"...Ahmed was a captivating presence..."
Richard Dyer, Boston Globe
"...truly one of the best pre-show talks we have had..."
David Henry, Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
"...a stunning performance, in appearance, lecture, dance and overall knowledge."
Diane Hoffman, Director of Member Services, Orchard Cove Senior Life, Canton
Tara is a classical Indian dancer and choreographer accomplished in the techniques of Kuchipudi and Bharat Natyam. She has performed and given dance/lecture demonstrations in schools, museums, and cultural institutions in Brazil, Colombia, India, Turkey, and the U.S.
Tara has collaborated with artists across disciplines and has performed the title role in a Bank of America Celebrity Series production. Her television appearances include WGBH's DanceFest and Greater Boston Arts. Tara founded and directed Lasandhi Dance Theater, which performed throughout New England, including Jacob's Pillow.
Tara studied classical Indian dance with Neena Gulati at the Triveni School of Dance in Brookline (where she subsequently taught for 15 years), and with Anuradha Jonnalagadda in Hyderabad, India. She also studied West African dance in Senegal, and completed an apprenticeship in Japanese drumming with Odaiko New England, and subsequently performed with them for five years.
Tara studied Modern Dance at Harvard and received a cum laude Bachelor's Degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has worked in arts administration at the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and in Early Childhood Education with the Cambridge Public Schools.
Tara is currently working as a Teaching Artist for the Boch Center, Boston (creating and leading "Interactive Stories" programs), and the American Repertory Theater, Cambridge (co-teaching "Life of Pi" puppetry workshops). She is also performing in Japanese drumming lecture/demonstrations with Odaiko New England.
Photo by Channing Johnson