It’s a bit past 8:30 p.m., and first-year students Fred Westenberg and Gabriel Cerecedes have just started to eat dinner.
“I’ve been eating snacks all day, but I’ve definitely started feeling tired, so hopefully dinner helps,” said Westenberg, a computer science student.
Dinner choices included spaghetti with marinara or meat sauce, or Korean barbecue catered by Bibigo, a Korean restaurant in Westwood.
Thus far, Westenberg said the Pediatric AIDS Coalition has done an impressive job keeping a high energy level in the room.
“I thought I would get bored dancing, but there’s been a really good variety of stuff and activities,” he said.
Variety is definitely the key word. Moments ago, Fusion, a UCLA student music group, infused some much-needed energy into the crowd with a set that included covers of “Do You Love Me” and “Shout.”
Complete with a string section, a trumpet and a saxophone, Fusion got many dancers back into the groove of things. I even spied a group of dancers trying to form a mosh pit, and though they were ultimately unsuccessful, their efforts should definitely be applauded.
After the live music ended, actress Pauley Perrette, from the popular television show “NCIS,” and Kimberley Locke of “American Idol” fame took the stage, each saying a few words to keep the dancers encouraged.
Locke’s last words say it all: “Dance your booties off!”