Doyle McCallum. Dave Matthews. Deutsche Marks.
These were some of the guesses that UW-Madison students had in response to the \DM"" markings inscribed on sidewalks and buildings around campus this week.
Actually, the ""DM"" stands for ""Dance Marathon,"" an 18-hour dance fund-raiser. The marathon, which begins at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 and continues nonstop until 1 p.m. on Nov. 16, is an annual event on campus to benefit children.
Dancers and onlookers will experience an array of music and dance routines, according to Dance Marathon entertainment chair and UW-Madison junior, Cory Erickson. She said the entertainment will consist of local bands, hip-hop DJs, free dance lessons and more.
""Every hour is a different form of entertainment,"" said Heidi Chuckel, coordinator of public relations and advertising for the marathon and a UW-Madison senior.
Though most other Big 10 schools have hosted dance marathons for a number of years, this year will mark only the second annual dance marathon at UW-Madison. The program traditionally donates its proceeds to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Camp Heartland, a summer camp for children both affected by and infected with AIDS. The founders of both foundations are alumni of the UW-Madison.
The UW-Madison Dance Marathon will donate 80 percent of proceeds this year to these two foundations. Additionally, Dance Marathon will contribute 20 percent of their earnings to the UW Children's Hospital.
Last year, almost 200 dancers collected approximately $24,000 during the Dance Marathon. Though coordinators hope to double the number of dancers from last year, they do not have a monetary goal set, Chuckel said.
Those interested in participating must collect a minimum of $200 including $180 in pledges and a $20 participation fee. Dancers will receive food and a Dance Marathon T-shirt for participating.
The coordinators of Dance Marathon recognize that students may have difficulty raising the necessary pledges to participate. For those students, coordinators offer pre-written letters describing the purpose of Dance Marathon to be sent to potential donors.
Students had mixed reactions to Dance Marathon's advertising campaign this week.
""We were trying to get people's curiosity piqued,"" Chuckel said about the ""teaser"" tactic used to advertise for the activity.
While many students noticed the markings, the campaign did not arouse curiosity among all students.
""There is always so much stuff on the sidewalk that people don't pay attention,"" said UW-Madison senior Justin Neal.
