Their love of dancing is almost as strong as their devotion to Eagle’s Wings, says the head of the Floor Essence dance troupe.

“We are thrilled to do something again for Eagle’s Wings,” said Gayle Watson, who operates Washington’s Dance Academy East, where the troupe is based. “It’s our favorite charity.”

Watson and her fellow academy instructors are veterans of the local Dancing With Our Stars, another event that raised funds for Eagle’s Wings for several years.

Floor Essence is one of 15 acts to be featured in the grand finale of East Carolina Star Search, which benefits the Beaufort County food pantry. The finalists were chosen during auditions held April 5 at theTurnage Theater.

The troupe of dancers wowed the judges with an acapella rhythm tap number. Watson said the troupe plans to perform the same dance for the June 7 finals.

“I actually learned this dance from two German tap dancers named Kurt and Klaus at the North Carolina Rhythm Tap Festival in Chapel Hill,” Watson said.

Joining her on stage are Shelley Geitner, Dawn Landen, Alaina Donadio, Stella Frisbee and Jamie Ebron.

Watson says she specializes in rhythm tap at Dance Academy East, so the performance choice was a natural one. The troupe began polishing its act as soon as the call went out for Star Search performers.

“This is our first competition as a group,” Watson said. “Eagle’s Wings is a great cause and this is a great way to give back to the community. And it’s a great way for everyone to express their talent.”

The lure of the Turnage Theater is also difficult to ignore.

“The Turnage is such a warm, friendly, non-threatening place for people who have no stage performance experience,” Watson added. “I’ll perform at the Turnage at the drop of a hat!”

East Carolina Star Search is presented by Eagle’s Wings and Le Moulin Rouge de Danse. Cash prizes for the top three finalists are donated by Lee Chevrolet and F. Ray Moore Propane.

Tickets for the June 7 final competition may be purchased at Backwater Jacks, Russell’s Men’s Wear and the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, visit www.ecstarsearch.net.