Pennye Garcia is originally from Lafayette, Louisiana where she studied dance at DeLarue Dance Center for 14 years. She taught Acrobatics, jazz and tap at the studio until college graduation. During her studies in Louisiana, she attended conventions with Gus Giordano, Frank Hatchett, Al Gilbert, and Leah Darwin among many others.
She attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana now, University of Louisiana at Lafayette and graduated with a BA in Elementary Education. While in college, she was on the gymnastics team and was nominated for Female Athlete of the Year. She moved to Florida and had three children while teaching school in Pasco County. She was an administrator at Academy at the Lakes private school in Land O Lakes.
After having children she went back to teaching acrobatics, jazz and tap. She taught PE and the dance elective at Land O Lakes and Sunlake High School in Pasco County. She was a cheerleading coach at the high School level from 2003 – 2017. During those years her teams won many awards including a FHSAA Cheerleading State Championship at Sunlake High School. She has won the honor of Coach of the year for three years in a row while at Sunlake High School.
Since 1992 she has attended Tremaine Dance conventions in Orlando and studied under Joe Tremaine, Savion Glover, Michael Minery, Tony Copollo, Desiree Robbins, Wade Robson, Marty Dew, Liz Imperio and many more. While visiting New York she took classes at Broadway Dance Center under Frank Hatchett, Sheila Barker and many others. She has choreographed acrobatic competition routines, won a choreography award at the Nexstar Dance competition in 2003-04, along with co-teaching with Ms. Amanda.
She is listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. She has taught at Mary Jo’s Performing Arts Academy since 2006. “Dance and choreography is a part of life. We see it, feel it and share it with our students!”