There are many different ways to dance. People can shimmy, shake, bop, scoot, square dance, disco or just party. Which ever way they choose to dance, one event will provide University students with the opportunity to boogie while raising money for a worthy cause.

The Boogie Night dance marathon is hosted by the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS). People who want to participate in the event need to register with the NSCS by today at the group’s booth on the Quad, in room 280 of the Illini Union or online at www.uiucboogienight.com.

“(Boogie Night) is an eight-hour dance marathon. Every hour someone dances, they earn more money for charity,” said Lorrin Millette, co-director of Boogie Night and former NSCS president.

Participants are required to raise at least $35 in pledges by the event date, Feb 3. The money will be donated to the Children’s Miracle Network, a charity that raises funds to benefit children’s hospitals, said Lauren Serafin, senior in LAS and co-director of the event. Proceeds will also go to benefit the Cancer Center Research Foundation at the University of Chicago Hospital.

“(Former University student) Lauren Wille was an NSCS member who passed away during the 2002-03 school year from osteosarcoma,” Serafin said. “We thought it would be great to have (an event) to honor her memory.”

Serafin worked with Millette to come up with the idea for a dance marathon. According to Millette, they were looking for an idea that would continue annually and one that could be identified with the NSCS.

“We decided that a dance marathon was a good idea for an event,” Millette said. “They are huge at other schools, and we don’t have one.”

Last year’s inaugural event raised close to $10,000 from more than 250 participants, which is comparable to other schools’ first marathons, Millette said.

“A lot of people got scared last year because they heard it was an eight-hour marathon, and they thought that they’d be dancing for eight straight hours, and that’s not it at all,” said Anna Dadiomov, junior in LAS and NSCS president. “Most of it is based on the singers, dancers and performers that we have come.”

Millette said the dancing is broken up with games and prizes. Live entertainment will also be provided.

The band Illini Contraband and a student dance troupe have confirmed their performances at the event. Other bands and performers will also be scheduled.

“Last year, we had other performers who weren’t students come,” Serafin said. “We plan to have this again, but we’re not sure who yet.”

Last year’s performers included Nicki G. of “American Idol,” the Josh Holmes Band, Illini Contraband and the Dance 2XS dance troupe.

Dadiomov said last year’s event was successful.

“There were lots of people there, lots of them were dancing, and it was a good time,” Dadiomov said. “There were all these performers, and it was at the (Market Place) mall, all night long. It was just a fun and exciting way to meet people.”

Sara Cline, senior in LAS, said the NSCS is hoping to attract more participants than last year. Currently, 175 people are registered.

NSCS members will be registering people at a booth on the Quad today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“It’s a really unique event,” Millette said. “It’s not just raising money, it’s fun.”