Ida Noyes Hall hosted 12 straight hours of dancing this weekend as part of the Council on University Programming’s sixth annual Dance Marathon fundraiser.

About 100 dancers raised nearly $120 each for the Children’s Place Association, a Chicago-based organization that provides day care, facilities, and supportive housing to families dealing with HIV/AIDS.

The fundraiser, which began at 2 p.m. on Saturday and ended at 2 a.m. on Sunday, allowed for breaks only if dancers remained standing. While participants were discouraged from wearing watches, they received ongoing encouragement from “moralers,” non-participating supporters who cheered on the dancers.

“It was a lot of fun and for a good cause,” said second-year Ayoung Lee, a member of the board that coordinated the event. “Since it’s a dance marathon, I think it has more appeal for college students and ends up being effective as a fundraiser.”

Several campus organizations took part in the event, with the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority winning Best Participation and Off-Off Campus raising the most money.

Student-run dance groups on campus donated their time to teach participants salsa, swing, and bhangra. University Ballet led group stretching exercises, and campus a capella group Unaccompanied Women entertained marathoners with a performance.

Complimentary gifts included t-shirts, Dance Marathon bags, leis, and glowsticks. At the end of the night, a free bus service offered exhausted dancers a ride home.