It's spring in North Carolina. The flowers are blooming, the toads are croaking, and we're on our way toward summer.

But there'll be a different kind of springing this weekend when the Dance Collective presents "Spring Splendor" at 3 p.m. Sunday at East Carolina University's Wright Auditorium.

Rhett Butler/The Daily Reflector (ENLARGE)

Rebecca Colenda performs a leap as she rehearses for 'Spring Splendor.'

The performance marks the 10th anniversary of the Dance Collective, which is a nonprofit part of the Greenville Civic Ballet.

"The Dance Collective is the performing branch of the foundation," said artistic director Kim Saad. "This particular performance will be a 10-year retrospective of our most popular works that we've performed throughout the years."

Saad founded the Greenville Civic Ballet after her dance training in Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina. She was also a soloist with the Greenville Civic Ballet in Greenville, S.C.

"This is not a recital. This is professional dance caliber, featuring full-length ballet works, jazz, modern and tap," Saad said.

Typically, the Dance Collective has 25 dancers, Saad said. Auditions are held each fall for students 9 years old and up. If selected, dancers participate in master classes, lecture-demonstrations, performances and programs.

But for these young artists, it isn't only about dancing.

"Part of our mission statement is to give back to the community through outreach and dance performances," Saad said.

Through the Dance Collective's fundraising performances, money has been donated to East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine, the Leo Jenkins Cancer Center and breast cancer awareness.

"We've also performed for Rainbow Services, the American Heart Association and the Boys and Girls Club, just to name a few," Saad said. "This is really a group of dancers giving back to the community."

In addition to its spring and winter fundraisers, the company also performs every February at the North Carolina School of the Arts and every spring at the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association's annual event.

"It's a serious way of networking with other dancers," Saad said. "These are kids on a career track."

Through such events, dancers are seen by scouts and can be considered for summer study programs.

Four dancers will attend summer study this year: Megan Griffin, 12, will attend the Rock School for Dance Education in Pennsylvania; and Rebecca Colenda, Nicole Shank and Haley Vest, all 14 years old, will attend the American Ballet Theatre in Detroit.

The dancers were accepted based solely on their skill.

Attending summer studies can be extremely expensive, but scholarships are available. Since founding her dance school, Saad said that her students have won approximately $100,000 worth of scholarships.

"Only 20 percent of the dancers do attend summer study," Saad said. "And these are kids between the ages of 13 and 15, and they are trained here in Greenville, North Carolina. I'm really, really proud of that."

Contact features writer Kelley Kirk-Swindell at 329-9596 or kkirkswindell@coxnc.com.

What: Dance Collective's "Spring Splendor"

When: 3 p.m. Sunday

Where: East Carolina University's Wright Auditorium

Cost: $15

Call: 328-4788