The Associated Press

CLEVELAND - Dancers from across the nation are swinging at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in an attempt to twirl their way to a record for the longest dance party.

The 42 sneaker-clad participants began Tuesday at 5 a.m. and will try to dance until at least 8 a.m. Thursday - a total of 51 hours. Participants can take 10-minute breaks every hour for food, trips to the bathroom and short naps.

The Guinness Book of World Records mark for longest dance party is 50 hours, set in 1999 by 56 participants sponsored by MTV India.

Casey Kasem of American Top 40 is acting as master of ceremonies from a glass booth above the dance floor and said he's hasn't been able to join in because he's too busy giving interviews.

"I'm too tired. I need to conserve my energy," he said.

The dancers range in age from 18 to 58 and come from as far as Texas and California.

Guinness rules require that 30 of the dancers - 75 percent of those who started - must complete the event to have it recognized as a record.