Tara Nicole Hughes has worked for 26 years with "Uber brilliant" director/choreographer, Rob Marshall on some of the biggest contemporary movie musicals including, Mary Poppins Returns, Chicago, Nine, and for two years she was a part of the entire pre-production, production and post-production process of Disney's live action, The Little Mermaid. With long sinewy legs and pure line, Tara was always a standout both on Broadway stages and film/TV sound stages. She has a reputation for a strong work ethic and elegance as a performer. The day of this interview, the movie, The Little Mermaid, based on the animated musical Disney film, opened to $10.3 million in ticket sales. Tara worked in London at Pinewood Studios and other UK sound stage interiors, and on location in Sardinia, Italy for all the actual real water coverage. She was instrumental in creating the movements for the actors on rigs, working also with Stunt Coordinator, Adam Curley to create the underwater illusions and she co- choreographed with Joey Pizzi -all the dance segments - some with the Alvin Ailey company dancers who were flown into England.
"I hope Disney shares," says Tara about the creative pre-production and process- "it's amazing." The biggest production number is "Under the Sea" and like the earlier, "Fantasia" film -they were inspired to create movement for the fish 🐠 and dolphin-like🐬 dance moves. "I am a bridge between departments...dance and stunts and actors and costume..." Tara also shares about the research and development and then the work "shutdown" for seven months for Covid. Principal photography finished two years ago, so it was exciting for Tara to see the movie come together and she smiled internally. "It's a really epic film. Rob Marshall has made a masterpiece.
The work of a choreographer can ebb and flow like the sea- there are tumultuous waves and flatter low tides and therefore Tara balances her career life with her meditational practice. In addition to her work with dance and choreography, Tara is involved with wellness and hosts retreats. She practices regularly to get to a "quiet, safe place" on the (yoga) mat. "I get so busy with my projects... so I want to get back to it. They are great tools 🧰.. to find a deeper peace and happiness."
Mom of two daughters, she enjoyed splashing in the sea with her very own two mermaids, aged ten and sixteen.

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