DEBBIE'S DANCE COMPANY
DEBRA FORD
Debra Ford was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. At the age of 17, she relocated to Los Angeles, California, where she danced professionally with the group Disconnection, performing at exclusive private clubs and at Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park. Her talent soon led her to appear as a dancer in three feature films, further expanding her performance résumé.
Debra continued her career by touring extensively across the United States and Canada for six years with the band Way Out. Throughout her journey, she trained with and assisted renowned choreographers from around the world, gaining experience across a wide range of dance styles. This foundation inspired her transition into teaching. With over 50 years of experience in dance education and choreography, Debra is the founder and proud owner of Debbie’s Dance Company, established in 1986. Now celebrating over 39 years of operation, her studio has nurtured countless students, many of whom have gone on to successful professional careers in dance worldwide.
Debra is deeply committed to her students and staff, and she considers teaching not just a profession, but her true calling. Her greatest pride lies in fostering the growth, passion, and dedication of the young dancers she mentors each day.
JILL BAHR
Master Teacher and Nationally known Choreographer Jill Eathorne Bahr joins the faculty in August of 2022. Jill Eathorne Bahr serves as CEO of Coastal Ballet USA, a pre-professional Ballet and Academic Institution that offers a unique custom fit education for ballet dancers. She served as Resident Choreographer and Senior Faculty Member for the Charleston Ballet Théâtre from 1987-2014. She taught summer intensive workshops throughout the US including Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Ballet West, and Ballet Aspen. In 2008, Bahr was the recipient of the Governor’s Award – “Elizabeth Verner Award”- the highest Arts Award. In South Carolina. Jill has served on the National Endowment for the Arts Dance Panel and served as an Adjudicator with College Dance Festivals. She is a robust devotee of Regional Dance America. Jill has adjudicated all five regions and this 2017 National Festival marks the second time she has served as a National Adjudicator for Regional Dance America. She will be on the faculty of the 2022 RDA Southeast Festival in Daytona Beach this coming month. Jill has taken part in the notable Carlisle Project, a program that supplied time, resources, and mentorship to gifted, committed choreographers. Jill Bahr’s awards include two National Endowment, (NEA) Fellowships, four Monticello Fellowships, William Habich Choreography Award, two South Carolina Arts Fellowships, and two Astral Choreography Awards. Her choreography can be found in the repertoires of Atlanta Ballet, Boston Ballet, Cary Ballet, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Ballet Eddy Toussaint, Eugene Ballet, Indianapolis Ballet Theatre, Nevada Dance Theatre, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Ballet Michigan, State of Alabama Ballet, Ballet Omaha, Joffrey II Dancers, Douglas Anderson School of Arts, the Central Indiana Dance Ensemble, Florida Ballet at Jacksonville, Heartland Youth Ballet, Project Ballet, Victoria Ballet Theatre and the Fort Wayne Ballet. Her newest world premiere creation “Aladdin and the Magic Carpet” for Midland Festival Ballet this past month was a heralded landmark success.
JENNIFER TURBYFILL
Jennifer Turbyfill is a graduate of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and received her BFA in dance performance cum laude from Florida State University. While attending Florida State Jennifer was a multiple recipient of the Friends of Dance scholarship. Jennifer also was a member of Dance Repertory Theatre for three years and assisted as rehearsal director for much of her time under the direction of Lynda Davis. While attending FSU Jennifer was privileged to study under world-renowned ballerina Suzanne Farrell, Lynda Davis, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar director of Urban Bush Women. After graduation Jennifer pursued her dream of dance and moved to New York City. She continued to study intensively with Doug Varone and Dancers and at the Limon Dance Studios in New York. Jennifer has danced as a featured performer in works by: Bridget Bleistein, Sean Curran, Alan Danielson, Lynda Davis, Gerri Houlihan, Anthony Morgan, Jessica Patz, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. She has performed as an ensemble dancer in works by Piper Arpan, Maria Bauman, Nancy Smith Fichter, Donlin Foreman, Jennifer Handel, and Brent Schneider. Jennifer is currently chair of the dance department at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. She teaches all levels of modern, senior choreography, and jazz at DA. Jennifer has had multiple works selected for gala performances at the National High School Dance Festival and Regional High School Dance Festival. While on faculty with Debbie’s Dance Company she has received numerous choreography awards , various top placements at the regional and national level, and ten national title winners. Jennifer is proud to have students accepted and attend prestigious dance programs such as: Purchase, USC Kaufman, NYU, Point Park, FSU, USF, UF, Utah, Boston Conservatory, and CalArts. She is very proud to have many former students performing professionally in the concert and commercial dance industry.
JESSICA PLONKA
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Jessica Plonka grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and is an alumnus of Debbie’s Dance Company where she danced competitively for many years. She is a 2020 graduated from James Madison University with a B.A. in Dance and a B.S in Kinesiology. During her time in school she was a student member of the Virginia Repertory Dance Company, performing in works by Kyle Abraham, DanceWorks Chicago, Rubén Graciani, Matt Pardo, and Scott Putman. She also spent time studying abroad in London, England training at the Laban Center for Movement and Dance, The Place, and Pineapple Studios. In 2018 Jessica was a cofounder of The Aftermath Company; a pre-professional theatre collective designed to immerse multiple art mediums into performance. After school, Jessica returned home to Jacksonville joining Emily Cargill and Dancers as a company member for one season. She then went on to join Jacksonville Dance Theatre (JDT) as a company member in 2021. She has performed numerous works for both the company’s regional and touring venues including the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, The Historic Ritz Theatre, Times Union Center for Performing Arts, and Florida Theatre. When not performing for JDT, Jessica works in the community as a dance instructor and choreographer. She serves on the dance faculty for LaVilla School of the Arts and while choreographing for D.D.C. has won numerous competitive regional and national awards.. Jessica strives to continue sharing her love of dance through live performance and connection with her students.
SYDNEY JENKINS
Sydney Connor grew up in Jacksonville, Florida where she studied at Debbie’s Dance Company under the direction of Debra Ford. She attended LaVilla School of the Arts under Michelle Ottley Fisher and then Douglas Anderson School of the Arts under the direction of Jennifer Turbyfill where she was able to hone her technique and choreographic practices. Sydney was placed into Dance Theatre during her junior year where she had the opportunity of working with choreographers like Francisco Gella, Elizabeth Johnson, and Stephanie Powell. Under the wing of Rhonda Stampalia, she has performed with the Jacksonville Symphony in their POPS Holiday Concert and the First Coast Nutcracker. She has participated in Nutcracker for over 10 years receiving many principal roles including ‘Lead Chinese’ and ‘Ballerina Doll’. Sydney graduated from the University of South Florida, Tampa, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a minor in nutrition in 2022. She has worked under the instruction of Andrew Carroll, John Parks, and Bliss Kohlmyer as well as guest artists such as Erik Wagner and Joshua Peugh. During her time at USF, she was the President of Student Dance Productions where she took her leadership and love for dance to manage a fully student-ran concert. She also interned at Howard W. Blake High School as an instructor within their dance department. She has also worked with Central Florida Choreographers Collaboration and Tampa City Ballet during her residency in Tampa, Florida.