Once a week since March, students at Columbia High School have been practicing the waltz. They are learning the traditional dance as part of May Day, a celebration held at the school that welcomes the coming of spring. The waltz is performed by members of the May Day court and their escorts at the event, said Alexandria Gamby, junior adviser for May Day.

This year's May Day celebration will be held on Saturday, May 6, at 7 p.m. in the gym at Columbia High School, 901 Ironville Pike. The event is open to the public.

"Please join us for the welcoming of spring," Alexandria commented. "We honor the May Day court and celebrate with entertaining performances."

Members of this year's May Day court are Mallory Conroy, Emily Gambler, Mercyangelis Gonzalez Morillo, Savannah Helton-Urbassik, Ella McCarty, Nayana Peterson, Alexis Phillips, Jocelyn Sanchez and Brie Sullivan Escorts are Zakaria Aitelmajouh, Owen Broome, Chase Dishongh, Mitchell Dishongh, Daèzjon Giles, Aiden Miller, Chris Sabino, Isaiah Spencer and Gage Wolf.

May Day has been a tradition in Columbia for more than three-quarters of a century. Alexandria noted that this marks the 78th year of the event. "It brings together the community, students and parents," she explained. "Each year, a junior and a sophomore work alongside each other and a committee filled with members of the community."

Seniors are chosen by their peers to participate in the May Day court, and the girls choose a male senior to escort them. "Students of the senior class vote on a May queen," Alexandria noted. "The May queen is announced before the waltz."

At the event, students from Columbia School District are invited to participate in a traditional Maypole dance. "This engages students in all ages in the tradition," Alexandria said.

Each year, the May Day committee also chooses entertainment for the court. This year, Columbia High School senior Kiara Serrano-Collazo will sing two vocal numbers. Sophomore Riley Schaeffer will perform a baton routine.

There is an entrance fee for adults with a discount for students and seniors.