About the Program

The Timber Creek High School dance program began in August of 2012 with only two classes. The program was designed to introduce and expose students who have never danced before to the essential elements of dance and to enhance our experienced dancers' understanding of dance as an art form. The program has since evolved and, thanks to the students' contributions, the program is continuing to grow each year.

Students who complete these classes will receive performing arts credits. Timber Creek dancers will develop genre-specific movement vocabulary and dance terminology, build knowledge and skills related to composing dance pieces, understand the importance of collaborative work, and analyze the history and culture of dance. The styles we explore and/or study include Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary and Hip Hop.

Our Mission 

The TCHS dance classes will give all students the opportunity to become young artists while adhering to a professional and welcoming, friendly atmosphere. Students will understand the importance of dance and arts education in our society and, to be able to fully understand how dance can affect our lives, they will study multi-genres/styles, the history of dance, the choreography process and skills needed to become a professional dancer.

About the Director

Mrs. Tara Perry has been the dance director since the Timber Creek dance program's first year (2012). Mrs. Perry's parents enrolled her in dance classes when she was four years old, and she has been studying dance/performing/teaching ever since.

Dance education has always been an important part of her life, and in her dancing career, she has been fortunate enough to study the art under numerous esteemed instructors and choreographers. Mrs. Perry began her training in Venice, Florida at Starz Choice Dance Academy where she focused on Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, and Acrobatics. While training with highly qualified instructors, she was given the opportunity to take master classes from many well-known artists, including Broadway Dance Center's Jazz enthusiast, Frank Hatchett. She also took summer classes at Eddy Toussaint's studio (first artistic director of the Sarasota Ballet). While in middle school, she also fell in love with musical theatre. She then began to take acting and vocal lessons. During this time, she was introduced to the life of a triple threat and seriously considered a career in performing.

After high school, Mrs. Perry explored another passion, English. While studying dance and theatre, she decided to become an English teacher. So while attending UCF, she majored in and eventually received a degree in English Language Arts Education. While studying English in college, she continued her dance education though at local studios and by attending professional dance conventions such as Tremaine and L.A. Dance Magic. She also performed as an actor, dancer, and singer in various shows, student films, and professional films and commercials. Some of her favorite performance credits include "Romeo and Juliet", "The Sound of Music", "Funny Girl", "Hello, Dolly!", Neil Simon's "Proposals", a lead role in a film festival finalist, "Trial and Error", and her role in the anti-smoking campaign commercial, TRUTH.

During college and her first years teaching English One, English Four, and Creative Writing, she also taught Tap, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Musical Theatre classes at The Dance Connection in Orlando, Florida. When Dr. Paduano asked her to start the Timber Creek dance program in 2012, she immediately accepted and was ecstatic!

She is thrilled to be teaching seven classes a day at Timber Creek, in which she instructs all levels and a variety of genres/styles. She has been recognized as a National Dance Educator and Is the sponsor of our National Dance Arts Honors Society chapter at Timber Creek.

Mrs. Perry owes her love of dance to her parents, who still encourage her to follow her dreams, and to her late dance teacher, Mr. Fletcher McClendon. She is so proud of the dance program students and hopes that she is encouraging this generation to love dance as much as she does.