As the “STA’s Road Trip” block came to a close, Communications junior Adam Welton and Medill junior Todd Johnson took the stage, brimming with energy and singing along to the final song blasting out of the loudspeakers. They waved their arms in the air and encouraged dancers to stay spirited.

Moments later, behind the scenes, the emcee duo dubbed “TnA” spread out on chairs, taking a breather from hosting duties while the dancers changed costumes.

“My voice is going in and out like a bad cell-phone call,” Johnson said.

Johnson and Welton have been the faces and voices behind the Dance Marathon for the last three years. In 2005, they became the first freshman to ever host the philanthropic event, a fact still amazes the two.

“It’s still so bizarre, being able to do it freshman year, and do it successfully,” Welton said.

Since their debut year, TnA said they have learned many valuable lessons about hosting DM.

“We now look at DM strategically,” Johnson said. “We look at hosting the event from a dancers perspective, what they want to hear and see.”

“Sometimes I think of a really funny joke, but I always ask myself if the dancers will laugh at it,” Welton added.

The duo said emceeing several times also has taught them how to deal with people backstage. Welton also said they’ve learned the proper pre-DM diet.

“The key is more Popeyes,” he said. “We eat like 40 wings or thighs or breasts beforehand. We come here extremely full of protein.”

One of TnA’s tougher tasks is keeping the exhausted dancers’ spirits up during the event, especially Saturday afternoon.

“We just have to put more effort into keeping them up,” Welton said. “We constantly ad lib and play off of the music. We also constantly try to interact with the audience, to keep them involved.”

Welton said certain songs help make their job easier.

“Last year, when they played Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Since U Been Gone,’ that was pretty great,” he said. “I wish there was an entire Kelly Clarkson block.”

The group said they aren’t positive whether they will be back in 2008 to host the event, and have more pressing issues to worry about.

“I’m worried about keeping my voice the rest of the night,” Johnson said.

“Yeah, we are just worrying block-to-block,” Welton said. “Right now I’m just trying to chill.”

Whether or not TnA come back for a fourth year, the duo said they truly value Dance Marathon.

“We are just fortunate to have this opportunity,” Welton said. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else in the world right now.”