Sanctify Hip Hop Dance Company hosted a spring show Tuesday and Wednesday in Cullen Auditorium.
Striving to demonstrate the image and love of Jesus through hip-hop, the dance group has made it a goal to integrate faith, family and a common interest in their annual show for nine consecutive years.
The on-campus team is lead by co-captains Maggie Moody and Ng Okorie.
Moody and Okorie are mentored by sponsors, April Napier and Teri Wilkerson. Wilkerson has been contributing as a key role to the organization since its founding in 2009. Additionally, Napier serves as the on-campus sponsor tending to the immediate needs of the group.
Prior to each semester, tryouts are hosted and participants are selected for the performance. The picked individuals practice and rehearse for the next show, which is held toward the later half of the fall or spring season. Both co-captains and a panel of judges, including Napier and Wilkerson, sit in on auditions.
Wednesday night’s performance was comprised of different dance styles, divided into themed acts. The acts varied from solos to duets to group acts.
Beginning with the concept of personal struggle and transitioning to the motif of finding strength, each dance number intended to demonstrate deep emotion.
To facilitate this, Moody said the progress of practice and teamwork is centered around being vulnerable together, especially early in the process of learning.
“When you join, you become family after it all,” Moody said. “We even use the term ‘Sancti-fam’ to describe it.”
Intentional facial expressions, dramatic stage presence and factors such as music volume and stage lighting told the story of each individual performer.
The motives to empower and advocate were clear in each segment of the show, along with what Okorie stated about their intentions as a unit of people.
“In the midst of struggle, I found a lot of strength in my team,” she said.
For many, especially Moody, this opportunity is a creative outlet. “If you put me on a stage to dance, it all comes out,” Moody said.
