T
ara Faulkner-Catalina is the Director at Vertical Freedom, as well as the Artistic Director at Jo-Ann’s Dance Studio. At Vertical Freedom, Tara teaches Pole Fitness, Pole-Ates, Flexibility, Vertical Barre, Aerial Yoga, Bungee Fitness, Lyra, and is a certified POUND instructor. At Jo-Ann’s Dance Studio, she teaches ballet, pointe, jazz, and moderne dance. She is also the Director for the ballet, moderne, and jazz productions. Tara has been teaching at the dance studio for over 30 years.
She was the director of the “Dance and Movement” program at The Center School in Somerset, where she tailored a program to teach students with special needs. In addition, Tara was the school’s choreographer for 11 of their spring musicals.
Tara is currently the Advisor for the Watchung Hills Regional High School’s Dance Ensemble, and is also the Choreographer for the spring musicals. She has been at WHRHS since 2018.
She began her journey into the “Aerial Arts” 9 years ago, and fell in love with all things aerial. Tara is a certified Pilates Mat and Pilates Reformer instructor, and is also certified in Barre and Flexibility classes, as well as Aerial Yoga, Lyra and Pole. She was a Group Training Instructor at Jersey Strong Gym in Edison, NJ, from 2012-2020, and she holds several Mossa certifications for classes such as Group Active, Group Centergy, and Group Power.