polly yellak (guest performer)

Polly Yellak began her dance journey 15 years ago. During her years as a student, Polly studied modern, contemporary, ballet, jazz, nontraditional partnering, lyrical, tap, hip hop, and various other dance styles. She performed and competed with different studios around Collin County, Texas. At 16 years old, Polly performed two professional productions with Epiphany Dance Arts as a Training Artist. Around this time, she was given the opportunity to choreograph dances on herself and her peers. She began her teaching career through teaching Summer Camps and classes and Assistant teaching students ages three and up. During these years, she discovered and cultivated her passion for performing, choreographing, and teaching dance.

Polly received her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Dance from Belhaven University in May 2022. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she performed in various modern and ballet works with Belhaven University’s Dance Ensemble and the Dance Ministry Ensemble. During this time, she choreographed multiple group works and solos that were showcased in Belhaven’s Senior Dance Concert and the Emerging Choreographer’s Concert. Polly also enjoyed learning about stage production through her experience as a stage manager, light operator, house manager, and strike coordinator. She left Belhaven with refined experience in dance performance, choreography, teaching and pedagogy, production experience, and dance office management.

Currently, Polly works as a choreographer and dance instructor at multiple studios throughout Collin County. She teaches contemporary, modern, ballet, variations, pre-pointe, jazz, combo classes, and improvisation classes. She is the choreographer and rehearsal director for the RFAC Dance Rep at Toby’s School of Dance and will be choreographing a large ballet production in Spring 2024. Polly recently began dancing with Full Circle Dance of North Texas and is excited to perform their new contemporary and modern works.

"I remember when I first started dancing as a child. I was inspired by the professional dancers, choreographers, and teachers around me. I wanted to get to a place where my work can inspire others in the same way those mentors and artists inspired me. I am now dancing, choreographing, and teaching in the community I grew up and started training in. Through Full Circle Dance, I am now dancing alongside some of the artists who inspired me. I now hope to encourage others and inspire creativity."  - Polly