UK Happenings

DanceBlue 2022 Limits Capacity with Patients in Mind

DanceBlue
The reveal at DanceBlue 2020. Mark Cornelison | UK Photo

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 22, 2022) — DanceBlue 2022 is right around the corner on March 5 and 6. It’s been a University of Kentucky tradition for 17 years, but last year, the student-run organization adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic by hosting a completely virtual marathon. The students involved this year agreed early on in their planning they wanted DanceBlue 2022 to be an in-person event.

While DanceBlue is a student group, it is loyal to the families served by the DanceBlue Kentucky Children’s Hospital Hematology/Oncology Clinic. With those families in mind, the group has decided to limit spectator hours to the end of the event. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on March 6, DanceBlue will be open for public viewing.

“The heart of our mission is to establish a community of care for families facing one of the hardest times in their lives,” said Millie Malek, the DanceBlue 2022 Family Relations Chair. “A critical factor in creating and maintaining this community is doing our best to ensure the safety of the kids, families, and staff that we aim to support.”

During those public viewing hours, visitors are asked to enter through the Lexington Avenue entrance of Memorial Coliseum.

Although watching the full marathon in-person isn’t an option this year, there are still ways to be involved. DanceBlue is still looking to fill its volunteer slots for this year’s marathon. There are many different volunteer positions, each one with the goal of helping keep participants motivated throughout the 24 hours. To sign up for a volunteer spot, or for more information, click here. If you are a UK student wanting to volunteer, sign in with your link blue ID for a reduced cost of $20.

DanceBlue students still love to receive your support from home! Follow the DanceBlue and University of Kentucky social media pages for information on how to watch the event’s livestream. Donations for DanceBlue 2022 are still being accepted. Head to DanceBlue.org for information on how to donate.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.