Sanctify will have a Dance Benefit Workshop in order to raise money for victims of the Jan.25 accident, Rebekah Cherniss and Deanna Romero. The workshop will be March 2 from 12:30-3 p.m.
Cherniss and Romero were members of Sanctify last semester.
“They loved to dance, and they loved to just be around,” said Byron Martin, director of the Office of Multicultural Enrichment. “They loved Sanctify.”
During the first lesson, participants will be taught the hip-hop dance Cherniss and Romero first learned with Sanctify. The dance lesson will also have a free-styling session and a devotional.
Lindsay Palmer, sophomore psychology major from Houston and organizer of the benefit, got the idea after hearing of the expenses for Cherniss and Romero.
“There’s a lot of bills that they’re going to have to pay, and so we just thought we could help them out and support them because we’re all just a big family,” Palmer said.
Palmer said Sanctify expects to have two more lessons in the spring that will teach different dances.
Martin said everyone is invited to participate in this fundraiser and no experience is necessary.
“All you need to do is show up and be ready to move,” Martin said.
Despite their absence this semester, the members of Sanctify keep in contact with the girls.
“We text them, we face chat with them and we miss them a lot because it’s just not the same,” Palmer said.
Palmer described Romero as being a “tiny diva” and Cherniss is notorious for her sense of humor.
“They made a huge impact on our practices because they would crack everyone up,” Palmer said.
The group anxiously awaits Romero’s and Cherniss’s return to Sanctify.
“Since they’ve been gone, there’s definitely a different feeling in the atmosphere,” said Jacob “KP” Kilpatrick, junior Ad/PR major from Mesquite and captain of Sanctify.
“Yeah, it’s just been a gap,” said Palmer. “We’re just waiting for them to come back, but they’ll be back soon.”
The dance lessons will cost $3 if students buy them before the benefit. Lessons can be purchased online at http://lsp10b.wix.com/sanctifybenefit or in the Campus Center this week from 11 a.m. -2 p.m. Tickets will be $5 at the door.
