How was the “Biggest Party of the Year”? According to senior Amanda Brophy, co-chair of Stanford’s second annual Dance Marathon, it was great.

As she stated on the event’s Web site, “It is the most unbelievable awesome experience that you will ever have in college... words cannot describe the fun, intensity, and bonds you will make at the event.”

From noon on Saturday until noon on Sunday, 250 students danced for 24 hours straight in an effort to raise money for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1988, does research to combat the pediatric AIDS epidemic. The money raised is distributed to five hospitals, including the Stanford Hospital, in hopes of finding a cure for the disease.

This year’s Dance Marathon was a boon for cause, organizers said.

“As of right now, we have raised $52,315.42, and we are expecting more donations that will come later,” said financial manager Anthony Chavez, a sophomore. “It’s more than we raised last year, and we wanted to improve; that was the plan.”

Each dancer was required to raise at least $200 by Feb. 1 in order to participate. Donations were also taken at the door.

Several visitors spoke throughout the event to help motivate the dancers. Jake Glaser, Elizabeth Glaser’s son, spoke at 6 a.m., when fatigue was at its highest. Other speakers included School of Medicine Dean Philip Pizzo and Julie Nublick, a foundation representative who works with Dance Marathons at universities nationwide.

The dancers, per rules of the event, stayed on their feet for the entire affair. They were accompanied by a group of moralers who worked three-hour shifts during which they motivated and supported the dancers.

Morale executive Ilana Segall, a sophomore, was in charge of recruiting moralers, organizing games and keeping the spirits high.

“I am extraordinarily pleased,” Segall said. “We have so many people who are loyal to us. It was the dancers who made this, and they made it amazing.”

Freshman Lauren Peat was one dancer who appreciated the moralers.

“The moraler dance every three hours was a great idea and really fun,” she said. “Every time I hear [‘The Way You Make Me Feel’] now I get pumped up.”

Marketing executive Katie Hagey, a sophomore, said she was also pleased with the success of the event.

“There are so many highs to dancing that it’s completely worth it,” she said.

This year marked the first time Dance Marathon incorporated community outreach into the event, according to Education Executive Tracy Cheung, a junior. With the Education Committee, Cheung organized the education speakers, a photo exhibition and an AIDS quilt that contains more than 300 squares.

“I envisioned [the quilt] last summer when I learned about AIDS quilts that families and friends of deceased AIDS individuals make to commemorate their lives,” Cheung wrote in an e-mail to The Daily. “I thought it would be a great idea to commemorate [Dance Marathon participants] in our own Stanford Dance Marathon 2006 AIDS quilt.”

Dancing wasn’t just limited to Stanford participants. Students from Hillview Middle School, which serves Menlo Park and Atherton, were also involved in the Stanford Dance Marathon Dance-a-thon.

“Part of the outreach needed to involve education, so Amanda Brophy and I videotaped a clip at the school that was broadcasted on their school television stations during homeroom,” Cheung said. “Ten students represented Hillview on Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. Parents were invited and seemed to be having a blast too.”

Participating students, though tired from a night of incessant boogieing, shared the organizers’ enthusiasm.

“I’ve had a great experience,” said freshman Chad Bowling, who stayed standing for the entire 24 hours. “No sitting down. I’m exhausted, but it’s been fun.”

Junior Max Hawkins agreed.

“It’s a lot of fun, but by the end, you can’t think about anything but lying down,” he said.

Overall, organizers said that the second annual Dance Marathon was a great success. Catering executive Nidhi Bhat, a sophomore, summed up the event on the Web site: “Awesome people, a great cause, so much fun — what more could you ask for?”