By Katherine Schreiner
THON Weekend 2025 is coming up quickly. With only a few days left, dancers are preparing for the strenuous 46 hours ahead of them. To help make the weekend go as smoothly as possible, ED2010 has compiled some essential tips and tricks.
With insight from 2024 THON Club Figuring Skating dancer, Emma Wassel, here are some of the most useful tips for this year’s dancers.
1. Keep a Good Relationship With Your DRCM
Dancer Relations Committee Members (DRCMs) are there to support dancers throughout the weekend. Their job is to help you stay comfortable, meet your goals, and get through the experience in the best way possible. Building that relationship with your DRCM will benefit your dancer experience.
Wassel found that her DRCMs were most helpful when they made sure she was completing all her THON goals. With their support, she was able to get stage pictures and get merchandise from the dancer merch table before items sold out.
DRCMs can help dancers keep track of their necessities as well. Medication times, water intake and stretching upkeep are just a few of the many ways they can support you throughout the weekend.
2. Participate in Dancer-Only Events
Throughout the weekend, dancer-only experiences are available throughout the event floor. Each event is designed to engage dancers in any way possible, and there are endless events.
Candlelight Vigil - This experience will allow dancers to keep in mind the meaning of THON. The vigil will help keep you focused on why you are acting as a dancer for your organization.
THON History Tour - This tour takes dancers off the dance floor up to the mezzanine. The tour will give you information about how THON has become the event it is known as today, seeing bits of history’s past.
THON Spa and Ice Baths- While showers are not allowed during the weekend, the spa and ice bath will be the closest dancers will get to cleaning off. The spa gives opportunities for hair washing throughout the weekend. On the other hand, the ice baths allow dancers to relax their muscles mostly, but will help any smells as well.
3. Don’t Feel Bad if You Need to Take a Break From The Floor
The floor can become overwhelming at times. Energy is constantly high, becoming overstimulating after you’ve been away for such a long period of time. As a dancer, you are never required to stay on the floor. You can go to the backstage areas at any time you need.
You don’t have to participate in every floor dance or even the famous pep rally. Take breaks when needed to preserve your energy and focus.
4. Pack Extras of Everything
While there are space limits for dancer lockers, pack as much as possible to be prepared for the weekend. Packing more clothes, gym shoes, tennis balls, cough drops and icy hots will ensure you have enough to last through the full 46 hours.
Wassel did not believe she’d need all the clothes she packed. She found that the temperature fluctuations throughout the weekend made her want to change more than she expected to, using every piece of clothing she packed.
5. Use a Fanny Pack
Fanny packs will be one of your best friends this weekend. Not only will it hold all your essentials, the fanny pack can hold more than you expect.
Any reusable water bottles that feature a handle, such as a Hydroflask or Owala, can hang from the fanny pack. Dancers will be able to keep both hands free without worrying about forgetting their water somewhere on the floor.
Dancer number bibs can also find their home on a fanny pack. While dancers change clothes through the weekend, bibs are required to be visible on each outfit. Keeping the bib on an accessory you will wear all 46 hours makes it more efficient for dancers to change.
6. Prepare for the Final Few Hours and Exit Plan
As THON Weekend comes to a close, dancers should start planning for the end of the experience.
When friends and family visit with floor passes, take the opportunity to send home any unnecessary items to lighten your load. Before the final four hours, pack everything in dancer storage to make the post-THON exit as smooth as possible. The more you prepare in advance, the quicker you’ll be able to head home and rest.
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