ABOUT US | Meet the TT Team
Ellen G. Waller
Founder & Coach
Education:
Masters of Science, Exercise Science
Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL
Bachelors of Science, Irish Dance Education
Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
CLICK HERE to read more about Ellen's undergraduate degree in Irish Dance Ed.
Certifications:
NASM - Certified Personal Trainer
NASM - Performance Enhancement Specialist
TCRG (2005)
CPR-AED
Youth Mental Health First Aid
VIRTUS
Memberships:
International Association of Dance Medicine and Science
National Academy of Sports Medicine
MEET ELLEN
Long time competitive and professional Irish dancer and instructor, Ellen G. Waller, has dedicated her life to Irish dance. Her talent as a dancer has lead her to perform for thousands across the world and her passion as an Irish dance instructor has influenced innumerable young dancers.
As a young dancer, Ellen recognized the unique physical and mental challenges encountered by elite dancers and athletes. Determined to learn more about supporting young dancers and athletes, she returned to school to complete her Masters of Science in Exercise Science.
Coupling her in-depth experience as an Irish dancer/instructor with her expansive knowledge of kinesiology, Ellen developed the innovative Target Training program; a series of courses and training methods that condition the specific muscles Irish dancers need to
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improve technique;
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reduce the risk injuries;
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overcome physical and mental challenges;
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perform and compete at an elite level.
Learn more about how Ellen got started HERE
Learn more about Ellen's undergraduate degree in Irish Dance Education HERE
Samara Perkinson
Content and Digital Strategy Manager
Education:
Bachelors of Science, Marketing and Finance
University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
Certifications:
Google Ad Search Certification
Google Analytics for Beginners Certification
Veeva ProMats
Dare to Lead trained
MEET SAMARA
Samara’s love for Irish dance runs deep. She started dancing at age four with Trinity Academy of Irish Dance, traveling the world and experiencing the sport at its highest levels. But what she loved most was mentoring younger dancers. She began teaching with Trinity in high school and later returned after college, continuing to share her passion for the sport and its next generation.
In college, Samara discovered a new passion—marketing. While working for Flyer Enterprises, a student-run business, she gained hands-on experience in social media and digital strategy. She loved the challenge of creating impactful campaigns, analyzing results, and refining strategies for success. Most of all, she enjoyed collaborating with fellow students and seeing their work make a real impact.
After earning a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Dayton, majoring in Marketing and Finance, Samara launched her career in marketing. She now works full-time as the Global Imaging Campaign Manager at GE HealthCare, where she focuses on campaign strategy, execution, and data analysis.
Samara is fascinated by the power of marketing—how trends take off, how people engage with content, and how messaging influences decisions in ways we don’t always realize. Outside of work, she loves spending time with family and friends, cheering on the Cubs, taking group fitness classes, and exploring Chicago’s food scene.
Ella Pomplun
TT Coach
Education:
Doctorate in Physical Therapy
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Bachelors of Science, Exercise & Movement Science
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Certifications:
Certified Personal Trainer - NASM
CPR-BLS for Healthcare Providers
Memberships:
American Physical Therapy Association
National Academy of Sports Medicine
MEET ELLA
Ella began Irish dancing at the age of eight and her passion for dance comes through in every aspect of her life. As a young dancer, she became interested in how cross training could be used to improve dance skills and prevent injuries and grew intent on building a career out of this idea. She began working for Target Training in 2018 as the Special Projects Intern and is now one of TT's Coaches. She currently works as a licensed physical therapist at Velocity Physiotherapy in Seattle, Washington. Her favorite aspect of being a physical therapist is helping athletes get back to doing the sports they love even stronger than they were before their injury.
Savannah Robinson
Mental Performance Coach & Administrative and Communication Specialist
Education:
Master of Science, Sport and Exercise Psychology (in progress)
California State University, Long Beach, CA
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA
Certifications:
Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) (in progress)
Memberships:
Association for Applied Sport Psychology
MEET SAVANNAH
Savannah discovered her passion for Irish dance at age seven and has been dedicated ever since. A multiple-time World Championship competitor in solo and a World Champion in teams with Cleary Irish Dance, she combines her experience as a high-level dancer with her expertise in sport psychology to help athletes optimize their performance.
Throughout her academic journey, Savannah has been an assistant in multiple research labs, exploring topics such as self-actualization, happiness, perfectionism, personality, and the effectiveness of academic programs. Her thesis examines the role of mental toughness in optimizing performance for elite dancers. This research has led to presentations at the Western Psychological Association’s annual conference and the Lowell Overton Undergraduate Research Symposium.
With her deep understanding of mental health’s impact on athletic performance, Savannah is committed to helping dancers at Target Training reach their full potential—both physically and mentally.
