Terpsichore ... a moving experience recently presented its 19th annual spring dance event Saturday, May 8, and Sunday, May 9, at Pinecrest High School.

The songs of the 1940s were highlighted the in first act with music by The Andrews Sisters, Cab Calloway, Johnny Mercer and Glenn Miller. A simple storyline traced the beginnings of girlish childhood with "Ain't She Sweet," to "Mr Sandman" leading up to "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree," "Oh Johnny," 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and "Eight To The Bar."

One of the highlights of the ballet was the father-daughter dance of Terpsichore's eight seniors, their real-life fathers and eight young servicemen as they wooed the young girls away from their dads for one last date before shipping out to war.

The second act highlighted jazz and tap favorites, as more than 100 dancers performed their way through the years with "Decades and Legends." Music included Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog" from the 1950s, "Welcome To The '60s" and "Aquarius" from the 1960s, "Jive Talking" from the 1970s and Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" and "Beat It" from the 1980s. The 1990s were represented with "Uptown Girl" and "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," while the years of 2000-2010 contributed "Mean Girls," "Every Rose Has Its Thorns" and "Showdown."

The finale featured Terpsichore's seven graduating ensemble seniors as they paid tribute to the years they have danced. A special choreography was created for these seniors, as is the tradition each year, with the music "Slow Dancing."

Terpsichore's apprentice group, ensemble members, and instructors honored them after their performance with onstage group applause, and the presentation of a framed picture of their senior graduating group as a special memento of their years of dancing success.

This year's seniors include:

Sofia Bracamonte, who has danced with Terpsichore for eight years in various roles including Snow Queen in "The Nutcracker." The Union Pines senior plans to attend UNC-Chapel Hill or East Carolina University to major in psychology and Spanish.

Danielle Bradshaw, an O'Neal senior, has danced for 12 years. Her lead roles include Soldier Doll, Lead Mirliton and Dew Drop in "The Nutcracker." She plans to attend the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis.

Miranda Casey has been dancing with Terpsichore for 13 years and has danced the roles of Dream Clara, Dew Drop, Mirliton and Clara in "The Nutcracker." The Pinecrest senior will attend UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall, majoring in exercise science with an eye to a career in physical therapy.

Nicole Moser, an O'Neal senior, has danced for the last 14 years. She has danced the roles of Snow Queen, Dew Drop, Lead Mirliton, Lead Angel and Clara in "The Nutcracker." She will attend the University of Georgia in the fall and plans to major in biology to pursue a career in either medicine or dentistry.

Another O'Neal senior, Blair Puleo, has danced with Terpsichore since kindergarten. She has since danced the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Arabian Princess, Dream Clara, Snow Queen and Dew Drop. Puleo will attend the UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall, to study business administration and psychology.

Alexia Samaras has been dancing with Terpsichore for the past four years. She has participated in teen ballet/jazz, apprentice ballet/jazz, modern/contemporary and hip-hop. The O'Neal senior will be attending UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall, with plans to major in psychology and pursue a career in law.

Union Pines senior Lauren Thompson has danced with Terpsichore since the age of 3. She has performed demi-lead Waltz of the Flowers and Snow, Mirliton and Dream Clara in "The Nutcracker." Thompson plans to pursue a degree in elementary education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.