On Oct. 5, at the Crossover, Muv Dance Company hosted their annual Muv to Create event to showcase dances and raise money for the organization Dancers against Cancer.

“I think that this organization does such a good job of raising so much money for this, and for all the dancers who are fighting out there and for all the dancers’ families who might be fighting,” freshman and Muvment team member Savannah Hill said. “It helps provide for them and all their hospital bills that they may have, and some of it also goes to the foundation, which is an amazing thing.”

Dancers against Cancer is a nationwide non-profit organization founded in 2012. It helps provide financial support for dancers who are battling cancer or have a family member battling cancer. 

“I know there’s a lot of people out there who struggle with cancer, and it’s such an awful thing, but knowing that we get to help raise money just being on stage is so amazing,” freshman and Muv Cru member Alexa Perkins said. “My dad had cancer, and I didn’t know about it because he was able to treat it really quickly, but it just makes me have so much more empathy towards Dancers against Cancer.”

The performances took place on the outside stage at the Crossover, but watching the dances wasn’t the only thing to do. There was also bake sales, food trucks, merchandise, axe-throwing and a silent auction, which all contributed to the overall money raised.

“Every year we come up with more money, and every year it gets bigger and bigger by more bake sales, more people involved, more community, and even more dances and studios getting involved,” Hill said. “Everything there benefits this amazing program, and it’s not just the bake sales that we host, but literally every food truck is helping out with this too.”

This year there were a total of 20 dances in the lineup; performed by four of Muv’s own teams, and also by outside companies and high school teams.

“The people who help run it try their best to get other communities involved in doing it, so it’s a very open environment for everyone,” Vista Ridge sophomore Alyssa Cumming said. “They just try their best to make everyone feel special and important no matter who you are.”

Muv has hosted annual fundraisers for this organization for a few years now, and honored personal members of their dance community.

”We donate a bunch of money to anyone with cancer, but mainly to families who were previous dancers or are parents of dancers,” Perkins said. “One of them [person in family] is on my team and actually fought off cancer, but his little brother is struggling with cancer, so we’re helping donate to that.”

The event aims to raise spirit and hope alongside the battles of cancer, while sharing the art of dance for a cause.

“Every single time that we dance, they always tell us to think about the people who you’re trying to help and dedicate the dance to them,” Cumming said. “I feel like I’m dancing for a purpose and not just for a competition or anything, so whenever we dance I just feel really happy and like I’m actually doing something to help others.”