First-year members of Terpsichord, pictured with the “legendary” Mrs. Thomas, are Bailey Bryant, Lily Everett, Caroline Harwood, Julie Kim, Torie King, Amelia Land, Shivani Modi, Kayla Runyan, Mimi Vance, Phoebe Warren, Dailee Willard, and Lauren Wright.
Terpsichord, Girls Preparatory School’s contemporary dance company – the longest running high school modern dance company in the country – will celebrate its 60th anniversary with a Reunion Concert on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Frierson Theatre. The concert is free and open to the public.
In 1954, physical education instructor Peggy Evans Thomas began the modern dance troupe, the first high school company formed in the state of Tennessee. Ms. Thomas retired after 34 years at the helm, and Cathie Ault Kasch ’72, former Terpsichord president, became the director. She is now chair of the GPS Fine Arts department and is assisted with Terpsichord by Laurel Moore Zahrobsky ’90. The founder and current director are pictured at right.
When the call went out to former members, local residents and some out-of-towners signed up to perform in the hour-long concert. A few alumnae are hoping to dance with their daughters, who are also Terpsichord alumnae.
Current Terpsichord sophomores, juniors and seniors will present a piece choreographed by alumna Chloe Spitalny ’09, who graduated with honors in the field of dance from Connecticut College. Peggy Thomas will conduct an improvisation on stage with the alums.
Among the participating alumnae are Alice Smith ’03, Meg Michaels Word ’91, Nancy Kazanas Moughrabi ’97, Laurel Moore Zahrobsky ‘90, Laurel Batson Boles ’89, Brooke Phillips Moore ’98, Kingsley Michaels Bennett ’94, Caroline Walker ’04, Olivia Townsend ’11, Lauren Leigh Carter ’06, Jennifer Holstine Daugherty ’04, and many more. Amanda Byars ’99 is bringing two professional dancers from Atlanta.
Returning dancers include juniors Emma Kirkpatrick, Madison McClendon, Abigail Owsley, Tess Shaheen, Maggie Swafford, and Charlotte Whitfield. Senior dancers include Lexie King, Terpsichord president Nia Sanders, Mary Lillian Tessmann, and vice president Meg Winchester.
Peggy Thomas and Cathie Ault Kasch