My revelation after hearing Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” in Club DM and observing dancer reactions to the multi-part song.

Phase one: Sadness - The day started rough for DM dancers. As the sun rose (or, didn’t rise since a snowstorm decided to just make the whole affair a little more depressing), the realization they still needed to go through double digit hours combined with the slow deterioration of their physical form. I bet most dancers would have loved to do what they did during the sad piano-driven opening to Queen’s most ridic tune - form circles, throw their arms around fellow dancers and sway together in the desolate world around them. Assuming they could feel their appendages.

Phase two: Hope - What’s that giddy noise I hear? Why, the giddiness of hope, good sir! Yes, the morning sucked, and some people would probably have preferred another Queen song (”and another one bites the dust….”), but as the day grew and dancers reached the halfway point, something inside them pressed them to go on, to not give up. If what dancers did at Club DM is any indicator, that something is the urge to type a paper on a typewriter glued to the ceiling.

Phase three: ROCK! - You know, forget our problems! We came this far, and we are here to jump around and play air guitar, an action slightly more embarrassing than doing the Electric Slide but less embarrassing than playing Guitar Hero. At some point Saturday, dancers discovered the best way to deal with your problems is to ignore them and just rock out.

Phase four: Psychedelic dude - Queen decided to step a little back from the hard-rockin’ they were doing in favor of a little mellower psych-rock. Dancers experience a similar feeling once they actually make it to the final block…the feeling of despair and athlete’s foot is replaced by a drug-like euphoria and a nice toasty sensation on the toes. After surviving (and I do mean surviving), they get lost inside themselves, experiencing a joy only possible through ectasy or some other, better designer drug. Also, Freddy Mercury was on some drugs, let me tell you.

Phase five: Melancholy - Queen couldn’t end on a super positive note, and neither can DM. This year, four-year hosts Todd Johnson and Adam Welton will emcee their last DM, as they graduate this year. TnA, as they are dubbed, are beloved by anyone who has participated in Dance Marathon these past four years, and will be missed. So, a little bit of sadness must be acknowledged.

Then, play Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie.”