Marathon Bal en Blanc unites 15,000 dancers

Glowstick-waving dancers bathed in flashing, multi-coloured lights throughout the night at the annual Bal en Blanc. (Image CTV Montreal).

MONTREAL—About 15,000 white-clad party people paid $170 to attend the 19th annual Bal en Blanc dance marathon at the Palais de Congres through Sunday night.

The 15-hour dance party finally ended at noon on Monday, leaving a sea of exhausted bodies.

For the fourth time, the marathon dance event featured world-renown French DJ David Guetta, who first appeared at the Easter weekend party in 2006.

Scottish DJ and recording artist Calvin Harris also spun tunes, much to the delight of the crowd.

While you have a wear white, how much you choose to wear is your choice, and some say it is part of the appeal.

The visual side of the event was handled by Moment Factory, a local studio which has also handled large events such as Celine Dion and Madonna concerts.

Event spokesperson Paul Gilbert told The Canadian Press that about 20 to 25 percent of those attending come from out of town. He said the event generates about $500,000 in local tourist dollars.

“The visuals were very spectacular this year. The whole lighting and visual set up was something to see,” said Gilbert.

A 43-year-old man was arrested for drug trafficking, he was found with cocaine, ketamine, amphetamine as well as Viagra and Cialis. An additional 33 people were refused access at the door because they had drugs, 22 of them were women.

—with a file from The Canadian Press.