The Optimist
  • Home
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Features
  • Print Edition
    • The Pessimist
    • Special Projects
  • Police Log
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / News / Sanctify Hip Hop Dance Company hosts annual spring show
On Tuesday and Wednesday night, the dancers of Sanctify Hip Hop Co. all came together for their first number, showing a clip of a movie prior to this performance. (Photo by Lexi Walter)

Sanctify Hip Hop Dance Company hosts annual spring show

April 11, 2019 by McKenzie Bonam

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.

 

Filed Under: News

Other News:

  • Provost adopts new policy for emeriti faculty

  • Demolition begins on Sherrod residential apartments

  • ACU Gives exceeds goal, raises over $919,000

About McKenzie Bonam

You are here: Home / News / Sanctify Hip Hop Dance Company hosts annual spring show

Other News:

  • Provost adopts new policy for emeriti faculty

  • Demolition begins on Sherrod residential apartments

  • ACU Gives exceeds goal, raises over $919,000

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
ashleyh1607 Ashley Henderson @ashleyh1607 ·
3 Jun

My second year at ACU was full of opportunities that grew me as an individual and a journalist.

In my first year as editor in chief of @acuoptimist, we published six print issues, filmed a 3-hour live election show, and revamped our newscast, all while producing news weekly.

Reply on Twitter 1929734328445178254 Retweet on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Like on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Twitter 1929734328445178254
Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
optimistsports Optimist Sports @optimistsports ·
2 Jun

The Optimist reached out to ACU Athletics, who provided the following statement.

Reply on Twitter 1929676060947632336 Retweet on Twitter 1929676060947632336 1 Like on Twitter 1929676060947632336 1 Twitter 1929676060947632336

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

12 months ago

The Optimist

Video

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

2 years ago

The Optimist
"Ending my college education early was always the plan for me, but the things that I have been able to see, experience and examine about ACU’s community were not. I have found immense growth in ACU over the past three and a half years, but ACU still has a long road to climb if it wants to keep catering to students as the world changes around them." To read more of this article visit acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio. #acu #abilenechristianuniversity #privatechristianuniversity #collegestudentopinion #acuopinion ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 28, 2024

Our top stories today include a recap of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 21, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 14, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 24, 2024

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Policies
    • Advertising Policy
    • Letters to the Editor and Reader Comments
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Features
  • Advertise
    • Paid Advertisement
  • Police Log

© 2025 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved