Tara Herringdine, owner and director of CDA has been a teacher/choreographer in the Eastern NC area for over 15 years. Originally from Fayetteville, she studied ballet locally at Ann Clark School of Dance. Tara studied ballet daily at some of the finest dance schools and attended intensive summer programs with numerous dance companies.

As a teenager Tara began to evolve in the competitive dance world winning numerous top soloist awards at the most well known dance competitions. Tara was artistic director of the Dance Theatre of Fayetteville’s Nutcracker performance for 2 years in 1992-93. Although classically ballet trained, Tara chose to pursue dance in the competitive angle by collaborating different dance styles such as jazz and lyrical.

Through the years Tara has trained with such notable choreographers such as Mia Michaels (So You Think You Can Dance), Dee Caspary (Toured with Janet Jackson and Omarion), Dan Karaty (So You Think You Can Dance) and many others.

The following is Tara’s students’ accomplishments from 2000-2006:

• University of Charlotte (dance scholarship)
• North Carolina School of the Arts
• Jeoffrey Ballet New York City
• Point Park College (dance scholarship)
• University of the Arts, Pittsburg, PA (dance scholarship)
• Virginia Tech. (dance scholarship)
• EDGE in LA
• ECU dance team
• Savannah Ballet
• Miss Pembroke 2005
• Methodist College, Fayetteville, NC dance team and dance scholarship
• Charlotte Bobcats dance team
• Miss Fayetteville State University 2006

Student's Accomplishments

Kirsten Jarrell - Peace College Dance Scholarship
Deja Lewis - West Coast Dance Explosion Scholarship Winner
Deja Lewis - American Dance Projekt Scholarship Winner
Lexy Thornsberry - American Dance Projekt Scholarship Winner
Deja Lewis - South Carolina Ballet Conservatory
Meredith Brady - Atlanta Ballet Summer Intensive
Alex Hairston - Triple Arts Summer Intensive
Katelyn Combranchi - North Carolina School of the Arts Summer Intensive
Alex Hairston - North Carolina School of the Arts (Drama)