The alchemy of dance

Shakti Temple Dance, founded by Halo Seronko of Shakti Temple Arts, is an alchemical fusion dance in which we explore the art and offering of dance as a means of devotion. In ancient dance traditions, dance was used as a means of communing with the Beloved; the formless spirit that exists within the vessel of form that is the body. In Shakti Temple Dance we work with archetypal and elemental themes within ancient and modern dance forms in order to commune with the Beloved within and without, and to offer the beauty of our art in devotion to the Divine as a moving prayer.

A true artist is able to access an energy greater than the self that exists in the realm of essence rather than ego. As a container for this essence,  the dancer transmits the pure fragrance of beauty and emotion to the audience that all may be transported into a higher realm of being and consciousness.

This dance format draws on techniques from Classical Indian Dance, Tribal Fusion Belly Dance, Mystical Persian Dance, and inspiration from the Tantric Dance of Feminine Power ® by Vajra Ma.

In Shakti Temple Dance, we empty that we may be filled, we offer that we may be received, and we dance that we may become one with the rhythm of the cosmos.

Welcome Beloved

Put color on my cheeks!  Lay a girdle on my hips!

Twine my heavy braid with flowers!  Fix rows of bangles on my hands

And jeweled anklets on my feet!

~Radha to Krishna in the Gita Govinda

Odissi dance is a classical dance form from the state of Orissa India with roots in the Devadasi, or Temple Dance traditions of the Jugannath and Krishna Temples. If you were to journey to this state, you would see the carvings of the temple dancers upon the temple walls in luxurious postures of swooning devotion. It is from the dances of the Devadasi and the carvings on the temple walls that the now classical art form of Odissi came to be.

Odissi retains it's deeply spiritual nature as a bridge between the form and formless, an offering of beauty transporting dancer and audience alike into the realms of the divine. It's practice seamlessly weaves the softness of devotion with the strength of discipline. It is thus an incredibly holistic practice nourishing all levels of being from the physical to the spiritual. As such this dance form is very much connected to the wisdom of the Yoga traditions.

Take an embodied journey into the sacred art of Odissi where you will experience the use of Mudra (hand gesture), Bhava (emotion), Pranam (prayer), and Bhakti (devotion) through a taste of this profound spiritual practice.

Embody the statuesque postures and movements of this exquisite dance through the beginning steps and choreography.

Through devotion in motion, discover the path of the Rasika; the beauty way of classical art as a path to divine awakening within and through the instrument of the body!

 You are an altar to the flame of life.  Throw yourself in to the throbbing intensity.

Become this dance,  Absorbed in radiant splendor.

~ The Radiance Sutras

Shakti Temple Dance™ is an alchemical fusion dance in which we explore the art and offering of dance as a means of devotion. In ancient dance traditions, dance was used as a means of communing with the Beloved; the formless spirit that exists within the vessel of form that is the body. In Shakti Temple Dance we work with archetypal and elemental themes within ancient and modern dance forms in order to commune with the Beloved within and without, and to offer the beauty of our art in devotion to the Divine as a moving prayer.

We will be drawing on techniques from Classical Indian Dance, Tribal Fusion Belly Dance, and Mystical Persian Dance.

In Shakti Temple Dance, we empty that we may be filled, we offer that we may be received, and we dance that we may become one with the rhythm of the cosmos.

Rasa: the essence or flavor

Rasika: One who is elegant, full of passion, and a connoisseur of the essence and flavor of fine arts such as music and dance.

A Contemporary Temple Dance Company

We are Rasika! An SF Bay Area based contemporary dance company steeped in inspiration from Indian Folk, Court, Classical and Temple Dance traditions (there might be some Bollywood inspiration in there as well, let’s be honest) as well as flavors of the Middle East and Central Asia.

For bookings and rates, inquire below