History

Trojan Dance Marathon was founded in fall 2007 by sophomore Suzanne Fitzgerald and freshman Scott Slesinger. Their chance meeting led to a new partnership and friendship that laid the foundation for the Dance Marathon movement at University of Southern California.

After finding a DM-experienced advisor on campus, meeting with the Children’s Miracle Network, and forming a small but devoted committee, USC’s Dance Marathon was planned and executed in a few short months – six hours of music, 200 people and $6,500 raised for the kids! The venue – Ground Zero, a student-run coffee shop at USC – was small, but was just right for USC’s first event.

In 2009, Dance Marathon moved to a bigger location – USC’s Lyon Recreation Center – attracting greater publicity and participation. With a more passionate committee, a segment on E! Entertainment News, and a guest appearance from ABC’s Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba, Dance Marathon raised $14,000 for the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

In it’s third year, TrojanDM continued to grow as an organization and was able to capture the attention of USC students all over campus and in their online habitats. As the event of the year, DM 2010 inspired CHLA ambassadors and families, over 500 dancers, and raised over $30,000 for the kids!

DM 2011 exceeded even more expectations with over 1,000 dancers registered and over $50,000 raised for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Every year, the word continues to spread as more student organizations attend Dance Marathon and outside companies express interest in helping the cause. The Executive Board and Dance Marathon Planning Committee will work to make sure DM 2012 is just another step forward in making Trojan Dance Marathon a premiere cause and event on the USC campus, recognized in Los Angeles and across the nation.