Tara Palen studied ballet from age 3, was trained under Maria Jones, Wilhelm Berman, and with the Joffrey Ballet Company on scholarship. She then moved into musical theatre and acting, touring and performing across the tri-state area. Tara received a BA in Arts Management with a minor in Dance and a Masters Certification in Non-Profit Management, in addition to studying with the ABT Teacher Training Program. Tara became a Dance Habilitation Specialist and taught for 7 years in a Theatre Day Habilitation school for young adults with developmental disabilities, home of the nationally known FREE Players Troop, directing and choreographing full scale musical performances twice a year. In addition, Tara taught hundreds of kids and teens in theatre and dance programs across Long Island with the Broadhollow Theatre Company and O’Neill Theatrical Productions for over 10 years. Since moving to the Adirondacks in 2014, Tara worked for the Pendragon Theatre before joining the Arts Center in 2018.