03/06/2026
These kids have raised over 11 million dollars over the years!
This weekend, the gym at South High will be filled with music, laughter, exhaustion, and something even more powerful: compassion.
The South High Marathon Dance began in 1978 when about 50 students danced and raised roughly $1,500 for the local emergency squad. What started as a simple act of generosity has grown into one of the most meaningful and powerful traditions in our region.
Over the years, the Marathon Dance has raised more than $11 million for hundreds of local beneficiaries, helping neighbors during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Last year alone, students raised over $700,000 to support dozens of individuals and families from South Glens Falls, New York and the surrounding communities.
But if you’ve ever been there, you know the money is only part of the story.
The real magic happens inside that gym. It’s the moment when the music plays and the dancers keep going despite their exhaustion. It’s when students who spent months fundraising finally hear the stories of the people they are helping. It’s when the bleachers fill with families, friends, and neighbors cheering them on.
In those moments, something powerful happens. The entire community is reminded that even during difficult times, people still show up for one another.
For many students, the Marathon Dance becomes one of the most meaningful experiences of their high school years. It teaches empathy. It teaches service. It shows them that even young people have the power to change lives.
And for the community, it serves as a powerful reminder of who we are.
In a world that can sometimes feel divided or cynical, this weekend shows us something different. It shows hundreds of teenagers choosing to spend months raising money and then staying on their feet for more than a full day, all to help people they may never have met.
That’s something worth celebrating.
To every dancer, volunteer, organizer, teacher, parent, business, and supporter who makes this tradition possible: thank you.
You aren’t just raising money.
You’re raising hope.
And no matter what is happening in the world, this weekend reminds me why I’m proud to live in South Glens Falls.