Students of Vashon Dance Academy will take audiences over the rainbow this weekend with a high-flying interpretation of “The Wizard of Oz” — a show that seems a particularly appropriate fit for some of the dancers.

There are almost 120 Islanders in the cast, but nine of them — much like the iconic character of Dorothy in her ruby red shoes — are about to set off on an uncharted path to a strange new world.

These nine young women  — Carlie-Sue Anderson, Olivia Andrus, Audrey Figgins, Neah Lynch, Odessa Martin, Summer Peet, Lizzy Schoen, Rachel Taylor and Chloe Zimberg — are all headed to college in the fall. And although many of them plan to continue to study dance, this weekend’s show will mark the last time they take the stage together as dance academy students.

Zimberg, who will double major in dance and another, yet-to-be decided field at the University of San Francisco, is cast in the show as Dorothy. She said that much about the familiar tale is hitting close to home.

“In the last scene, when Dorothy is saying goodbye to all her friends, and they all swirl around me and leave, it’s not even like we’re in a show at that point,” she said. “It’s total reality.”

Taylor, who will dance the roles of the witch’s broom and the Cowardly Lion in the show, agreed.

“There are parts of this we can all identify with,” she said. “We’re all going off on a new adventure, and it’s exciting but it’s scary too.”

All nine seniors recently huddled backstage at a rehearsal for the show at Vashon High School, and when asked what they’d do when the final curtain came down on “The Wizard,” they answered as one.

“Cry,” several said, their voices an echo chamber. “Hug,” a few others chimed in.

Meanwhile, out on the stage, dance academy founder Cheryl Krown was putting younger students through the steps of a scene in the show. After that, a group of middle-aged men tromped onto the stage.

These were “dance dads,” taking part in a longtime tradition that gives cameo roles to the fathers of dance academy students.

Krown, a vivacious, ponytailed presence, laughed and yelled encouragement at the men as they comically pranced through their paces as apple trees in the show.

The Vashon Dance Academy — now in its 16th year on Vashon — is known for innovative, high-gloss productions that incorporate ballet, modern and world funk in the telling of beloved stories. Past shows have included “Peter Pan,” “Willy Wonka,” “Snow White” and “Aladdin.”

Krown recalled that some of the dancers  who are now graduating from the program first danced with her 15 years ago, in the dance academy’s first production of “The Wizard of Oz.”

“The first time, they were the little baby bluebirds that flew over the rainbow,” she said. “How perfect is that?”

Like past productions, “The Wizard” has been a labor of love for not only Krown and her dancers, but also other artists and volunteers working behind the scenes.

Jenna Riggs, a professional designer and illustrator whose two daughters attend the dance academy, has designed the set and supervised a crew of volunteer painters. Josh Randall, a lighting and special effects expert, has contributed his usual professional sheen to the show.

But when Randall’s lights come up on the show, a more metaphorical spotlight will shine on the nine graduating seniors, as the production places the final punctuation mark at the close of the years they spent growing up together at the dance academy.

Carlie-Sue Anderson, double cast with Schoen as the Wicked Witch in the show, said that she still had a hard time believing her dance academy years were ending.

“It’s kind of surreal,” she said. “It’s hard to wrap your mind around.”

But Rachel Taylor pointed out another, more comforting parallel to the story line of “The Wizard of Oz.”

“A lot of us seniors have been dancing together a long time and are really good friends,” she said. “So we can always come home. This will always be our home.”

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Vashon High School. Tickets, $13 and $11, are available at Vashon Bookshop and Pampered Paws.