About Spotlight Performing Arts
Spotlight Performing Arts was founded with one purpose - to build a space for all students to grow, learn and create with each passing day. Through a unique teaching approach and a truly passionate staff, we help students develop academically and personally to the highest level.
We invite you to explore our site and discover the academics and community Spotlight Performing Arts provides to each and every student. Get in touch with us today to schedule a tour, learn more about enrollment, or ask any other questions.
School Founder and Director
Tara O'Connor
Our studio was founded by Tara O'Connor.
Tara is our studio director and has a wonderful team of teachers and camp leaders working with Spotlight through the year.
With a passion for the stage that ignited at the tender age of 6, Tara's journey into the world of dramatic arts began and flourished through her years at Cork Arts Studio and The Gaiety School of Acting.​Her dedication and talent were recognised when she received the highest mark in Europe for her Dramatic Solo Performance from the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. As fate would have it, Tara was also invited to Los Angeles by I.M.T.A, where she enjoyed the vibrant performing industry in America.​Continuing her pursuit of excellence,
Tara honed her skills and earned a First Class Honours BA degree in Drama and Theatre Studies from Cork's own MTU, School of Music. Her extensive training covered various aspects of the performing arts, including acting, dance, theatre history, musical theatre, drama therapy, performance, lights, sound, and community Theatre.
​Ever passionate about her craft, in 2019, Tara sought to broaden her horizons further by training with international choreographers at The Playground Dance Studios in Los Angeles, California.
Even amidst the challenges of the Irish lockdowns in 2020, Tara used the time productively, completing a Special Needs Assistant diploma, an online Wellness for kids course, and updating her first aid training, among other achievements.​Currently,
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Tara is actively engaged with various drama and dance education projects at both Primary and Secondary levels.​
The passion, expertise, and commitment from Tara and her team has been woven into the very fabric of our educational approach.
Join us as we explore the wonders of dramatic arts and embrace the transformative power of theatre under the guidance of our studio ethos
