My Story
TPAC - Who Are We...
The purpose of the After-School Performing Arts Program is to provide an opportunity for youth in grades 6-12 to grow in their specific area of performing arts through organized instruction.
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TPAC joins the Indianapolis Philharmonic Orchestra in Concert - Sunday, February 16, 2020
Performance Time: 3:00 p.m. Pike Performing Arts Center 5401 W 71st St, Indianapolis, IN 46268
Our motto: God has given me a great gift, and I will be thankful by learning…
C. Williams
OUR TEAM
Dr. Robert T. Townsend
Founder/Artistic Director
Robert T. Townsend is a professor in the School of Educational Leadership at Indiana Wesleyan University. He is also a musician and composer/arranger. Dr. Townsend’s duties include teaching, mentoring and supervising pre-service teachers in education and graduate students. His teaching credentials are from Western Michigan University where he majored in music and received the Michigan All Grade license in music and all subjects’ endorsement for grades 7 and 8. After moving to the Indianapolis area, he attended Indiana University-Bloomington and completed the Master of Music Education degree.
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Karome Vanessa Walker
Dance Facilitator
Karome Walker began her dance and choreography training at Concord High School, Charleston, SC. Throughout her years of choreographing, traveling, and competing with the dance team association she discovered her passion for dance.
Ms. Walker completed her Bachelors of Science degree in Dance Performance and Family Consumer Science. Her high levels of dance training consist of styles in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, hip-hop, liturgical, contemporary and lyrical. During her college years she performed in over 15 Ball State Dance Theatre productions, choreographed over 25 dance masterpieces and created 12 of her own productions and was voted Best Dancer by her peers.
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Jefri Payne
The Instrumental Facilitator
Jefri Payne is the Director of Bands and Orchestras at Winding Ridge School of Inquiry and Performing Arts in the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township in Indianapolis, IN. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Indiana University in 1993. He has successfully music in urban and suburban public schools since 1994. Jefri is also an accomplished smooth jazz trumpet player and recording artist. His music videos can be seen on YouTube. He performs regularly locally and nationally. Education:
Bachelor of Music Education
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
1993
Work Experience:
Director of Bands and Orchestras
Winding Ridge School of Inquiry and Performing Arts
MSD Lawrence Township
2010 - Present
Caran Harris
Drama Facilitator
Caran Harris began her performance career as a child with Iibada Dance Company. Once she went to high school, she joined show choir and drama club where she became a member of the International Thespian’s Society. Never really comfortable with being in the spotlight she finally surrendered to her calling of performance, attending Long Island University for theatre.
Ms. Harris completed her Bachelors of Arts degree in Speech and Theatre with a minor in Dance. Caran studied different acting styles that consisted of Stanislavski's method, Method acting and Chekhov. Along with acting Caran was able to study movement and voice which is an integral part of acting. Her dance studies not only include training from LIU’s dance department but also training at the Ailey School. Her dance experience includes ballet, jazz, Afro- Caribbean, modern, hip-hop, liturgical and contemporary.
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WHAT OTHERS SAY
“I enjoy hanging out with people who love the arts and having a good time…”
TPAC Student
TPAC Student
“TPAC is what our community has been waiting for…“
TPAC Parent
TPAC Parent
“We must embrace and value what the performing arts adds in one’s life...we want to enhance individuals’ lives so that they will positively impact their neighbors, communities and the world.”
School Administrator
School Administrator
There is so many things I appreciate TPAC for...most importantly, I appreciate TPAC for allowing me to freely express myself and for giving me a platform to use my gifts that God gave me
Former TPAC Student (Recent college grad)
Former TPAC Student (Recent college grad)
My son lives to dance, he works to dance....there are so many kids in our community who are talent but TPAC develops their talents...I think TPAC is what our community has been waiting for...we been hungry for someone as passionate as the Townsends who really want to feed into kids that are not athletic...kids that maybe scholars or have gifts of other kinds but they have a particular gift for the arts. We have been waiting for someone like them to develop and work with our students.
TPAC Parent
TPAC Parent
Our Partners
