By Vy Nguyen and Tessa Nacke
With smiles illuminating the stage, exuding bursts of excitement from cheerleaders, and straight legs and pointed feet soaring through their sky to land perfect leaps and synchronized tumbling, Tara Bearden smiles proudly at her girls.
At Fountain Valley High School (FVHS), Bearden has felt the rewarding benefits of being an astounding former dance team coach, head director of the Barons’ Pep Squad and Physical Education teacher for over a decade. This comes at no surprise that she’s led FVHS’ award-winning cheer and song team into national victories over the years, as Bearden herself has been dancing for her whole life.
“I started student teaching [at FVHS] in 2014… I [was hired] in 2015,” Bearden said. “But I started coaching in 2009.”
Bearden sparked her love for dance when she was a toddler, training as a competitive jazz dancer. With years of studio experience, dance competitions, and more dance costumes than you can imagine, Bearden’s hard work paid off when she was offered the competitive role of being a dancer for the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Right out of high school I made the Los Angeles Clippers dance team. So at 18 years old, [I] graduated in June and [I started] in July. Once you become professional in any sport, you can’t go back,” Bearden said.
As a Laker Girl since 18 years old, Bearden performed at Laker games and events in dance and cheerleading routines, all while keeping up with her studies at college. Aside from knowing how to wow a crowd, Bearden also loved the behind-the-scenes work that goes into each dance performance.
Bearden later became a professional choreographer and produced a variety of dances, from upbeat choreography perfect for the Laker Girls and former Chargers Girls, to unique and dynamic movements for music videos.
In 2009, she expanded her passion for her craft when she joined FVHS as a dance coach.
“I was the dance coach here for many years. I was getting my credential in Criminal Justice at the time, and I had a job lined up with the LAPD Air Division. Once I was done with school, I said ‘I think I’m supposed to still be with teenagers and work with teenagers,’” Bearden said.
Gradually, she also became a full-time teacher in PE, paving FVHS history with the first ever Dance PE class, a fun-filled class that trains aspiring dancers in a wide variety of styles.
“[Coaching] came natural to me. In high school, I was teaching the younger kids at my studio. It’s a natural progression as you get older,” Bearden said. “I’ve always had a team that I’ve been coaching.”
Since being hired in 2015, Bearden has always been an inspiration to anyone she has coached. She has touched so many lives with her steadfast dependability and infectious laugh.
“You kids always add to the experience of [coaching],” Bearden said.
Since Bearden has choreographed an insane amount of routines, she’s got to have a few favorites.
“[My favorite] was a routine that was called Beetlejuice. And it was a production number. Those are…eight minute dances and I basically replicated the movie, and I’ll never forget it. I’ll never forget all of the people that we had and what it took to make…It was just so fun,” Bearden said.
But, after a decade serving as a Pep Squad advisor, Bearden has decided to step down, as she knew it was time for a change.
“It’s a loaded question. It has nothing to do with the kids and the job itself. [There is] a lot that goes into coaching, especially in public school. There’s a lot behind the scenes that you [don’t know about]…Fighting the good fight is hard, and it gets trying and it just got to me this year,” Bearden said.
Since stepping down, Bearden still plans to be an integral part of FVHS. She already advises the Martial Arts Club and is even looking forward to seeing what new opportunities the new flag football program brings.
Even so, Bearden will still miss coaching.
“It seems so small, but [I will miss] when my kids come in here and talk to me…My relationships with my students are the thing I’ll miss the most is my favorite part…That’s my favorite part about coaching,” Bearden said.
