Art in Motion will take place on Saturday, Feb. 23, in the big gym from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. This is a Winter guard competition that is sanctioned by the Mid Continent Color Guard Association (MCCGA). It serves as one of the biggest fundraisers for Winter guard. This year, they hope to raise more money than the $10,000 they raised last year.

Volunteers begin setting up for the competition the night before by laying a protective tarp over the gym floor, preparing the Commons for concessions and setting up tables to sell tickets and programs. The next morning volunteers arrive around 7 a.m., the first guard unit arrives around 8 p.m. and the first performance begins at 9 p.m. Forty-eight units come to compete from all over the nation.

“We still have to work really hard to get our score up so when we go to Regionals we are among some of the top guards so that we can compete nationally,” senior and guard member Abigail Hoffman said.

Each unit chooses a theme to perform and has seven minutes to get on the floor, set up, perform and get back off. This year, North’s theme is “The Spirits Within.” North’s unit performs as spirits in a cathedral to the song “Ave Maria.” They incorporate the theme through their choreography, which is made up of a mixture of fluid and tight movements, the use of props and the emotions that they project onto their faces.

“The coaches chose the theme,” senior and guard member Megan Hinman said, “because it’s easier for us to perform sadness and anger rather than happy emotions.”

Ninety percent of the money raised is split evenly between guard and drumline and the other 10 percent goes to band. The money raised from this is used to pay for expenses for other big competitions in Nashville, Cincinnati and Dayton. Admission to the show is $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Parents and band members also volunteer to help set up and work different areas to raise money.

“I like helping out because it’s just a lot of fun helping out the kids,” Winter guard mom Lynette Hoffman said. “It’s just a good group of people to work with and a good group of kids who are performing.”

The Winter guard unit practices three nights a week for three hours and attends weekend camps before competitions for nine hours in order to perfect their routine. According to guard mom Gracy Hinman, all of the hard work and dedication they put into the sport is so that the guard can be the best.

“I love to be able to engage the audience in our performance,”  Abigail said. “It makes me feel like I really have their attention and that they really love watching us do what we love.”