Sanctify, a hip hop dance company, will conduct auditions Saturday in the SWRC.

Sanctify participates in multiple events each semester, such as the Homecoming Parade and the Ethnos production presented by International Student Association. The group has about 15 to 20 members and is still expanding with auditions every semester. 

“We don’t look for perfection in auditions, we look for rhythm, movement, focus and determination. We just want to see personality,” said Maggie Moody, senior nursing major from Pittsfield, MA, and Sanctify co-captain. “There have been times when we’ve had as little as 10 members and times where we’ve had over 20. It really depends on what kind of talent we see.” 

Sanctify was started in 2010 by local dance studio owner Teri Wilkerson and her daughter, who was attending ACU at the time. This year they are celebrating their 10-year anniversary. 

“Sanctify has been like a home,” said co-captain NG Okorie, junior psychology major from Murphy. “It’s a place where you challenge yourself and have great shared experiences.”

As the only hip hop dance company on campus, Okorie said the group works hard on their performances as well as to create a Christ-like community among its members.

“We really strive to express our love for Christ through our passion for dance,” Moody said. “Dance to us is our voice, it’s how we express our emotions and how we tell our stories. It’s a good escape and a way to express ourselves on stage.” 

In addition to several ACU-related performances, Sanctify plans to perform around Abilene as well as put on their own show for students across campus. 

“We had a really good show last year and hope that even more people come this year,” Moody said. “We try to make it very affordable for the students as well, last year tickets were only $3.”

Though the group is waiting to reveal the show’s theme, the spring show will take place April 15-16.