The 2024 South High Marathon Dance will be held on March 1 and 2, 2024.

Friday, March 1st

5 p.m.: Senior Registration/Public Shuttle Buses Begin Operation/Old Gym Open for Sales/New Gym Open for Seating

5:25 p.m.: Junior Registration

5:50 p.m.: Sophomore Registration

6:15 p.m.: Freshmen Registration

7 p.m.: SHMD 2024 Begins

9:10 p.m.: All Dancers Change for Costume Party ~ Walk the Red Carpet

9:30 p.m.: Costume Party Begins

10:15 p.m.: Costume Party Winners Announced

10:30 p.m.: Building Secure - All Non-Mandatory Personnel Leave - Jr/Sr Snack Break, Frsh/Soph change, then return to gym

11 p.m.: Public Shuttle Buses End

11:15 p.m.: Freshmen & Sophomore Snack Break, Juniors & Seniors Return to Gym

Saturday, March 2nd

12 a.m.: All Students Return to Rooms for Attendance - Students Change for Neon Power Hour

12:30 a.m.: Resume Dancing

3 a.m.: Neon Power Hour

4 a.m.: Sleep Break

5:30 a.m.: Breakfast Begins Being Served

7 a.m.: Resume Dancing

8 a.m.: Shuttle Buses Resume/5th Graders Dance/5th Grade & Middle School Families Welcome to Enter

9 a.m.: 5th Graders Leave

10 a.m.: Middle School Basket Raffle Winners Dance

11 a.m.: Juniors & Seniors Lunch Break/Middle School Leaves/General Public Welcome to Enter

11:45 a.m.: Freshmen & Sophomores Lunch Break, Juniors & Seniors Return to Gym

12:25 p.m.: All Dancers Change for Costume Party ~ Iconic Characters

1 p.m.: Costume Party Begins

1:45 p.m.: Costume Party Winners Announced

2:50 p.m.: Language Arts Classes Dance

3 p.m.: Recognitions: 4 Year Pins, Dancer Prizes, Check Presentations

4 p.m.: Juniors & Seniors Pack Up and Then Dinner Break (Dancer Shirts On)

4:45 p.m.: Juniors & Seniors Return to Gym, Freshmen & Sophomores Pack Up and Then Dinner Break (Dancer Shirts On)

5 p.m.: Silent Auction Concludes

5:30 p.m.: Freshmen & Sophomores Return to Gym

6 p.m.: Live Auction, 50/50, and Raffle Winners Announced

7 p.m.: Bags May Be Picked Up By Parents In Hallways

7:30 p.m.: Awards & Total

10:30 p.m.: SHMD 2024 Concludes

11 p.m.: Shuttle Buses Conclude

The 47th annual South High Marathon Dance will be held on March 1 and 2 at the South Glens Falls Senior High School located on Merritt Road.  Due to the size of the event, the following parking and traffic flow procedures have been implemented.

• To facilitate the flow of shuttle buses and traffic, we ask there to be NO PARKING on either side of Merritt Road or Elmwood Drive starting at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 1 until 11:59 p.m. Saturday, March 2. 

• Parking at the Senior High School BACK PARKING LOT will be limited to current Marathon Dance recipients, handicap, and those with special permits.  FRONT LOT will be open on a first come first serve basis. 

  • Several 15-minute parking spots will be in place in the back lot for pick-up or drop-off. 

  • Dancer drop-off Friday night will be via the backlot; enter off Merritt Road only, same as 2023. 

• All people visiting the Senior High School must enter through a security checkpoint at the back of the building. 

• A bus shuttle will run from designated parking areas to the Senior High School, cycling continuously, during the following times:

  • Friday, March 1, 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

  • Saturday, March 2, 8:00 a.m. – Dance Finale. 

• Parking for volunteers and spectators, with bus shuttles, will be available at Tanglewood Elementary School, Mr. Bill’s Side Lot, Kingpin’s Alley, United Methodist Church, and the First Baptist Church. 

  • When parking at a satellite parking area, please be sure to get out of your vehicle and wave to the bus when it cycles through the parking lot.

  • During times when the bus shuttle is not running (11:00 p.m. Friday, through 8:00 a.m. Saturday), the parking lot at the Senior High School will be open. 

 This parking plan is being implemented due to the limited parking at the high school and the need to keep roads leading to the school open for traffic flow. 

During the event, the Marathon Dance can be viewed live, online, at www.shmd.org.  Please visit www.shmd.org, Facebook www.facebook.com/shmdInc, or Twitter @shmdnow for additional information.  Specific questions regarding parking at the High School, designated parking areas, and bus shuttles should be directed to the Marathon Dance Parking Supervisors at parking@shmd.org. 

All Persons and Belongings Subject to Search

Implemented in 2018, any persons entering the Senior High School, to include students, staff, visitors, and deliveries should expect to be screened, including belongings (such as bags, containers, boxes, etc.). Guns, knives and other weapons, alcohol, recreational drugs, fireworks, sparkling devices, and potentially hazardous material are not permitted on school property. The use of tobacco, nicotine, vape devices, or similar products is not permitted on school property. The Marathon Dance strongly discourages general spectators from bringing bags to this event.

Safety and Security Measures in Place

The Marathon Dance will continue a variety of safety measures which have been implemented through the years. Law enforcement canines will be present prior to, and periodically during the event. Armed law enforcement, both uniformed and undercover, will be present throughout the entirety of the weekend. A Fire Safety Team will be present to enforce gym capacity, keep watch for fire and other hazards, and ensure egress routes are maintained. Satellite parking areas with shuttle bus service is in place to alleviate congestion at the Senior High School and impact on nearby roads. A dedicated Security Detail and Medical Staff was established in the 1980’s and continues to maintain a safe and secure environment.

Remain Alert and Report any Concerns

We have a shared responsibility to keep our community safe. Be aware of your surroundings; whether at the event or in a parking area, take note of any suspicious objects, persons, or potential hazards and report it promptly to Marathon Dance staff. If you become aware of someone who may have malicious intent, take what you hear or see seriously. Familiarize yourself with bus shuttle routes, building exits, public viewing areas, and the Dance schedule. Finally, please be polite to safety and security staff. While certain arrangements may be inconvenient, they are in place for the safety of all involved.

Numerous Agencies and Organizations Contribute

SHMD would like to thank you, as well as the following, for supporting the safety mission: New York State Police, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department, South Glens Falls Police Department, South Glens Falls Fire Company, Moreau Emergency Squad, Moreau Town Highway Department, South Glens Falls School Transportation Department, Saratoga Springs School Transportation Department, Adirondack Two-Way Radio, Wells Communication, Brinks, D.A. Collins Construction Company, Casella Waste, Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC)/Live Nation, and our satellite parking areas.