Most dancers dream of seeing their names up in lights. Our Dream, our Vision and our Mission is to see each and every one of our dancers reach their fullest potential in every aspect of their lives by our positive instruction, our high goals, and our strong moral values that we have taught for over 35 years and continue to instill in every dancer as they go on their dance journey at Polly B Dance Academy.
Being the most recognized and awarded studio in Jacksonville, Polly B Dance Academy carries the responsibility of high standards and continually proving every day that we truly do provide the best dance experience in North Florida. |
Polly Boeneke, owner, continues to be a proven talent leader. As an international choreographer she led her dancers to be the first American team ever to perform in Gorky, Russia, in addition to the team serving as dance Goodwill Ambassadors to Denmark, Sweden and England. Polly has choreographed hundreds of broadway musicals, shows, plays, TV commercials, Beauty Pageants, Walt Disney World Shows, and competition dances winning numerous awards. She is a certified member and past president of Florida Dance Masters Association, Certified member of Dance Educators Association and continues to be involved with community functions in the Jacksonville and surrounding area, and is especially recognized nationally and internationally for her outstanding achievements in dance.
Dayna Williams started off her dancing at the age of 3 and has been dancing every since. Miss Dayna began instructing dance at the Polly B Dance Academy since the age of 17, and began performing in musicals such as Music Man with YBAG, Sound of Music, Alhambra Dinner Theatre, and numerous dramas at Players by the Sea. She began her education at the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts Dance program and completed her dance education at Jacksonville University, B'way Dance Center and took acting/voice at the H.B. Company. She has performed in musicals including Pippin, Bye Bye Birdie, Lil Abner, Jesus Christ Superstar, and the opera, Daughter of the Regiment. Dayna owned and operated her own successful studio in Liverpool, New York before returning to Jacksonville. Each year her choreography receives overall high score awards at all competitions. Her daughters Danielle and Drue were members of the Polly B. Dance Team. This experience has readied both young ladies for successful opportunities in the dance world and communication business sector. David, Ms. Dayna's son, graduated from the University of Tennessee and is now the owner and operator of 3 heavy duty equipment businesses.
Drue Williams has been dancing since the age of 2 learning from choreographers from across the country as well as studying at her mother's studio (Dayna Williams) in New York and her Grandmother's studio (Polly B Dance Academy) in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. She has been studying lyrical,jazz,hip hop,ballet,tap,and musical theatre for over14 years, but her all time favorite would have to be jazz or lyrical. Drue has been in numerous dance competitions with the Polly B Dance Academy and has won many awards and scholarships and was recently selected to be a part of the Starpower Powerpack Dance team, part of the Nease pantherette Dance team, has traveled to England to dance, and was the lead in the Sleeping Beauty ballet. Drue just returned form a worldwind tour of Europe Performing in "La Caroline" a UNF and FSCJ collaborative dance/theater project. She auditioned and was accepted immediately. The rest is wonderful dance memories for a lifetime.
Dara Swisher Carman, originally from Reading, PA, began dancing at the age of 3. She received a B.A. with Honors in Dance with concentrations in Performance and Teaching/Choreography from Mercyhurst College in 2008 and is currently pursuing her M.F.A. in Choreography at Jacksonville University. In addition, Ms. Swisher Carman has trained at such institutions as the Wyomissing Institute of Fine Arts, Berks Ballet Theatre, and most recently, The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia, PA. She has had the opportunity to train under Bojan & Stephanie Spassoff, Christopher Fleming, Maiqui Manosa, Cherie Noble, and Tauna Hunter and has attended various intensives and workshops including the American Dance Festival, The Paul Taylor School, and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School. Ms. Swisher Carman has been featured in numerous classical and contemporary works, including those by George Balanchine, Bill Evans, Jonathan Phelps, Brigett Moore, Jessica Lang, and Teena Custer. She performed and collaborated as a member of SoMar Dance Works from 2006 to 2008. She has been choreographing since 2002 and her work has since been showcased by the Rock School for Dance Education, American College Dance Festival, Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet, the Mercyhurst Dancers, and the Erie Dance Conservatory Company where Ms. Swisher Carman served as ballet mistress, promotions coordinator, and company soloist in 2008/2009. Currently, Ms. Swisher is working as a company member and choreographer at Braided Light Dance Project.
