Learn with the BEST at TADA!

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Ms. Sarah has been teaching and choreographing dance for over twenty years. She graduated from Florida State University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education . Starting at the age of 4, Sarah began taking dance classes and immediately found one of her passions. She began taking piano lessons at the age of 10 which furthered her love for music and the arts. Upon graduating from college, Sarah taught pre-k, kindergarten, first grade and Title 1 and she found another passion in life… working with children. In 2001, Sarah was elected Teacher of The Year in Gadsden County. 

Today, Sarah is doing what she loves most, teaching children the art of dance and music. She specializes in pre-ballet, ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, flag twirling and Irish step dancing.  In 2015, Sarah organized TADA's first professional irish step dancing company, Capital Celtic Dancers.  In 2021 Sarah opened TADA Performing Arts Preschool.  Her love of being in the classroom, teaching dance and teaching music has now come full circle at TADA.

Mrs. Nancy was born and raised in Tallahassee.  She earned a bachelors degree in Psychology from Florida State University, a masters degree in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University and is now a practicing Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Play Therapist here in Tallahassee.

As a young teen, Mrs. Nancy joined the Dance Studio here in Tallahssee, taking ballet, tap, jazz and pointe through her junior year in college.  After college, dance continued to be a major part of her life, falling in love with partner dancing such as the West Coast Swing and Two-Step.  In 2015, her daughter joined TADA and she quickly fell in love with Irish Dance, joining the Adult irish Class in 2016 and then becoming a member of the Capital Celtic Dancers in 2019. 

Today, Nancy teaches ballet, tap, irish step dancing and our 1st-3rd grade performance company.  She also teaches piano lessons and serves as our TADA Preschool Director.

Angel earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Minnesota in 2020, where she studied with Sally O’Reilly. She then ventured to Florida State University to study with Dr. Benjamin Sung. She completed her Masters in Violin Performance in 2022, and is now pursuing her Doctorate. Angel enjoys performing and advocating for new music. Through her doctoral studies, her research will explore the strategies and resources for teaching beginner students. She also frequently participates in pedagogical workshops and trainings to expand her teaching approaches. Since 2021, Angel has been teaching private lessons in violin and piano at TADA. She also teaches violin and piano to the preschoolers aged 3-5 at TADA’s Performing Arts Preschool. 

Angel is the President of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) Chapter at FSU. Under her leadership, the chapter was awarded Most Outstanding Student Chapter at the 2023 National Conference. ASTA National also awarded Angel the Student Exemplary Service Award. Angel is passionate about providing comprehensive music education with a compassionate and flexible approach. Her mission is to make a positive impact and help others discover the best versions of themselves through the joys of music and all that it has to offer. 

Miss Emily graduated from Florida State University School in 2019 and is currently attending FSU pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice.  She began dancing at the age of three and has continued throughout her life.  During high school she performed in several musicals as Sandy in Grease, Fiona in Shrek and Madame Darque in Beauty and the Beast.  Her love of performing is evident every time she takes the stage.  She currently serves as an afternoon teacher in our TADA Preschool and teaches the high school performance company.

Keara is a violinist and violist currently pursuing a Bachelor of Instrumental Music Education at Florida State University. Keara  has been an adjudicator for the North Florida String Festival since 2023. She has served as the principal violist of the Florida State University Philharmonia for the 2022-2023 season. Keara has also served as concertmaster for the Florida State University Sinfonia in the Spring of 2023. She is currently the secretary for the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) at FSU. Keara frequently participates in workshops, conferences and other trainings to be a well-rounded and knowledgeable teacher. Her mission is to create a positive environment that encourages personal growth through creativity and artistry.

Ashley began her journey in the performing arts at the age of 3 when she became a dancer for the Milsapp Dance Company in Marianna, FL. This led to her love for the stage and peaked an interest in musical theater. As a high schooler, Ashley went on to perform and compete in state choral competitions, where she sang for Troy University and the Florida Allstate Choir. During this time, she taught herself piano and began composing her own pieces. Still in high school, she began performing in various Chipola College Show Choir Productions. In college, Ashley was enrolled in the Business program with the goal to one day help operate a dance and arts studio. She acted, sang, and danced for many Chipola College productions during this time as well. While in college, Ashley found she had a passion for teaching, as she won a state and national title in a collegiate teaching competition. She graduated from Chipola College in 2022 with her Bachelor’s of Business Management and is currently a kindergarten teacher for a performing arts elementary school. Ashley has performed for various venues, such as weddings, teas, restaurants, and churches. She has institutional training as well as real world experience performing piano and voice. To this day, she still composes music and hopes to share her love for the arts with future generations.

Christopher Mrofchak is a classical guitarist and educator living in Tallahassee, Florida. He currently directs the guitar program at Wakulla High School and maintains a teaching studio at Timberlane Arts and Dance Academy. His students have performed throughout the North Florida community at events such as the FMEA Guitar Ensemble Festival, North Florida String Festival, and Florida Guitar Festival.

In 2021, he earned a Doctorate of Music from Florida State University, where he was a teaching assistant to world renowned guitar pedagogue Bruce Holzman. His treatise focuses on the music of Brazilian composer and virtuoso guitarist Sérgio Assad, serving as a valuable resource for those studying Assad's works. In addition to his academic achievements, Mrofchak has been active as a performer, earning awards in several guitar competitions, including the Indiana International Guitar Competition and the University of Louisville Guitar Competition. In 2019, Christopher was invited as one of fifteen guitarists worldwide to compete in the Parkening International Guitar Competition. Mrofchak also concertizes as part of the Fowler Mrofchak Guitar Duo, regularly touring the Midwestern and Southern United States with his former teacher François Fowler.

Mrofchak’s formal music education began under the direction of Dr. Fowler at the Dana School of Music of Youngstown State University. While at YSU, Christopher worked with various chamber groups, including the Early Music Ensemble, Dana Guitar Quartet, and Dana Gypsy Jazz Ensemble. Mrofchak also received awards at YSU, including 2nd prize at the James Stroud All-Ohio guitar competition.

Christopher had his first guitar lessons with his father, who instilled in him a dedication to and love of music. He grew up in Northeast Ohio, and when he isn’t playing guitar, he enjoys brewing pour over coffee and spending time outdoors hiking and kayaking. Christopher performs on instruments built by several luthiers, including Glenn Canin, Rafael Granados, and Timothy Steis.

Ms. Cinda is in her eighth year of caring for Tallahassee's little ones.  She's rocked and loved on infants, helping them take their first steps and say their first words.  She's read stories to toddlers and sang songs to them peaking their love of learning and she now works with all ages at TADA preschool.  Cinda also enjoys spending time with her family and rooting on the FSU Seminoles.

Natalie was briefly introduced to Irish dance in England at the age of nine. Two years later, in 2005, her passion was rekindled when she started taking a beginner Irish dance class at Killearn Performing Arts in Tallahassee. Natalie danced with Killearn Performing Arts and The Tallahassee Irish Step Dancers for many years, and, in 2016, became one of the founding members of Capital Celtic Dancers at Timberlane Arts and Dance Academy. Natalie continues her love of Irish dance at TADA as a performer with Capital Celtic Dancers, Irish dance teacher, and choreographer. Natalie also has a bachelor’s degree in Humanities.

Tiffany Vaughn is a classical guitarist based in Tallahassee, Florida. She has been teaching music to students in and around the Big Bend for the past 10 years. Vaughn began her study of the guitar at age 12 with Tallahassee guitar education luminary David Hoge. She then went on to study with Ed Prasse at Leon High School where she was a two-time participant in the FMEA All-State Guitar Ensemble, the president of the premiere Leon High guitar ensemble, Frets, and completed a major international guitar education project, Frets in the Philippines. All of these achievements and contributions to the guitar led Vaughn to be selected as one of the Best & Brightest students in Leon County. Vaughn then earned a spot at Florida State University studying the classical guitar with world renowned pedagogue Bruce Holzman. During her time at FSU, Vaughn was a finalist in the Southern Guitar Festival Ensemble Competition as a member of Duo Nox with fellow guitarist Brandon Dinh. With her former teacher, David Hoge, she aided in the development of a virtual high school guitar education course that is now used across the United States. She was also a member of several student organizations and held positions including President of The Classical Guitar Society at FSU and Assistant Production Manager of Club Downunder. Tiffany has performed extensively in the local Tallahassee music scene with several groups, and completed a six-state tour of the southeastern U.S. with her rock group Camp Green Lake.  Vaughn’s current work as a guitarist has her leading one of the most extensive and successful studios in Tallahassee at Timberlane Arts and Dance Academy.