By John Nelson
Less then 40 minutes to go.
The room is shaking with adrenalin as the sound check is being done. More and More people are entering the arena with just a ½ hour to go till kickoff.
Kick-off is now Bob Golic an excellent player for the National Champs of Notre Dame, Mayor of Mishawka Jeff Rea, Congressman Joe Donnelly, The one and only Executive of Center for the Homeless, Steve Camilleri, And the Star of NBC’s Regis Philbin Show, Regis himself, what an honor to see his outward support to the Center for the Homeless for over 15 years now. What a good Angel he has been to us. That we as citizens of South Bend might just follow his lead. And Swoop the Mascot for The South Bend Silver Hawks. After the introductions and speaker’s opening remarks to the kickoff festivities, Anne Bonek did one really great renditions of our National Anthem.
Lots of break dancing going on right now, ping pong, guitar hero and the first meal of the marathon was hotdogs, chips, and chicken strips, lemonade, and or water. Keeping the dancers well nourished and hydrated for the beginning of a very fun Marathon for a good cause. After all we are now in our first hour and 45 minutes of Dance for the Homeless.
At the 4:00 p.m. Hour out of Chicago, we were entertained by the one and only New Colossus, they played a good hour set that was mostly rock to heavy metal sound. Again they were great to listen too. It was hard to stay sitting in my chair, there beat was that good.
Also half way in there set we were entertained by not one but two couples that had Ballroom Dancing down as well as any professionals that I have ever had the chance to watch in competition. It is truly amazing how the South Bend community comes together to support the hopes of the Homeless, that they one day will be able to give back to their community like two former guests were able to express.
The 6:00 p.m. Hour is approaching, the crowd is dancing ,awaiting the arrival of their special host South Bend Only Regis Philbin. Then Blammo takes the stage and plays a variety of cover songs to the joy of the dancers. Blammo plays a 2 hour set and the dancers really like to dance with them playing. One of the biggest groups dancing at one time.
Zumba had the dancers dancing as one, sort of like simon say’s is how they got the group to follow their lead, around 200 dancers participated in the Zumba lead by Mewsette Cartwright and Company.
Vyagra Falls takes the stage at 8: 44 p.m there lead off song was You can’t hold on, you could see the dancers turn from the younger generation to the more professional crowd. 8 hours in to the Dance for the Homeless, one third of the way in to this joyous day.
During Vyagra Falls break Ariell Guyton-Smith shared her story first of what she thought a homeless center was, but was amazed at the real homeless persons story. And is really happy that South Bends Center for the Homeless is one of the best.
At 10:48 Stillshot takes the stage, they come out as a high energy band, lots of metal and are cranked up on there first song. The dancers seem to have lots of energy being they have been on the floor now for 11 hours and close to the half way of Dance for the Homeless.
One Half hour and we will be at the mid-way point of Dance for the Center for the Homeless, Stillshot by far is playing the best music of the day, but that’s not too say that the other band were bad they too were great, just that Stillshot stood above the other band, and that is just my personal option.
At 12:00 midnight I have to take a break, to go back to the center and cook some egg rolls up, so that the dancers will have energy to dance the night away.
We are now at the ½ way point…………. 11 hours and 59 minutes to go. Pizza Rolls and Tatter tots ummm good at 1:43 a.m. 8 Dancers still going why every one else is eating.
The 3hours of prizes has been really near to watch, from the air guitars, too the hula hoops, people have been winning very nice prizes, from 3rd place to first. At times you could really giggle if you were a bystander watching the dancers having fun.
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