Trumbull Performing Dance Academy
Trumbull Performing Dance Academy offers a warm and welcoming environment for dancers from all backgrounds. Our school offers a timeless curriculum across a variety of dance disciplines. And for those dancers that want to go the extra distance: we offer our talented and award-winning Competition program.
Since the school’s founding, Trumbull Performing Dance Academy has catered to many different families and students. We pride ourselves on the diversity of those within our walls, and we’re happy to offer a little bit of everything.
More than anything, Trumbull Performing Dance Academy that the performing arts are as much a sport as soccer, football, or basketball. As such, our teachers are committed to teaching technique that guarantees results and protects the dancers from personal injury. We use the Twinkle Star Dance™ method to further standardize our instruction so that all young dancers are getting the same technique-focused excellent instruction.
Miss Lara
Director and Founder
Miss Lara is a dance educator, choreographer, and director with a deep commitment to classical training and the artistry of performance. She believes the strongest teaching is supported by continuous study—staying in the classroom keeps her inspired, challenged, and ready to bring fresh, informed coaching to every dancer she teaches.
Since 2016, she has been an active part of the New York City open-class community, training alongside dedicated dancers and working professionals. She continues to train regularly in NYC and locally, maintaining a consistent ballet practice while running her studio. In recent years, her schedule has been especially rigorous, frequently attending multiple classical ballet classes each week in the city.
In 2001, Miss Lara revitalized a dormant dance program at Sterling House and grew it into a thriving community of dancers. That work became the foundation for what would eventually expand into her own school.
Miss Lara has choreographed and produced The Nutcracker ballet and has also performed in The Nutcracker for many years—experience that continues to shape her approach to coaching, musicality, stage presence, and classical style.
Committed to continued learning and excellence in teaching, Miss Lara regularly participates in teacher workshops, conventions, and professional development, including Dance Teacher Summit, Rhee Gold events, Dance Teacher Web, and Broadway Dance Center teacher training opportunities.
Her greatest joy is watching students blossom: building strong technique, confidence, musicality, and pride in their progress. She is proud of the accomplishments her students and school have earned over the years—onstage, in competition, and in the meaningful paths they pursue beyond the studio
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Miss Brooke
Teacher
Brooke comes to TPDA with a wealth of knowledge of dance and the performing arts. Having started dance at age 3 and theater at 7 she has experience in all different facets of the performing arts. She recently was the Music Teacher at St.Mary St. Michael School and was on scholarship at LIU working towards a BFA in Theatre. She’s very excited to join the TPDA family!
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Miss Becca
Teacher and Competition Coach
TPDA alumnae Becca Picone is a recent graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, having received her Bachelor’s degree in dance education. Becca’s work coaching competition students has netted her several first place awards in choreography categories. We’re excited that Miss Becca will be choreographing again for both our competition dancers—our minis, and petites. Becca also teaches a technique class at Sacred Heart University.
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Miss Morgan
Teacher
Miss Morgan was born and raised in Monroe, CT where she started dancing when she was three years old. Morgan started her studies in dance at CT Dance of Monroe. She furthered her dance education at The Regional Center for the Arts in Trumbull, CT, and at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY. Morgan is a graduate from Manhattanville College with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance.
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Miss Pam
Teacher
Miss Pam first started dancing at the age of three at Andrea Smith Stratford’s dance studio. She studied tap, ballet, jazz, Irish Step (hard shoe and soft shoe), pointe, hip hop, and modern dance. Miss Pam continued her dance education at Dean College, where she performed in the college's company throughout her school years. There she worked with with Laura Young and Jeremy Howes in Pointe and Jean Wenzel, Todd Shanks, and Charles Holbrook in tap; she also worked with Gregory King on the Horton Technique, Rose Pasquarello Beauchamp in contemporary, Jill Silverman in ballet, and Ricardo Foster in hip hop. Pamela has also studied ballroom dancing, both smooth and rhythm. She is now a company member of Aries In Flight jazz dance Company performing and rehearsing in New York City.