The Royal City of Irish Dance

INSTRUCTOR BIOS

Tara Tarzwell - Owner and Director

Tara Tarzwell (nee Snowball) was born in Guelph, Ontario on December 11, 1980. She was raised in Erin, Ontario with her 3 siblings. Tara fell in love with Irish Dance in 1997. She began dancing in an adult class and progressed to dance recreationally and competitively for Celtic Academy Scoil Rince O'Foghlu. She competed from Beginner to Preliminary Championship levels between 2001 and 2003. In one of her final feis's, she received her first 1st place in Preliminary and received a perpetual trophy in honor of Frank Hogan. Tara competed in the Eastern Canadian Championships (Oireactas) in 2001 and 2002, the Worlds in Ireland (2003), and qualified in 2002 for the Nationals in 2003. In February of 2004, Tara, a graduate of the Social Service Worker Program at Sheridan College opened the Royal City Academy of Irish Dance with the help of her family and friends. Tara is married and has two sons, Aidan and Ethan. 

Heather McCready Hertel - Instructor

Heather began dancing at the age of 8 in Pickering, Ontario.  She danced with the O’Donnell school and then with the Gregoire School of Irish Dancing.  Heather competed at the Open Championship level, at the Eastern Canadian Oireachtas, North American Nationals and the All Ireland Championships.  Her dream came true when she landed a role in “Dancing on Common Ground” – an Irish Dance troupe that toured 60 cities in the US and Canada.  The next year, Heather started University, where she achieved a BComm degree in Marketing, and started power cheerleading for the University of Guelph, and later became part of the Toronto Argonauts Cheerleading team for 3 years.  She has recently moved to Guelph and is excited to be part of the Royal city Academy of Irish Dance and continue with her love for Irish Dancing. 

Krissy Plesa - Instructor