Dance-a-thon Fundraiser
Run a dance-a-thon with an online sponsorship page for every dancer. Classes compete on the leaderboard, sponsors pay by card in about a minute, and there is no all-or-nothing target. No monthly fees, no minimum.
What Is a Dance-a-thon?
A dance-a-thon is a sponsored event where everyone dances for a set time and collects sponsorship for taking part. It needs a hall, a playlist and a speaker, so the costs are close to zero and almost everything you raise is profit.
Schools run them as a wet-weather alternative to a fun run, dance studios run them to fund competition trips, and youth groups run them as an evening event. On Raised, every dancer gets their own page, so there are no paper forms or cash envelopes to chase.
- Free to set up with no monthly fees
- Keep everything you raise, with no minimum target
- A page, link and QR code for every dancer
- Class and team leaderboards with Teams mode
- Sponsors choose a set amount or type their own
- Secure payments via Stripe (cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay)
Dance-a-thon Fundraiser Ideas
A theme gives kids a reason to talk about the event, and that is what brings in sponsors. Here are themes schools and clubs use.
Decades dance-off
Each half hour plays music from a different decade, and dancers dress to match. Parents love the 80s set.
Glow or fluro party
Dim the hall, hand out glow sticks and ask everyone to wear fluro. It suits an evening event for older students.
Class dance battle
Each class learns a short routine and performs it at the end. Pair it with Teams mode so classes also compete on sponsorship.
Dress-up theme
Superheroes, favourite book characters or school colours. A theme gives kids something to talk about when they ask for sponsors.
Freeze dance rounds
Short rounds of freeze dance keep younger students moving and give everyone a breather between songs.
Whole-school finale
Finish with one routine everyone has practised in class, filmed from above. The video is a good thank-you to send sponsors.
How to Run a Dance-a-thon
Set the Date and Goal
Book the hall, pick a theme and decide what you are raising for. Create your campaign on Raised in about 2 minutes.
Add Dancers and Classes
Turn on Teams mode so each class or crew has a total, and every dancer gets their own page and QR code.
Collect Sponsorship
Send the link home two to three weeks before the event. Post leaderboard updates in the newsletter to keep it moving.
Dance and Get Paid
Run the event, then thank sponsors with photos. Funds go straight to your connected Stripe account.
On the day
- Build the playlist ahead of time and check every song is clean. Ask students for requests when they sign up.
- Plan water breaks every 15 to 20 minutes, and have a quiet corner for anyone who needs a rest.
- Put the leaderboard on the big screen. Seeing their class move up is the best motivation you have.
- Keep the link open for a few days afterwards. Grandparents often sponsor once they see the photos.
Not ready to sign up yet?
Leave your details and we'll email you an overview of running a dance-a-thon on Raised. Reply with any questions and we'll help you plan it.
Turn It Into a Class Competition
Optional Teams mode is what makes a dance-a-thon take off. Enable it from your dashboard to add teams, individual dancer pages and leaderboards.
Classes and Crews
Group dancers into classes, crews or year groups, each with their own fundraising total.
Individual Dancer Pages
Every dancer gets their own page with a shareable link and a QR code to print or post.
Live Leaderboards
Team and individual leaderboards keep everyone asking for one more sponsor.
Have questions before you start?
Leave your details and we'll email you an overview of running a dance-a-thon on Raised. Reply with any questions and we'll help you plan it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about running a dance-a-thon on Raised
What is a dance-a-thon?
A dance-a-thon is a sponsored dance event. Students, members or teams dance for a set time, often an hour or a whole afternoon, and friends and family sponsor them for taking part. It works for schools, dance studios, clubs and youth groups, and nobody needs to be a good dancer.
How much does it cost to run a dance-a-thon on Raised?
There are no setup fees, monthly fees, or subscription costs. By default a 5% platform fee and standard Stripe processing fees are added to each donation and paid by the supporter, not you. You can choose to absorb fees yourself in your payment settings.
How do dancers collect sponsorship?
Each dancer gets their own page with a shareable link and QR code. Friends and family sponsor them with a set amount, and every donation rolls up into your event goal and the leaderboards. Nobody has to carry cash or paper forms.
How long should a dance-a-thon go for?
For primary schools, 45 minutes to an hour with short breaks works well. Intermediate and high schools often run two to three hours, and some dance studios and youth groups run a whole evening. Pick a length your youngest dancers can finish.
Can classes or dance groups compete against each other?
Yes. Turn on the optional Teams mode from your dashboard to group dancers into classes, crews or year groups, each with their own total and a spot on the leaderboard.
Do I need to reach my goal to keep the funds?
No. You receive the funds after applicable fees whether or not you hit your target. There is no all-or-nothing rule.
Looking at other events? See all athon fundraisers, skip-a-thons, and colour runs.
Ready to Run Your Dance-a-thon?
Create a free dance-a-thon page and start collecting sponsorship in minutes.