Shikhandi

Please read the caption ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Thank you so much @queeryouthartcollective for the opportunity to perform again at the opening night for 'What Was, What Is, What Could Be', and thank you Angela Tozzi for the beautiful photos! I had an incredible time on the residency and got to learn so much about what my creative practice could look like. Unfortunately, it will be my last performance for a little while. As much as I have tried to avoid admitting it, work through and adapt, my health is getting much worse much quicker than I realised, and I need to give my body and brain the rest they need. I've always said that dancing is my one true love, and I do hope to be back on stage as soon as I can, but right now it just isn't sustainable and I am trying to teach myself that I'm allowed to stop. That isn't the only reason I'm taking a break. A few days after this performance my body was violated by someone I trusted immensely, someone much older than me in a position of power, and it will take a long time for me to feel in control of it again. I'm choosing to share this part purely because I was encouraged to keep quiet about it, and I refuse to give anyone the safety of my silence, or to feel shame for something that I had no control over. This body has carried me through unimaginable situations and I am proud of and grateful to it. I hope this break will give me a chance to get to know and appreciate it again. In the meantime, expect bad, beautiful art from days when it's hard to move my hands, wacky experiments and maybe some poetry. Dancing is just one language and I'm excited to learn others. The audio on this post is what I listen to for comfort when Im in too much pain to think, and I use it to pray for healing, for myself, for the world, for everyone reading this. Jai Shree Ram

We’re very excited to include @_shikhandi_ zine inside roughly 100 out of the 2,000+ copies of Raft(Up) Issue03s to be gifted this weekend. Let us know if you got one! 🦋

Had an amazing time performing at @camberwellspace last night for the final open studio of the Queer Youth Art Collective residency!! Incredibly grateful to @queeryouthartcollective for the space and time to explore what my bharatanatyam practice can look like in this crip body, and to have met so many brilliant talented people. Thank you @i.love.private.equity for the beautiful photos Jai Maa Durga

** Update- so gutted but Shikhandi is no longer able to perform but we want to keep this post up as a way to platform artists in our community through sickness and illhealth <3 introducing our performers!! Shikhandi: Shikhandi is a Bharatanatyam dancer (traditional Indian dance form) who will be performing a dance to the Mahishasuramardini stotram, a prayer in praise of Goddess Durga defeating a demon. FEBUARY 19th!!!! @piehouse.coop !!!!! Please get a ticket either online or on the door, sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds :) Image courtesy of @_shikhandi_ Bestiary Illustrations by @silvroza Edited by @starlows

Our next act is @_shikhandi_ 💥 Shikhandi is a disabled dancer who modifies traditional bharatanatyam repertoire to be performed seated At MINCE you can expect new*experimental*wip*art*performance*film*live*queer*trans stuff. It will be cute - - come down! 🗓️4th Feb 7pm onwards 📍 @thefeministlibrary ♿ Full access info in ticket link - wheelchair accessible, gender neutral loo All ££ goes to @fiveforfivecouk trans femmes

Had an amazing time performing at Cecil Beaton's House Party at the National Portrait Gallery last month! Beautiful photos courtesy of Jonny Guardini