The “Work”
Tara Jeanne’s work was most recently seen onstage in The Producers at the Olney Theatre Center, where she is an Artistic Associate. Her choreography for The King and I at the Olney received a nomination for a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Choreography. Her work for that show, as well as The Little Mermaid was voted among the Best of DC Choreography 2013 by Metro Theatre Arts. Other regional work includes Annie (TUTS, Houston), Triumph of Love (OTC), and Annie (OTC), the latter of which was also nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Best Resident Musical.
Tara Jeanne’s choreography was seen on Broadway in Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy, which also had a successful National Tour. She choreographed the Off-Broadway production of The Sphinx Winx at the Algonquin Theatre and Theatre Row (NYC), She Can’t Believe She Said That (NYMTF ’08), They’re Playing Our Song (Surflight,NJ), and Christmas Dreams (Branson, MO), and her work was chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a featured choreographer in DanceBreak 2010.
Her live event choreography includes work for Qwest Communications and FCS. Ms. Vallee is proud to have served as Choreographer for the NFAA/youngArts programs in NYC, for Breakthrough (Ziegfeld, NYC) and Body and Soul (37 Arts, NYC).
As Associate/Assistant: Camelot (Olney Theatre Center), 42nd Street (Goodspeed), Singin in the Rain (Goodspeed), The Music Man (National Tour), White Christmas (The Denver Center), The View: Welcome Back, Barbara (ABC).
As a performer, Tara Jeanne is a Two Time World Tap Champion-Top Female Soloist, served as Dance Captain on the National Tours of The Music Man and My Fair Lady, as well as Singin in the Rain and 42nd Street at the Goodspeed Opera House, and performed in White Christmas (Denver Ctr), the National Tour of Footloose and The Music Man at North Carolina Theatre.
The Dream
Originally from Rochester, NY, I grew up choreographing “When I’m 64” in my basement...and showing it to every unfortunate visitor who dared stay long enough! My career may have been short lived had it not been for that very audience and my sisters, who became my first “ensemble”. (One went on to be a Rockette and danced in some of my shows!) I always liked to dance and perform, but I was most passionate about the creation and artistry of choreography.
I went to college for Television Broadcasting and did a lot of the community choreography, but left school early because I knew I wanted to choreograph on a larger scale, and the only way to do that would be to perform on one. I decided I would bus in to NYC from Rochester once a month for a year, do some auditions, and if nothing happened in a year, I would re-assess. My third audition, I landed the National Tour of Footloose!
I loved performing, but happily, my plan worked (!!) and I found my way back to my first love-choreography. Through the years, I discovered a real joy in telling a story through the movement, informing and affecting an audience, and working in collaboration with my colleagues and fellow artists. Often asked “What is your style?”, I have found it’s a difficult question for me to answer. I love the traditional methods of heightening the movementaround us, like my idol Michael Kidd. I love storytelling. I love stepping outside my comfort zone. I love tap. I love collaboration. I embrace it all, and want my “style” to evolve with every production I choreograph.
I feel blessed to have been inspired by dancers, by my former teachers and by the mentors and choreographic inspirations that surround me every day in this beautiful city. I would like to thank all the visitors to my childhood house for your applause and encouragement, my sisters for allowing me to boss you around, ALL my dance teachers but especially my teacher Matthew Clark, my parents, my husband Matthew who inspires me every day, and Aidan, my beautiful son who rolls with my crazy schedule!