Shachi Phene 2025-10-04 | "Shades of the Blue God"

Arts On Site, Inter-grant Festival 2025

Shachi electrified the room the moment she stepped into the space. I was transported fully into the story world – at moments, the room was full and crowded; at others, profoundly solitary, all accomplished through her movement, gesture, and gaze.

With masterful storytelling, she guided us through four Bharatanatyam pieces portraying the Hindu deity Krishna in his many forms: divine child, precious toddler, mesmerizing lover, and cosmic creator of reality.

The air grew lighter as Shachi conjured the image of a toddler in a cradle. Gentle rocking motions, the tenderness in her fingertips as the baby was swayed soft as a feather, all rooted by her rhythm and the focus of her eyes.

When her hands depicted the shape of a flute, I could almost hear the melody drifting across distant houses, imagine flowers blooming, and taste sweetness in the air. With her gazes and light nods, I pictured her moving through a crowded village street, greeting familiar faces along the way.

Shachi expanded my imagination into spaces where language falls short.

Choreographer/maker: Shachi Phene, Dancer(s)/collaborator(s): Shachi Phene