Tara Ghassemieh

Tara Ghassemieh

Tara Ghassemieh is a Persian-American artist, dance advocate, educator and entrepreneur. Her work is informed by her Iranian roots and diverse experience in the performing and visual arts. She interlaces her talents in performing, creating dance for film and stage, and teaching through INTUITV ARTSHIP, a production company and foundation she co-founded and heads.

Compelled by a belief in dance as a statement of freedom, a birthright, and an essential form of human expression, Ghassemieh tells stories that celebrate Iranian identity and inspire others to dance. The recent release of Persian Swan marked her film directorial debut. The short film introduces her upcoming feature film about the untold story of the Iranian National Ballet.

INTUITV ARTSHIP’s inaugural stage production, The White Feather: a Persian ballet tale premieres at the Irvine Barclay Theatre March 22, 2023.

Ghassemieh began her professional ballet career performing in American Ballet Theater's productions of Le Corsaire. She danced in other productions at the while studying at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of American Ballet.

Ghassemieh's professional principal dancer roles include the world premiere of The Gatekeepers choreographed by Andrea Schermoly, Black Swan Pas de Deux, George Balanchine's Valse Fantaisie, Nutcracker, Le Corsaire, and White Swan Pas de Deux. She co-choreographed Scheherazade pas de deux, performing at the Barclay Theater and the Segerstrom Music Hall at the 30th Annual International Gala of the Stars. She has performed notable soloist roles: Princess in Firebird, Mirtha in Giselle alongside Gillian Murphy and Cory Stearns, Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, and Mercedes in Don Quixote alongside Marcelo Gomes.

Other featured performances and collaborations include lead dancer in Florence and the Machine music video Spectrum, directed by David Lachapelle; award-winning British composer Oliver Davis' film Narcissus and Echo for his debut album SOLACE, and off Broadway productions.

Her acting credits include The Rescuers by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Michael King and lead ballet dancer in the Walt Disney film Step Up directed by Anne Fletcher among others.

Tara Ghassemieh lives in Southern California with her husband and three children.
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