This post was updated March 3 at 12:01 a.m.

Pediatric AIDS Coalition at UCLA is continuing a night filled with advocacy and dance breaks.

Following the 8 p.m. hourly “Morale Dance” to Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way,” UCLA jazz band Going Outside kept spirits high as the PAC Dance Marathon powered into its sixth hour. Their vibrant performance consisted of original songs as well as covers of classic crowd pleasers, like Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” and “Breaking Free” from the 2006 cultural television film staple “High School Musical.” The latter sparked an impromptu conga line in the crowd – an uplifting reflection of the event’s spirited atmosphere and deep sense of community.

Second-year global studies and political science student Kaitlyn Heinecke said she joined PAC her freshman year to meet people and work towards a common goal. Last year’s Dance Marathon further ignited her motivation to raise awareness and funds to fight HIV/AIDS, making her feel part of a bigger cause, she added.

“It is possible to have an AIDS-free generation, and I don’t think a lot of people know that it’s a plausible idea. A lot of our efforts had goals set on 2030 and some of the current policies that have been put into place are making it harder now than ever to get government funding for this cause,” Heinecke said. “So I just want to remind people that their work does matter, and if we all come together, we can achieve an AIDS-free generation for our posterity.”

[Related: PAC holds vigil for those affected by HIV/AIDS at 2025 Dance Marathon]

UCLA’s HCAT, or the HIV Counseling and Testing Coalition, had a booth set up at the event with members of the organization dispensing free HIV test kits. HCAT particularly provides healthcare to underserved communities and acts as a platform for LGBTQ+ advocacy.

Tawny Vu, a fourth-year psychobiology student and member of HCAT, said some hands-on ways the organization engages with the community includes providing education about HIV and AIDS prevention and counseling. As a queer woman working toward a health care career, Vu said HCAT combined several areas of interest for her. Additionally, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to further educate herself on HIV/AIDS through being a part of the club.

The next performance of the night was by UCLA’s own The Band Called Sex, a rock band with a retro, psychedelic flair – including an occasional dash of the harmonica. The band members engaged the dancers and played numerous head-banging original tracks, including “Daisyland Marching.”

As the clock struck 9 p.m., the lights dimmed and the dancers spread closer to the stage while the “Morale Dance” began to ring in the seventh hour of the marathon. Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” began playing again, prompting the dancers to erupt in an energetic uniform routine as they followed the leaders on the stage. Joy Wu, a fourth-year communication and psychology student, is part of the committee and looked forward to lifting the energy at the top of the hour, she said. The dancers then split into their designated color teams to begin the Color Wars, in which they compete in various different games throughout the marathon, said Tiya Shah, a fourth-year bioengineering student and Team Red captain.

[Related: Dance Marathon 2024: Pediatric AIDS Coalition raises spirits, awareness and $48,070 in annual event]

“The Color Wars bring a competitive aspect to the whole dance marathon,” Shah said. “It is a fun way to raise points, which is ultimately to raise for our cause, which is to bring an AIDS-free generation.”

As the competitive activities came to a rest for the seventh hour, the musical band The 529’s hit the stage and a rush of dancers flowed to the front of the ballroom. The atmosphere quickly changed from a competition of the colors to a community between them. Lily Matalon, a second-year biology student and Team Pink captain, said she looked forward to being pulled through the rest of the hour by the band regardless of if she won. Stephanie Palafox, a second-year biochemistry student, said although she was hesitant at first because of the lengthy commitment, the Dance Marathon was a transformative experience.

“Hearing about the stories from the participants who came is very eye opening and moving. It’s so interesting to see how you could actually have the ability to have an HIV-free generation,” Palafox said. ”The stories have given me a whole new perspective. … I have just been nonstop dancing. It is a really beautiful experience.”

As the eighth hour approached, the dancers’ spirits were high as they formed a linear line towards the stage. Caroline Sippey, a third-year psychology student, said the preceding vigil was the most solemn part of the evening, but she anticipated the shift in energy that would come next. As the clock hit 10 p.m., The 529’s played their last original song and the crowd rushed to the front of the stage. They celebrated the start of hour eight with vibrant uniform, clapping and singing along with the band.