“It is hard to believe that a quarter-century has passed since our humble beginnings,” says Christine Fossemalle. Back then, there was one set of costumes passed from dancer to dancer between performance pieces; today the costumes are as varied as the dances and just as extraordinary. Margaret Fohl is a graduating senior. For her, the last 13 years on the dance floor have “absolutely been good,” she says. “I really like my lyrical dance,” but of all the styles, tap is her favorite. “Dance has definitely shaped me into the person I am now,” she says. “It has taught me both discipline and respect.” Margaret, like fellow seniors Delaney Sullivan and Ashley Cohen, expressed a great deal of thanks to both Fossemalle and Sonia Ibarra-Corona. Corona is one of the cast members from that long-ago first show who took to the stage again. Now a new mom of a baby girl, Corona hopes to pass her love of dance down, as well as sharing it with her many students at the Fossemalle studio. Sarah Longoria, a master’s candidate in ballet at the University of Utah, is the other original cast member who traveled back to town for the performance. “It was my formative years that I spent studying here,” she says. When she is teaching, even now, she sometimes thinks about how Fossemalle instructed her so long ago. Fossemalle is a positive influence, even now. Longoria isn’t the only former student who has gone on to teach. Katie Allin, now of Houston, Texas, came back to perform before she begins her duties as a high school dance coach in the fall. While she heads back to high school, two other dancers leave it behind. Delaney has been dancing since she was 3. She plans to study communications at Cal Poly in the fall and take some dance classes along the way. “It definitely teaches you discipline and how to push yourself to places you don’t think you can go,” she says. Her favorite technique is ballet and pointe. She stops for a moment to consider and smiles. “Well, I really like lyrical, too.” Bottom line, she pretty much loves it all, she says. Delaney is especially enjoying this anniversary show because they are performing some of the favorite pieces from bygone years. With so many favorites to choose from, the show runs a bit long – but except for a few sleepy siblings in the audience, no one seems to mind. The older dancers perform with a level of competence that makes watching them inspiring, while the little ones are so cute, it is hard not to want to watch them to do it again – all the more reason for a four-night run. Many cast members say performing is something they never get tired of. Ashley, the last of the seniors, says she has danced since she was 6. She took a break only to discover she missed it. Back on the dance floor for the last several years, she finds hip hop to be her favorite style – something she plans to continue when enrolled at Santa Barbara City College this fall. “I just love being around my friends,” dancing for joy and for the opportunity to express herself, Ashley says. “It helps with school because it gives you time to let go of stress. Then when I go back to school I’m refreshed, rather than stressed.” But for the little boys in the troupe, it was all about trying out something new and having fun. Ten-year-old Blake, enrolled in the boys only hip-hop class, says: “I’m going to keep going until I go off to college like all the others.” Performing, the boys say, is especially fun for them because they are always an audience favorite. “Last year we got the biggest applause of the entire show,” says Davis, 10. Eleven-year-old Carson says he isn’t sure what drew him to dance more than two years ago. “I don’t know, I just sort of wanted to do it and try it out.” Cloe, who was enjoying her first time ever watching a dance performance and older sister Ella’s first time on the stage, isn’t sure. “Maybe,” she says shyly, she’ll try it herself next year, maybe not. But she was enjoying watching the dancers. “To each and every one of the dancers involved in these performances, our most sincere thanks for your constant efforts to train, rehearse and always challenge yourself,” Corona and Fossemalle tell their company. And with the final bow taken, the final farewell said, thoughts turn to next season and the anniversaries yet to come.