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.
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 Dancers. Presently they attend college and have continued their dancing and choreographing for Polly B. David, Ms Dayna's son just graduated from the University of Tennessee in of May of 2009 and continues to work with the Polly B Dancers.
Suzan Phipps moved to Florida in 1988 from Connecticut where she owned a dance studio for 12 years. She has worked with several theatre and community groups as well as working with Special Olympics as a gymnastics and skiing coach. Suzan trained as a teacher with Dance Educators of America and furthered her studies with Jacqueline Anderson in the Cecchetti Ballet Method. She holds an intermediate certificate awarded by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, Cecchetti Society Branch, London, England. She has a BA in English from the University of New Haven in Connecticut. She is completing her 15th year at Polly B where her choreography has won many overall awards.
Hali Avener started dancing at age 3. A native of Bellefonte, PA, she began at the Kennedy Dance Center From there, Hali continued her training at the Cameron Dance Center and Pofahl's Dance Studio in Gainesville , FL. Her expertise includes Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Modern. Hali performed with Next Generation, the resident company of Pofahl's and danced professionally with Dance Alive!, Pofahl's state touring company. Her summers were spent studying under Mia Michaels at Steps, Broadway Dance Center in New York City , at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and the Sarasota Ballet. Hali attended the New World School for the Arts, in Miami . An instructor for many years, Hali's most recent teaching duties were Ballet, Tap and Jazz at Pofahl's Dance Studio.
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.
Greg "Crazy" Fountain has an impressive list of Whos Who in the dance area for over 16 years, which includes Hip-hop, Jazz, Ballet and Contemporary having education and training from (Hip-Hop): Jason Wright, Wade Robson, Soto, Cris Judd, Free Crawford, Shane Sparks, Chuck Maldonado, Lee Daniels, Dante 7, Jaffar Smith, Tucker Barkley (Jazz): Kavin "Zion" Grant, Pendu, Kristi Johnson, Soto, Rosemarie Rand, Kevin Maher, Erica Sobol ( Ballet): Nicole Harlan, Rei Aoo, Kavin "Zion" Grant and (Contemporary): Ellis, Kristi Johnson and many more. His most recent project includes opening for Quest Crew which was the winner of America's Best Dance Crew Season 3. Greg also works as an actor/model having worked on various stage productions and films.
Leelynn Osborn is a professional Ballroom and Latin dance instructor. He was taught by former World Professional Latin champions, Stanislav Datsenko and Natalia Laubert. He was even fortunate enough to receive personal instruction from Maksim Chmerkovskiy, more commonly known to America as "Maks" on Dancing with the Stars. In his graduating year he founded an on-campus ballroom and latin dance club appropriately called, "Take the Lead Ballroom and Latin Dance". He is perfect for anyone wanting to experience the joys of social dance. He is available for private one-on-one instruction, couples, or groups. He is more than happy to be teaching at Polly B Dance Academy and sharing with others the joy of dance.
Kenneth Griswold - Brings to Polly B Faculty strong leadership and team playing to teach the acrobatics classes Kenneth has a strong background in teaching step and American Freestyle Martial Arts, karate, and gymnastics. A native of Jacksonville, he has built a reputation for helping to build community recreational and learning programs for kids. He holds a BS in Psychology.
Andre Marshall II is a major creative force with 12 years of experience in only 18 years of life. He has choreographed countless musicals, stage performances, and concerts. He has also been featured as a dancer in movies such as Bring It On 4, Ace Ventura III, booked as a principal dancer in two TV commercials for two major theme parks, and recently led a dance crew to win a major dance competition in New York City on BET’s 106 & Park television show. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Andre made an entrance into entertainment at age 6 as a professional dancer. Andre and his family then moved to Florida when he was ten years old to pursue his career in the entertainment business and he has been dancing and acting ever since in films, commercials, and TV shows.ndre is excited about his continual personal and creative growth and is passionate about bringing his knowledge of storytelling thru dance and choreography to the stage, commercials, music video and film.
Jill Boeneke-Hilliard is a graduate of Fletcher Senior High School. Growing up, she won numerous awards in dance competitions and many photogenic awards while training in the studio. She moved to Hollywood, California on dance scholarships to Joe Tremaine and Serg Rodunsky’s dance studios. While in Hollywood she auditioned and landed roles in several movies, commercials and Industrial shows. A highlight was performing as Lead Dancer in the movie “Teen Witch” which can be seen regularly on TV and video. Shortly there after, she attended an Open Audition for Walt Disney World’s Premier Dance group “Kids of the Kingdom”. After receiving an invitation to join the elite dancer/singer group, Jill traveled all over the U.S., including a performance in Pittsburgh, PA. for Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game and the Premier of Disney’s “Angels in the Outfield” movie at Three Rivers Stadium. While at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, the “Kids” performed regular shows in front of Cinderella’s Castle performing “Disneymania”, “Best of Disney” and the much loved “The Sparkling Christmas Spectacular” which also ran for several weeks as a dinner show in the Contemporary Resort. During the holidays she performed live, on ABC, dancing in Disney’s Easter Day Parade and Disney’s Very Merry Christmas Day Parade with Regis Philbin and Joan London. She also danced in Disney’s Galaxy Search, Disney World is Your World and Lands Medley in the Tomorrow Land Theater. At one point she worked for “Kids” and Disney World’s “Pleasure Island Explosion Dancers!” which was Disney’s Upscale Adult Theme Night Clubs with shows at Mannequins, 8-Trax and Neon Armadillo and the nightly New Years Eve Main Stage show. “Kids of the Kingdom” were also used for numerous convention shows for Disney, Umbro, Reebok and the awards show for the major theme parks across the country and around the world which was held in Miami. Locally she represented several companies as a model in videos and print ads. She has choreographed and danced in the commercial for the opening of the Avenues Mall, Chubby Checkers Live in Concert, Christian Music Artist Lauren Stalnecker’s video Vision, which can be viewed on YouTube.Com. or found at local video stores. She has appeared in productions at the Alhambra Dinner Theater’s A Chorus Line and La Cage Aux Follies.
Tammy Pramuka, Assistant Office Manager
Bob Boeneke, Co-owner