2025 Grand Marshal

The best of us enrich the lives of others, and this can certainly be said of this year’s Grand Marshal, Vicki Jo Boyer.  At the young age of 18, upon graduating from Miamisburg High School in 1958, she started (in her parents basement) what would become one of the most successful businesses in the history of our town—the national award winning “Vicki Jo’s Dance Studio” (VJDS) which is still located here in downtown Miamisburg, and is now owned & operated by her former student, Sierra Campbell Roe. Literally thousands of children have passed through this studio in the last 66 years, with many going on to dance professionally, either by opening studios of their own or performing onstage throughout the country. Whether dancing professionally or seeking other careers, every student learns confidence, team work, and stage presence—invaluable attributes to carry them throughout their lives in whatever field they choose. 

 

Now, at age 85, she will be performing onstage one last time in her final VJDS dance recital on June 14th—almost 66 years to the day of the very first VJDS recital on June 13, 1959. There is no way to accurately gauge how many lives have been touched throughout the generations by her talent and devotion to teaching. Her legacy continues to reach far across the nation. She says “It has been a privilege and honor to share the precious gift of dance”, and wants to thank her hometown community for its unending support throughout the years, as well as all the parents who entrusted their children to her. “To all I’ve had the privilege of teaching, it has truly been a labor of love. As the song goes, ‘if you get the choice to sit it out or dance…I hope you dance’”.

 

 

Other career & personal highlights include:

-Teaching from coast to coast on the faculty of every leading dance organization in the country.

-Serving on the advisory board for Dance Masters of America.

-Appearing on the cover of Dancemagazine in 1976.

-Releasing 2 LP albums featuring dance music with original choreographed routines still being used today.

-Numerous television and stage appearances from NY to CA, personally, as well as her award-winning dance ensembles.

-Judging for the “Miss America Scholarship Pageant” in multiple states across the country.

-Being crowned “Mrs. Ohio 1982” representing the “total woman” able to combine family & career.

-Received commendation from the Ohio House of Representatives for “Excellence In Her Profession”.

-2019 MHS Alumni Honoree

-Motivational speaker for breast cancer awareness, and a 27 year cancer survivor.

-Married to her high school sweetheart, Dwight Boyer, for 62 years until his passing in 2020,  and together raised 2 children, Chris & Laura.