This was no ordinary song and dance. It netted $52,000 for charity.

This year’s Rock Chalk Revue, conducted Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Lied Center, raised that record amount for United Way of Douglas County. It was $2,000 more than the previous record, set in 2001 and 2002.

“We just wanted to exceed what we’d done before,” said Mike Rodriguez, a senior from Chicago and Rock Chalk participant. “We consider the community service aspect a very important part of the actual organization. This is about the community and helping out.”

The Kansas University musical tradition, which started in 1950, featured 10 fraternities and sororities in original song-and-dance routines.

In addition to the show, groups sponsored fund-raisers — such as a karaoke night and CD sales — for United Way, which supports 28 Douglas County organizations.

The participating fraternities and sororities — and other groups who tried out for the show — completed 23,000 hours of community service for United Way organizations, also a record.

“Over the past two years, they’ve found ways to emphasize the volunteering over the money,” said Rueben Perez, coordinator of the KU Student Organization Leadership and Development Center. “They need the people power as much as they need the money.”

But Rodriguez admitted the fraternity and sorority members also got something out of the show.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s worth every moment.”