One of the most valuable ways you can be a part of DM is by joining a committee. Below are descriptions of the ten committees you can join.
Certain committees are known as “30 hour committees.” In addition to working through the fall and winter, members of these committees are required to be present throughout the duration of DM weekend, for all 30 hours. Members of non-30 hour committees are encouraged to dance in DM as well.
Alumni & Community Relations (ACR) (Non-30 Hour)
Alumni & Community Relations fosters relationships with Northwestern alumni, faculty and Evanston community leaders to engage them in DM. This committee facilitates ways for the nationwide alumni network to remain connected to DM with exciting events like AlumNites in cities around the country. Responsible for coordinating local volunteer opportunities, ACR is also the primary liaison between the Evanston Community Foundation (our secondary beneficiary) and the hundreds of dancers. During the 30 hours, ACR is the committee that puts on the Kids Fair, the A Cappella Concert, and the Alumni and Community Block (dancing teachers!).
Contacts: Melissa Fredericks & Ilana Golbin (alumni@nudm.org)
Corporate Relations (Corp) (Non-30 Hour)
Corp establishes and cultivates relationships with companies big and small, from Fortune 100 corporations to smaller Evanston businesses in order to gain sponsorships for Dance Marathon. The committee spends a significant amount of time working to connect with new corporate donors as well as continue our relationship with previous donors. Corp also collaborates with other committees to obtain gifts and prizes for dancers and events.
Contacts: Sarah Rosenak & Jonathan Schwartz (corporate@nudm.org)
Dancer Relations (DR) (30 Hour)
DR is responsible for one of the most integral parts of DM: the dancers. Throughout the year, the DR committee spearheads efforts to help dancers fundraise and prepare them for the 30 hours. In addition, the committee plans everything related to dancers during the weekend-of DM, from pumping up the dancers to leading the 30-hour dance. The DR committee is also responsible for connecting the dancers to our primary beneficiary and its cause by planning outreach events throughout the year.
Contacts: Kameron Dodge & Nadija Rieser (dr@nudm.org)
Finance (30 Hour)
The Finance committee's primary duty is to handle all the money that is involved in DM. They manage all dancer and committee member fundraising accounts and oversee the organization's budget. They keep dancers informed about their fundraising totals and help dancers find new ways to fundraise. Finally, Finance monitors all income and expenses throughout the year and weekend-of to accurately determine the final total.
Contacts: Matt Larsen & Zack Schmidt (finance@nudm.org)
Food (30 Hour)
Food focuses on providing food at all DM events. They solicit local restaurants for donations that either feed the dancers and 30-hour committee members weekend-of or can be used as prizes at events throughout the year. Additionally, the Food committee organizes food for events during the year and coordinates food-related fundraisers such as Top Chef.
Contacts: Promeeta Ghosh & Wendy Lei (food@nudm.org)
Productions (30 Hour)
Productions handles all the logistical and technical aspects of putting on one of the biggest events at NU. The committee works during the year to find new and innovative ways to enhance the audio and visual experience of DM. This hands-on committee collaborates with top lighting, sound, electronics and stage craft businesses to make DM weekend an even better, cooler experience for everyone involved.
Contacts: Chuck Hwang & Laura Kick (productions@nudm.org)
Marketing (Non-30 Hour)
Marketing is in charge of generating excitement for Dance Marathon through merchandise and promotional materials. Marketing is responsible for “gearing up” Northwestern for DM, literally. This committee works with vendors and companies to create DM apparel and memorabilia, such as sweatshirts, t-shirts, and water bottles. They also help connect on-campus student groups with vendors to meet their groups' merchandise needs. In addition, the marketing co-chairs are responsible for creating opportunities for parents to support Dance Marathon through mailings and purchasing opportunities. Finally, the marketing co-chairs are responsible for creating and distributing graphic designs for promotional materials.
Contacts: Anant Johri & Jack Milligan (marketing@nudm.org)
Public Relations (PR) (Non-30 Hour and 30-Hour Components)
The primary goal of PR is to inform the public about DM and our beneficiaries. The committee increases campus-wide advocacy and awareness through print and digital communications, including videos and online press releases. They also focus on getting DM's name out to local and national media, contacting celebrities to support DM, and publishing the official DM magazine, the Emcee. PR is also responsible for weekend-of visitor check-in, event security, and media relations.
Contacts: Sourav Bhowmick & Maura Brannigan (pr@nudm.org)
Special Events (Non-30 Hour)
The Special Events Committee plans more than 40 events over the course of the year, leading up to the weekend-of, and during Dance Marathon. Specials Events works with the Evanston Community, Northwestern Athletics, and respected student organizations like A&O, Homecoming Committee, SHAPE, Seed, and many more, bringing exciting and innovative events to Northwestern, Evanston, and the greater Chicago area. Because of its diverse network, anyone can get involved in energizing the campus, while helping Special Events be as successful as possible!
Contacts: Rene Rodriguez & Rebecca Berg (specialevents@nudm.org)
Technology Resources (Tech) (Non-30 Hour)
The Technology Resources committee is in charge of the NUDM website. This includes keeping the most up-to-date information displayed about upcoming events, facilitating online registration and purchasing, and creating pages that integrate the beneficiary into our website. They are also responsible for the daily monitoring of the website for errors and proper functioning. Finally, the committee serves as a resource for other committees in determining efficient ways to fulfill any technical needs of events and activities during the year.
Contacts: Andrew Griesemer & Jerry Luo (tech@nudm.org)