Tara has collaborated with performers and visual artists to create original works. She has worked with artists of Indian, Brazilian, Japanese, Greek, Balinese, Nepalese and American traditions. Tara has enjoyed projects which involve choreographing and performing contemporary pieces with both folk and classical artists.

Chitra

Photo: Portia Brockway

"CHITRA" is a fully-staged dance opera based on an episode from the Hindu epic The Mahabharata, as interpreted by the Indian writer Rabindranath Tagore. It is the story of the daughter of the king of Manipur who is brought up as a boy, and who falls in love with the demi-god Arjuna. The standard Boston Musica Viva ensemble of flute, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin and cello was combined with the work of Indian classical dancer Tara Ahmed (Chitra), Balinese singer/dancer/puppeteer I Nyoman Catra (Arjuna), soprano Elizabeth Keusch, (Sutradar) and tabla virtuoso Samir Chatterjee. Chitra draws on Indian ragas, tabla drumming, and dance rhythms of India, as well as Balinese vocal styles.

Chitra

Photo: Portia Brockway

"Chitra" originated when BMV conductor Richard Pittman saw a Shirish Korde opera, Rasa, in which Tara danced a role alongside actors and classical European/American singers. BMV commissioned Mr. Korde to write a piece featuring Tara in a unique collaboration. This work premiered in 2000 to sold-out audiences, and was presented in 2003 by the FleetBoston Celebrity Series.

Chitra

Photo: John Buckingham