GPS Modern Dance Company Celebrates 70 Years

On September 21, members of the GPS community were invited to campus for an afternoon dance performance honoring the 70th anniversary of the GPS modern dance company, Terpsichord. One of the longest running high school dance company of its kind in the country, Terpsichord is an audition-only program open to students in grades 10 through 12.

Terpsichord was started by Peggy Thomas in 1954 and gives each dancer the opportunity to lead and share her voice through original choreography developed during technique, improv, and composition classes. This experience of exploration, active communication, and technical proficiency allows girls to grow and bond while sharing highly developed and inspirational pieces in front of friends, family, and peers.

Terpsichord traditionally stages two major shows each year, one at Thanksgiving and one in the spring. With the 70th anniversary occurring this year, though, Director of Terpsichord Laurel Moore Zahrobsky ’90 knew she wanted to take on a third that included alumnae.

“Through Terpsichord, you make lifetime connections,” she said. “I wanted our current students to be able to dance with alumnae because it helps them see that the sisterhood lasts far beyond GPS.”

With the support of Head of School Megan Cover, Laurel began planning Timeless Terpsichord last spring. The show featured 10 pieces with choreography from staff and alumnae.

Terpsichord also staged reunion concerts for the 50th and 60th anniversaries under the leadership of Cathie Ault Kasch ’72, who retired as Director of Terpsichord in 2020 but is still closely involved with the organization today. 

For this year’s production, Cathie was asked to set a nine-minute piece that she had originally choreographed more than 30 years ago. “I walked into my first rehearsal and stood there with my mouth hanging open,” Cathie said. “There were a handful of people I hadn't seen in decades, but it came together so naturally, as if they’d all been dancing together since their GPS days.”

While many alumnae were dancing together for the first time since they had graduated at different times, both Laurel and Cathie witnessed the instant camaraderie. “I know two of our alumnae based in Atlanta even planned to attend dance classes together there after meeting during rehearsal and forming a genuine connection,” Laurel said.

The two-hour trip from Atlanta wasn’t the furthest participants traveled to dance in Timeless Terpsichord, though. Representation from Knoxville, the Carolinas, Alabama, and more show how important Terpsichord has and continues to be in the lives of GPS women. In fact, Caroline Puri Mitchell ’97 even made it work from Los Angeles! 

“My son lives in LA, too, so I was able to teach her the choreography out there,” Cathie explained. “She also flew in twice to rehearse with the group. Her commitment and love for Terpsichord is amazing.”

Around 30 alumnae performed in the September show, and another 20 or so came from across the country to support from the audience. Peggy’s daughter, Mary Jane Ruch ’76, came to town from Alabama to honor her mother, and a surprise trip from Cayce Gearrin ’07, who’s now based in Minnesota, brought Laurel to tears. 

There was even an alumnae mother/daughter duo who were involved. “Stratton Parr ’91 and her mom, Louise Hampton-Daniel ’62, were both presidents of Terpsichord when they were here,” Laurel said. “For Timeless Terpsichord, Stratton performed while Louise sat on stage. My students thought that was so sweet.”

In the end, the lasting power of Terpsichord comes from the relationships and trust formed between leaders and dancers. “The common respect that Cathie and Peggy had for me as a student has made it easy for me to always go above and beyond for them, and that’s true of our girls today,” Laurel said. “There’s a mutual respect that propels us forward.”

Cathie’s sentiments are similar. “You can’t be an artist without a safe space, particularly as a teenager,” she said. “The biggest takeaway I had from the show was the  joyfulness and commitment. These women have families, jobs—they’re doing a million things. Yet they came, they committed, and everyone was joyful and happy to be there. It was like a little time and space to come together and remember what it was all about and remember their artistic and expressive self on stage.”