#ThrowbackThursday

Multi-year Dancer Q&A

Four-year Dancers embody the passion and devotion that encourages all of us who remain at the University of Florida to #RedefineTomorrow. At the end of their time at UF they will have danced for a total of 104.8 hours For The Kids, both an honor and outstanding accomplishment. For this #ThrowbackThursday, we asked a soon to be four-year Dancer to reflect on her years with Dance Marathon at the University of Florida.

  1. What is your name and how did you first get involved in Dance Marathon at UF?

My name is Taylor Hupp. Dance Marathon was the first UF event I experienced after I was admitted as a student. I attended the Orange and Blue Debut game when I was a senior in high school, which was coincidentally the same weekend as DM. I had some friends who were on Staff take me onto the floor, and it was one of the coolest experiences I could have ever asked for to begin my journey as a UF student.

  1. What have been some of your favorite memories over your years of dancing?

Some of my favorite memories are the people I met throughout my years of dancing. While on the floor, it is so easy to jump right in and talk to many people who are all in the same position as you. Whether it is someone next to you at a meal, or just a friendly face trying to help you make it through the last couple of hours, the sense of camaraderie is one of my favorite things about DM. I also got to meet Miss America last year who is a sorority sister, so that was really cool.

  1. What are you looking forward to most for your last Dance Marathon?

Besides an extra swim / shower shift (kidding!), I am most looking forward to pushing myself to raise the most I ever have this year. Although I will miss DM weekend once I am finished, I am very excited to finish off my senior year knowing I have contributed to such an incredible cause every year in college. I also really don’t think it hurts as much when you know you won’t be able to do it again, so that is a bonus as well.

  1. What motivates you to keep dancing each year?

Every day, I am so incredibly fortunate to wake up and go to school, see my friends, go to the gym, etc. While college may be very difficult academically, it is nothing compared to what these children endure every day of their lives. If I can stand for 26.2 hours to help take years of suffering away from their lives, I would do it every day if I could. Dance Marathon always puts my good fortune into perspective for me, and it is an extremely humbling experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

  1. What is the funniest thing that has happened to you in your years of dancing?

The funniest thing that has happened to me was during my Freshman year when me and my roommate were Dancers together. Her friend brought her a donut in the morning, and she just began bawling her eyes out because she was so thankful. We were delirious and couldn’t stop laughing about it for weeks.

  1. How has Dance Marathon affected your experience as a student at the University of Florida?

Dance Marathon has allowed me to become part of something bigger than myself and join a community on campus with one common, incredible goal. It creates a greater purpose for every student involved, and it not only makes me proud to be a Gator, but also a FTK Gator.