Organizers are looking for a full house when they host this weekend’s Dance Marathon, an effort to educate students about dating and domestic violence — while also having fun.
With “Full House” lapel pins and other marketing strategies, co-chairs are looking to draw and impact 600 students for the 19th annual event, which starts 8 p.m. Saturday at Central Middle School and runs until 6 a.m. Sunday.
If event leaders attain their attendance goal, it will represent a 15 percent increase from last year’s 520 students who experienced Dance Marathon.
That means more students hear the message about what’s appropriate when couples are dating. And because each paid admission generates proceeds for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services, an attendance boost helps in that regard, too.
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Turning Point hopes to raise $140,000 this year, a slight increase from $137,000 generated last year, said Lisa Shafran, president of the organization.
Dance Marathon proceeds help support services for the Columbus-based Turning Point services, such as a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, transitional housing and legal assistance for victims. It also provides prevention education and programming, such as what’s available during Dance Marathon.
“These students are making a statement that they have no tolerance for dating violence in our community and want a safe and nurturing community,” Shafran said. “It’s a matter of awareness, and after awareness comes prevention. And I think that’s the important piece that we’re trying to get across to these young people.”
Seniors at Columbus East High School planned the first dance marathon in 2000 as part of a senior project. Since then, East students have been joined by peers from Columbus North, Columbus Christian and Hauser high schools in planning and attending the event, along with home-schooled students. About 100 student leaders have been working on this weekend’s program, slightly higher than usual.
Among them is Paige Beales, who has participated in Dance Marathon since her freshman year. Beales continues that commitment this year even after graduating from Columbus North in December. She is one of three co-chairs, working with seniors Natalie Ryan and Katherine Richardson from Columbus East.
Beales said her primary reason for getting involved in Dance Marathon was to help make a difference in her community. Involvement has allowed Beales to develop communication and leadership skills, she said.
“Dance Marathon has made me a much better person,” Beales said. “It’s been very impactful on my life and my friends’ lives.”
She encourages men, women and teens to reach out to Turning Point if they are in an abusive relationship.
“You are not alone and we are here to help,” Beales said.
Ryan, who also has been involved with Dance Marathon since her freshman year, said it’s important for teens to understand how to form and maintain healthy relationships, which will benefit them in life.
“The takeaway from this is that everybody deserves to be happy and have healthy relationships,” Ryan said.
Everyone benefits
Participation not only helps Turning Point, but the students themselves, Ryan said.
“What they’re getting out of it will impact them some way,” Ryan said.
While entertainment, food and other teen-oriented activities are an appealing part of the annual event, education remains a large focus.
Dance Marathon helps teens understand better about services Turning Point provides, said Stephen Dishinger, community prevention manager with Turning Point.
Individuals also can learn how to get help for themselves or others who may experience dating or domestic violence when they attend Dance Marathon, he said.
Turning Point continues to find ways to bring individuals to the event. The organization last year offered three $2,000 scholarships to high schools seniors who attended. That enticement resulted in a nearly 50 percent increase in the number of seniors who participated, said Dishinger, who indicated that those scholarships will be offered again this year.
Other successful methods to boost attendance have included students inviting their friends and just by word-of-mouth marketing.
During the event, presentations about teen dating violence and domestic violence will be available every hour, while a designated lounge area will also be made available that will feature speakers, including Lindsay Hill Stawick, youth program manager at the Domestic Violence Network in Indianapolis.
During Dance Marathon, students will also be able to talk with Columbus Police Chief Jon Rohde, Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. Superintendent Jim Roberts and other individuals, Dishinger said. They will make presentations on stage during the evening, but students will also be able to meet with them informally and in the lounge area, Dishinger said.
While the prime audience for Dance Marathon’s message is students, about 200 adult volunteers play an important role each year. Volunteers are still being sought to fill some late-night shifts, Dishinger said.
“It takes a lot of dedicated community members to pull this off,” he said.
Shafran credited the hard work of students who step up every year to make Dance Marathon, which has raised $1 million over the years, a continued success — thanking them for their support.
“We hope that they will take with them what they’ve learned into their adult life, and they’ll have the same opportunity to touch people’s lives as they are through this event,” she said.
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When: 8 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday, with doors opening at 7 p.m.
Where: Central Middle School, 725 Seventh St., Columbus.
Admission: A parent/guardian permission slip, which can be found on the event website, and student ID are required. Three admission price points.
- Attendees who pay the basic $20 admission fee will get an event T-shirt and be eligible to win event tickets, gift cards, an Apple Watch, a FitBit and other items.
- Individuals who pay $50 will get a T-shirt, a tumbler and be eligible to win extra prizes.
- Those who pay $100 will get all of the above plus a limited-edition, long-sleeved T-shirt.
Activities: Music provided by DJs and bands, plus Zumba, Gaga Ball, yoga and self-defense.
Special prizes: Three $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors who attend; individuals must be present to win. The top fundraiser will receive a $200 Visa gift card.
Details: Visit turningpointdv.org and click on “Events” on the home page.
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- On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.
- One in three women and one in four men have been victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime.
- One in four women and one in seven men have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
- One in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90 percent of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence.
- One in four dating teens is harassed or abused through technology.
Sources: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Urban Institute
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Turning Point Domestic Violence Services, based in Columbus, has been providing services since 1975. It offers a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, transitional housing and provides legal assistance for victims. The organization also provides prevention education to local schools.
More information: Visit turningpointdv.org or call 812-379-5575
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Turning Point Domestic Violence Services still is seeking volunteers for various shifts during the Dance Marathon. About 250 volunteers are expected to help contribute their time during this year’s event.
To register as a volunteer and pick a time slot, visit turningpointdv.org and click on the red bar at the top of the home page, which says “DM Volunteer.”
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