The Art of Taking Chances

When Taj Dharmadji (Class of 2021) completed her “Director’s Notebook” for her IB Theater class at JIS, she knew she had created something special. Based on Lucy Prebble’s The Effect, the project was a major creative milestone that challenged her to detail the process of bringing the play to life, from costumes and set design to lighting and sound. It became more than just a class assignment or an academic grade on a report card.

“I vividly remember all the sleepless nights I spent on this project; it really ignited something in me, and I never forgot about how much that show meant to me,” Taj recalls, adding that she even used one of the play’s monologues for her university auditions.  

Still, she never imagined that, years later, her vision would take center stage at Emerson College, earning her and her team three prestigious EVVY Awards, an annual ceremony that celebrates student excellence in film, writing, and media production. The achievement, anchored in years of dedication and a passion for theater that flourished at JIS,  ”meant the world” to her.

“We were nominated alongside some incredibly impressive projects [...] It reassured me yet again that I wasn’t the only one who felt so incredibly moved by this play. It speaks on so many levels, talks about so many important things, and is one of those pieces of art that feels so vulnerable, personal, and unlike any other. I found myself getting very emotional when working on this project.”

Taj can trace much of the inspiration for her creative ambitions to influences at JIS. Alongside the dance and drama teachers who encouraged her passion, she was also influenced by her parents, who met while teaching at Pattimura Elementary (PEL). Her mother, Allyson Puls-Dharmadji, went on to dedicate 32 years to JIS as an educator, and the school was truly a second home to the entire family.

“I have so many fond memories from my time growing up at JIS [...] I spent more of my time on campus than I did at home, just because of all of the various activities I was involved in.”

But growing up in a “sports-heavy” family meant Taj spent a fair share of her childhood on the soccer field, in a pool, or at gymnastics practice. While she enjoyed every moment, she still felt drawn to the stage — singing, acting, and all the creative expressions of the performing arts. Inspired by her favorite actors and watching her siblings perform, she gathered the confidence to join a Grade 4 Summer Camp production of Annie. The experience marked a defining turning point that would shape her future.

“It all just fit into place after that. I told my parents pretty quickly that I wanted to dedicate my time solely to the arts,” Taj says. 

And there was no looking back! With the nurturing support of JIS teachers like Keith Allerton, Michael Westberg, and Erica and Mike Cali, Taj dove headfirst into the world of theater.

“I have these four very important people to thank for their constant support, their belief in me, and their ability to challenge me further in my skills. There was never a time when I doubted my place. I owe it to them for the valuable lessons and memories I was able to create during my time at JIS,” she says. 

She has especially fond memories of Erica and Mike Cali, whom she considers family: "They taught me to never dream small, to never settle for anything less, and to always remain curious in everything I do."

Throughout High School, the Fine Arts Theater (FAT) served as a classroom, refuge, and muse, where she immersed herself in everything from dance and choir to plays and musicals.

“I created some of the best moments and relationships [there],” she remembers fondly, adding that out of all the JIS facilities that defined her JIS experience, the FAT had shaped her into the person and artist she is today.

So, armed with passion and years of experience both on stage and behind the scenes, Taj arrived at Emerson College eager to grow as an artist with new, scaled-up experiences. But like any drastic change, the move was not without challenges — especially after several years of online learning due to Covid-19. She found herself struggling to navigate a new city, with new people “all trying to pursue the same career path”.

“It was intimidating,” she concedes, describing how she retreated from campus activities as she lost confidence in who she was as both a performing arts student and a young person trying to forge her own path in the wider world. 

But then, tapping into her Dragon resilience, she took a chance and seized the chance to compose an Emerson production in her Junior year. 

“It hit me that I didn’t want to regret my time here; I didn’t want to look back and think that I wasn’t really giving it my all,” she says. “I started to get myself involved and had some really awesome opportunities to assistant direct for some student-run productions and Emerson College productions as well.”

Taj even started teaching Drama classes at a high school in Massachusetts, putting her major in Theater Education into action by mentoring students who were the same age she had been when she was honing her craft in the FAT. And during her final semester of university, another opportunity arose that she just couldn’t ignore. Student theater organizations were accepting pitches for their upcoming productions, and only one play came to mind: The Effect.

Though Taj had no team behind her and barely any directing experience, Mercutio Troupe, the organization she had pitched her idea to, believed in her vision. Their response was a resounding YES, giving her just three months to interview, hire, put together a design and direction team, hold auditions and callbacks, select a cast, and put on the show.

“It was fast, it was hard, but it was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had the pleasure of having [...] The show itself was beyond my expectations. It was the best way to wrap up my time at Emerson, where I went from being a part of no shows my first three years to over six in just one.”

To say all that hard work and dedication paid off would be an understatement: The Effect earned three EVVY Awards for Outstanding Stage Play, Outstanding Scenic Design, and Outstanding Set Design. Taj shares the achievement with her talented cast and crew, with whom she feels blessed to have created a level of comfort and trust that taught her about how she wanted to “continue in this line of work, being able to create spaces like that again”.

“This experience reassured me that I was exactly where I needed to be, I was doing exactly what I needed to be doing, and ignited a new fire within me that maybe I wasn’t just meant to be the one acting but the one directing others,” Taj reflects.

Alongside theater, Taj has also continued to pursue another long-held passion: music. All throughout High School, she wrote and produced her own songs, even recording a seven-track EP in 2017. Right before graduating from JIS, she signed with Sony Music Indonesia, which released five of her original songs on streaming platforms from 2020-2025. 

“I’ve gotten so many awesome chances to perform my own songs and others at Emerson College, including an artist feature with Musicians Wanted, and performed on Good Morning Emerson, and for many other in-school events and organizations,” she says proudly.

After a brief stay in Ventura, California, her mother’s hometown and where she was born, Taj decided to follow the bright lights of New York. She is now excited to call Brooklyn home as she works on her debut solo album while continuing to focus on acting, singing, and directing. In many ways, the borough brings back memories of JIS; of being “surrounded by people from many walks of life, from anywhere and everywhere in the world, bringing their traditions and cultures.”

While Taj is eager to embrace what’s to come, she misses JIS every day and has dreams of returning as a teacher.

“Maybe that’s in the future, who knows! But I’m thrilled to be in this unknown and very thankful for all of those who continue to support me. I can confidently say JIS has always had my back. Once a dragon, always a dragon, seriously!”