FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (May 24, 2012) -- A tribute to the music of six decades was the theme of this year's spring recital for Child, Youth and School Services' SKIES Unlimited program.
The "Dance Through The Decades" recital on May 19 at Meade High School featured more than 145 girls, ages 3 to 16, who performed routines choreographed to the music of the 1950s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and early 2000s.
"I think they all did great," said Christina Rivera, wife of Navy Lt. David Rivera of the National Security Agency, during the recital.
The couple's 3-year-old daughter Isabella danced to the songs "Rockin' Robin," a tune made popular in 1958 by singer Bobby Day, and "Car Wash," a 1976 hit song by the rhythm and blues group Rose Royce.
Elizabeth Lombardo, instructional program specialist for SKIES, said the dance instructors chose this year's theme for the sake of pure entertainment.
"We thought it would be something fun for the girls and the audience," Lombardo said. "There were a lot of different generations in the audience and we wanted to offer something the whole family could enjoy."
The two-hour program opened with a dance routine to the children's song "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and led into several renditions of Elvis Presley hits from "Don't Be Cruel" to "Jailhouse Rock."
The young dancers wore several costumes, including bright red tutus with silver boots and light blue tutus with black patent leather shoes.
In a tribute to the Beatles, the girls wore soft-yellow tutus and danced a ballet routine to several songs including "Yesterday," "Let It Be" and "All You Need Is Love."
Throughout the performances, parents took photographs on their cell phones and family members clapped to the music, particularly during the music segment for the 1980s, which included hits by Madonna, Billy Joel and Cyndi Lauper.
Odenton resident LaShonda Zachary watched as her daughter Nia danced with a group. The 3-year-old, who is enrolled in Child Development Center III, has participated in SKIES Unlimited for about a year.
"[SKIES] is a good way to introduce her to sports and activities at a young age," Zachary said. "I think she did an excellent job. She's doing pretty well. I'm surprised -- she's not crying."
The event ended with two cheerleading routines and an all-cast dance routine to "Last Dance," a disco hit from the 1980s by the late Donna Summer.
Sgt. 1st Class William Waddell, 741st Military Intelligence Battalion, was among the many fathers who brought a bouquet of flowers for their daughters.
Waddell presented yellow roses to his 4-year-old daughter Madeleina and her peers.
"I think she did really great," the Patriot Ridge resident said. "She practiced really hard for this. The flowers are for her and all the little girls."
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