Hey! I'm Sarah Hendrix, a 2025 graduate of the University of South Carolina Honors College and an alumna of the Carolina Band clarinet section.

​

As the first Dance Marathon team captain for the Carolina Band from 2021 to 2025, I saw the same challenge year after year—lots of interest but only a handful of registered, committed participants. Despite having over 300 band members, fewer than 20 ever registered, and while our team consistently raised between $1,900 and $2,500 per year, we had the potential to do so much more. I knew our band wanted to make an impact, but something was getting lost between interest and action.

 

That’s when I started to wonder if other college bands were involved with Dance Marathon and if they were having the same problem. Although I started this search in hopes of solely helping my team, it became a goal of mine to connect band teams with each other to have even more success in supporting the cause.  So I began asking folks from other bands to share their experiences- successes, failures, and what would have helped them when they first started out as a team captain.

 

And thanks to them, I can present this guide to you. Whether you’re starting fresh or trying to grow an existing team, this site is packed with success stories and creative ideas to get band members engaged, excited, and fundraising for the kids! No matter if you are a captain or a team member, you’ll find tips, templates, fundraising ideas, etc., to give you a jump start so you can make a difference in your own new and impactful ways.

​

Running a Dance Marathon team for a college marching band is no small task, but it’s so rewarding to see all the excitement and pride at the finale event.  My four years with the Carolina Band are something I will always keep close to my heart, and I’m forever grateful that I got to start this movement in my band community. Now it's your turn. Lean into what makes your band special, watch your impact grow year after year, and keep on dancing!