During her time in Beijing as a student at NACTA, Chodron was exposed to China's numerous opera styles. At the academy she was able to expand her portfolio to include directing.

 

"My teacher introduced me to 'Turandot.' In traditional Tibetan opera, we have similar stories that feature love and riddles," Chodron said, explaining why she decided to adapt the opera.

 

"Turandot" is based on a Persian fable but is set in China. It tells of a princess so desirable that men came in their hundreds, from all over the world, to vie for her favor. Each prospective suitor was asked three riddles -- and those who failed to answer correctly were decapitated and their heads placed on stakes as a warning for others still to come.

 

Chodron first produced a 20-minute excerpt of the adaptation, which won praise from her teachers and classmates.

 

The complete 90-minute performance debuted in Lhasa in October 2016 and after excellent reviews, opened at a Beijing theater one month later.

 

"Writing scripts is not as difficult as composing music. When creating this performance, I tried to combine the Tibetan style with Qin opera," she said, referring to the style that originates in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

 

"It is a bold adaptation," said Sonam Wangchug, the actor who plays the Tartar prince.

 

With nine years under his belt as a Tibetan opera actor, Wangchug said this was the first time that he had worked with actors from outside the region.

 

"It is a great attempt to integrate the two styles," said Liu Yu, a critic with Tibet Institute of National Art.

 

In two months, Chodron will graduate from the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts, one of the first Tibetan opera performers to be awarded a bachelor's degree.

 

"I am committed to Tibetan opera. I hope to share the love I hold for it with more people," she said.