Participants are the most vital part of any Dance Marathon. Participants at OttoTHON will help create and maintain the energy and excitement of the Big Event, and are truly the ones who will make Syracuse’s Dance Marathon a lasting experience for our Miracle Families from Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. Participants commit to stay for the entirety of the 12 hour Big Event, and will be expected to remain on their feet the entire time. This time will fly by, as participants play games, enjoy entertainment, and most importantly interact with the children from the hospital who come out to the event. Being a dancer also means registering and committing to fundraise for Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital.
Steps for Registering
Register online at events.dancemarathon.com
Search “OttoTHON” to find our event
Pay registration fee
Fundraise a minimum of $100
Most importantly, GET EXCITED!
FUNdraising Tips
Make personal phone calls!!
Use your email and send out your Donor Drive link!
Make things personal!
Canning with fellow OttoTHON participants!
Talk to Professors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I register for OttoTHON?
All you have to do is visit (insert donor drive link) and click Register Now. From there you fill out your specific information. If you plan on attending the dance marathon, you should select dancer. You can also choose your team, create a new one or dance as an individual.
Q: Do I have to dance the whole time?
No, you are not required to dance for he 12 hours. Actually, you're not required to dance at all. There is definitely a lot of dancing going on at the dance marathon event, but you simply pledge to stand on your feet for 12 hours straight. There are other activities besides dancing to fill your time. The kids are there to interact with, along with fun games, entertainment, and plenty of time to hang out with friends and meet new people
Q: What are the requirements of being a dancer?
There are few requirements. We ask that each participant is a Syracuse University student, raises $100.00 and stays for the 12 hours.
Q: Can I bring my $100 to the event?
We encourage people to raise their money online because it easier for us to keep track of. However, we do still allow those already signed up on our website to bring their money to the dance marathon event in an envelope with your name on it.
Q: What should I bring?
You won't need to bring much, and please don't bring anything valuable! Wear comfortable clothes like gym shorts and sneakers. A T-shirt will be provided for you. Feel free to over-accessorize with spirit for your team or organization you’re representing. Bandanas, hats, sunglasses, costume jewelry and face paint are highly encouraged and spirit points will be awarded to those who go above and beyond!
Q: What do we do for 12 hours?
There will be a full schedule for the 12-hour dance marathon. The time will be filled with music, performances, kid stories, games and food.
Q: What if I am not part of an organization that participates in OttoTHON?
Anyone can sign up to be a dancer for OttoTHON! Involvement within another organization is not required. Teams can be made on (donor drive website). They can consist of anywhere from 1-1,000,000 people - so you can grab a group of friends, your roommates or dance as an individual.
Q: Do you judge on dancing skills?
A: No....and yes. There is no skill level required for dancing at the event. However, winning a dance off might earn your team some extra spirit points!
Q: Who is eligible to register?
Any undergraduate student at the Syracuse University is able to sign up as a dancer for the Spring dance marathon event.
Q: How do I raise my $100?
There are endless ways to raise your minimum.
You can ask friends and families to donate to your personal fundraising page on donor drive
You can go canning! Canning is when you go out in public and talk to people about the —cause and ask for small donations. You can go canning in your hometown during Thanksgiving or Winter Break, around Syracuse, on Marshall Street.. or basically anywhere! Dancers can raise their $100 minimum and more during a few hours of canning.
You can host your own fundraising event, like a bake sale for example. Student organizations and teams can host their own events like a sports tournament, car washes or restaurant nights to benefit their fundraising total.
Put up a flyer in your workplace or your parent's workplace to reach co-workers
The ideas for fundraising are endless. Let us know how we can help and feel free to email us at ottothonatsu@gmail.com if you need some advice!
Q: Why do we stand for 12 hours?
We pledge to stand for 12 hours to dance for kids who can’t.
Q: What if I cannot stand for 12 hours, can I still be involved?
You can 100% still get involved. If you are interested in being a dancer, but for health reasons cannot stand for the full 12 hours, we can make accommodations. Contact our Executive Director, Jillian at ottothonatsu@gmail.com with any concerns. Another way to get involved is to be a volunteer. For the day of event, we will be recruiting volunteers to help with different tasks. These shifts will only be a few hours long and are crucial to making the event run smoothly. If you are interested, contact ottothon.operations@gmail.com