor exploded with music and the cheers of dancers as glow sticks rained down on the dancers.

Power Hour is the last hour of the Big Event and meant to fire dancers up for one last dance before Dance Marathon disbands for the year. Dance Marathon participants  have spent the last several months fundraising. Each individual dancer has raised $500 to attend the event.

The goal for Dance Marathon’s entire fundraising efforts this year is to reach $2.4 million.

Dancer Lexi Ergen talked about how amazing Power Hour was.

“As always, it’s incredible,” she said. “There’s really no other way to describe it. It’s just awesome every year.”

Dancers often sang along to the lyrics of the songs playing during Power Hour. A crowd favorite that trickled through the speakers was “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi.

All of the families were impressed with the dancer’s dedication this year and every year.

“It’s the most amazing part of the event,” said Leslie Perkins. “This is our seventh Dance Marathon and they never cease to amaze me.”

Brit Vanneman talked about her first time at the University of Iowa Dance Marathon.

“This is by far the most impressive Power Hour I have ever seen,” said Brit Vanneman. “It’s incredible what they are going to be passing down to the next generation.”
As Dance Marathon is coming to a close, dancers are still riled up and seemingly could go longer if they had do.