Northwestern University Dance Marathon will kick off its 52nd year Friday on the Norris University Center Cohen Lawn, raising money for Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation and the Evanston Community Foundation.
As one of the largest independent student-run philanthropies in the nation, NUDM doubles as a fundraiser and 15-hour dance marathon. Dancing will start at 9 p.m. on Friday and go through the night until noon on Saturday.
“It’s a party for a purpose,” Weinberg senior and NUDM Executive Director Serena Brown said. “We’re partying to raise money for an organization.”
This year’s NUDM marks the event’s return to its standard venue at Norris. It was held inside Welsh-Ryan Arena in 2024 and 2025 while Norris’ Cohen Lawn was undergoing construction.
About 70 beneficiaries applied this year, Brown said. The executive board conducts multiple rounds of interviews and votes to determine the main beneficiary.
Brown said Bear Necessities, the primary beneficiary for 2026, means a lot to her as someone who has experienced pediatric cancer in her family.
“They provide all these different services that help really uplift a family in their worst times,” she said.
Bear Necessities provides assistance for families including counseling, activities, scholarships and “Bear Hugs,” where diagnosed children receive customized gifts.
The Evanston Community Foundation has been NUDM’s secondary beneficiary for 29 years now, according to the NUDM website.
The philanthropy begins long before the 15 hour main event. NUDM’s executive board hosts several fundraisers and volunteer opportunities throughout the academic year, Medill senior and NUDM Engagement Director Mitra Nourbakhsh said.
One of those events in the fall was Acapalooza, where student a cappella groups performed during Family Weekend.
NUDM also hosted fundraising events on campus for local children and their families, including attending a women’s basketball game and organizing a 5K run on the Lakefill.
“It is really cool to be able to do something challenging with a bunch of other people who care about doing something challenging,” Nourbakhsh said.“It’s not just the 15 hours that is challenging. It is the entire year leading up.”
This year, for the first time, dancers have the chance to participate in raffles that range in price and topic, and all proceeds go to charity.
NUDM also works to engage alumni in the event each year, SESP senior and Alumni Relations Chair Lea Kalkowski said. The group connects with alumni during fundraising days and invites alumni to the annual gala it hosts in the fall.
“We are trying to keep the traditions alive,” Kalkowski said.
Beyond giving community members the chance to dance, Kalkowski said she hopes NUDM will help students appreciate the work of its beneficiary charities.
And for NUDM organizers like Brown, the event is the culmination of a yearlong planning effort to engage students and fundraise for charity.
“I really just want everyone to have the best time because students work so hard fundraising,” Brown said. “Students work so hard all year, just in general.”
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