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About our Directors
Darby Boyd is a native of Houston where she began training in dance at Rodriguez Dance Academy and the Houston Ballet. She was Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, and Colonel of her high school dance team. While in high school, Ms. Boyd was a solo finalist, placing at the regional and state levels, and was won the title, Miss Texas Drill Team 1992.
After high school, Ms. Boyd earned a dance scholarship to the nationally ranked Southern Methodist University dance department and graduated with a bachelor's of fine arts degree in dance performance. At SMU she studied under Bob Beard, Karen Kriete, Joe Orlando and Nathan Montoya. Her choreography was selected to appear in five “Brown Bag” productions, and Darby was honored with the 1996 Meadows School of Arts Above and Beyond Award. Ms. Boyd was also a member of the 1994-1995 SMU Pom Squad. As a pom squad member, she was awarded the NCAA All-American Collegiate Dancer Award.
From the 1994-2003, Darby taught at numerous dance studios and schools in Houston and Dallas, where she also performed as a professional dancer. Her choreography appeared in shows such as the 1997 Houston Summer Dance Festival and the prestigious Choreographers X6. Darby also choreographed for musicals, dance teams, and music concerts. In addition, Ms. Boyd was a founding dancer and choreographer for the critically acclaimed "5 Degreez of Danze" troupe based in Frisco, Texas.
Upon the completion of her teaching certificate in secondary dance in 1999, Darby Boyd directed dance programs at Irving High School and Haltom High School in the Dallas/Fort Worth area from 1999-2007. Under her direction, both programs doubled in enrollment, received first place awards in each category, and received numerous awards for Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Technique, Winner's Circle and Super Sweepstakes. Darby’s teams won “Best in Class” at the regional, state, and national levels.
Darby has been a Who’s Who teacher since 2004. She has been a seminar presenter at the 2009 and 2010 Texas Dance Educators State conventions where she shared her dance curriculum, choreography techniques and teaching philosophy with directors from around the state. She also has written several articles for the MA Dance Director Resource manual, which is widely used to aid and educate Directors all over the nation. In 2010, she was selected along with four other directors, to be an advisor for a national dance curriculum instructional journal.
She currently is enjoying her sixth year as the Pacesetter Director at Taylor High School. Under her direction, the Pacesetters have earned top awards at the regional, state levels, including first place overall at MA Nationals. Darby feels extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such an outstanding group of young women!
Jennifer Soliz, Assistant Director
Jennifer Soliz began dancing in high school and was a member of the Kempner Cougar Brigade and the Bush Illusions Dance Team where she was an officer for two years. After high school, while attending Sam Houston State University, she was under the able guidance of professors: Jennifer Pontius, Kista Tucker, Dr. Cindy Gratz, Melissa Wynn, Jean Denney Grotewhol, and Tiffany Nirider.
Jennifer toured with the Sam Houston State Dance Department, and performed with Spectrum Dance Company for three years. Due to her outstanding ability she earned the coveted role to perform in ACDFA; and danced in graduate thesis concerts for Robin Phares, Courtney Mulcahey, and Megan Lasher.
Jennifer was also a professional dancer in Rednerrus Feil Dance Company under the direction of Amy Llanes and ChinaCat Dance Company under the direction of Maggie Lasher. Ms. Soliz graduated in 2007 with a BA in Dance and English. After graduation she began teaching English at Foster High School in 2007 and became the Drill Team Assistant in 2009 where her choreography won numerous awards.
Ms. Soliz received her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Sam Houston State University in 2009. After three years of teaching in LCISD, she moved to KISD and taught Dance at Mayde Creek High School and was the JV Cheer Sponsor in 2010. Currently, Jennifer Soliz teaches Freshman English and is the Assistant Director for the Pacesetters Dance Team at Taylor High School
If you have questions for the directors, please contact Darby Boyd.
Director, Darby Boyd
281-237-9282
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TAYLOR PACESETTERS |
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