For 25 years, the Cassandra School of Ballet has been teaching the art of dance in Toledo. And for each of those years, the school's elegant dancers have been gracing the stage for a portion of the Toledo Concert Band's popular Music Under the Stars performances.

Twelve girls who are members of the Cassandra Ballet of Toledo will perform at Sunday's "Hollywood: Picture Perfect" presentation in the Toledo Zoo amphitheater, said Cassandra Macino, the school's founder.

They'll do a 10-minute dance to "A Chorus Line" and then return for "Stars and Stripes Forever," the latter of which has been a tradition since the school at 3157 West Sylvania Ave. was formed.

"We've been honored to be out there for so long and it's a real special thing for us to be out there every year," Macino said.

Each year, the school has between 100 and 150 students ranging from preschool to young adult. Many of the school's students have gone on to join ballet troupes in places like New York, Cincinnati, and Miami.

"It's very rewarding to see little children come in and grow into young, beautiful women," she said.

There's more than just ballet involved in the process, Macino said, noting that dance for young girls is as much about learning poise and self-esteem as it is performing.

"In dance, as with classical music, your understanding of beauty opens up," she said. "And it emphasizes physical strength and posture. You can just tell dancers when they walk in the room because of the way they carry themselves."

The Music Under the Stars performances are ways for the older dancers to showcase their talents while the younger girls can aspire to one day perform with the Toledo Concert Band under conductor Sam Szor, who has been taking the podium for the performances for 53 years, Macino said.

Sam Szor leads the Toledo Concert Band in the free Music Under the Stars concert, "Hollywood: Picture Perfect," at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the Toledo Zoo amphitheater. Also performing will be folk singer Randy Sparks and Cassandra Ballet of Toledo. Information: 419-246-8000.

First Published August 11, 2005, 10:50 a.m.