By Doug Hubley
Photographs by Phyllis Graber Jensen

In a dance exercise last fall, students paired off and took turns jumping: One member of each pair would lift off as the other touched down.

Taking turns with the jumps proved hardest for an unexpected pair, seniors Shachi Phene and Shlesma Chhetri. “We are so used to getting back in synch with each other, we just could not manage it,” explains Phene.

“Not even once,” adds Chhetri.

Shachi Phene ’12, photographed by Phyllis Graber Jensen/�ֲ���ý College.

Phene and Chhetri have choreographed more than 40 dances together at �ֲ���ý, and their exploits in South Asian dance, notably the colorful and exuberant genre seen in Bollywood films, have made them campus stars.

A few years ago, �ֲ���ý dancers like Harita Daraneeswaran ’10 got the Bollywood ball bouncing at �ֲ���ý, and Chhetri and Phene have made the most of what they inherited, displaying a dedication as energetic and uplifting as the Bollywood spec-tacles they have created.

Shlesma Chhetri, photographed by Phyllis Graber Jensen/�ֲ���ý College.

They have not only studied dance but taught it, extending a Bollywood offering in physical education that dates back to 2006. They perform in productions by the Department of Theater and Dance and numerous student-organized events such as International Club coffeehouses and the wildly popular Asia Night variety show.

They even organized a dance club, �ֲ���ý Masti — taking on a deep commitment that involves everything from choreography to costuming to wrangling overcommitted fellow students.

Shachi Phene, seen here, and Shlesma Chhetri, below, take part in a faith discussion sponsored by the Multifaith Chaplaincy in 2011. Photograph by Rene Minnis

A sociology major, Chhetri is from Kathmandu, Nepal. Phene, a double major in economics and psychology, was born in India and now lives in Lexington, Mass. Phene was formally trained in classical Indian dance, while Chhetri is largely self-taught.

“We’re coming from different places but we are both equally passionate about what we want to show on the stage,” Phene says.

Photograph by Rene Minnis.

Known for bright, colorful costumes and infectious rhythms that fuse traditional Indian with Western styles, “Bollywood dances, songs and movies are associated with having a good time — joy,” says Phene. “It’s something people of all ages can do together.”

“Even first-timers end up having so much fun with the dance,” Chhetri says.

In that sense, the pair have given back to the �ֲ���ý ethos of inclusivity that gave Bollywood fertile ground to grow in. “�ֲ���ý has created an environment where people are very interested in learning about each other,” says Chhetri.

Happy diners think globally and eat locally at the 2012 International Dinner, held March 3 in the Gray Athletic Building. Photograph by Simone Schriger ’14.

The annual International Dinner, held this year on March 3, was a feast for all the senses.

On one wall, a display of flags from around the world transformed the plain interior of the of the Gray Athletic Building. Brightly patterned traditional garb popped out in the crowd.

Amidst the murmur of happy diners, special dance performances and a playlist of international music set the festive atmosphere. And an intriguing combination of spices and scents made it impossible to forget the main attraction: the food.

This year the menu featured an impressive array of 44 dishes from nearly 30 countries. There were the familiar and delicious — two types of spring rolls from Vietnam, chicken enchiladas from Mexico and crepes from France — as well as the distinctive and delicious: chin chin, a fried donut-like snack from Nigeria and Ghana; saltibarsciai, cold beetroot soup from Lithuania with an unforgettable magenta color; and gajar ka haluwa, an Indian dish made with carrots and milk.

At the dinner, food becomes a common ground to explore, learn and celebrate the diversity in the �ֲ���ý community. More than 350 people took part — students, professors, staff and local residents.

In short, “Food is a wonderful way of sharing your culture,” said Shlesma Chhetri ’12, of Kathmandu, Nepal, and co-president of the International Club, which sponsored the event.

Thailand’s red curry is a good example of the cross-cultural exchange. Over the centuries, Thai cuisine has been influenced by South Asian, Chinese and European cooking — and the fiery red chilies that give the curry its color came originally from Central America, brought to Thailand by Portuguese explorers.

But ultimately none of that matters. What does matter is the delicious explosion of flavors that immerses you in a dimension of Thai culture, sparking appreciation, interest and dialogue.

The dining is only half the story. The task of cooking food for 350 people, combined with limited equipment and space and difficult-to-locate spices, was an epic in and of itself. As Chhetri explains, “For the cooks and helpers, it is like an adventure.”

Shared pots, pans and all seven kitchens on campus, American and international classmates started cooking the night before and even made a special trip to Portland for ingredients.

For International Club co-president Hieu Nguyen ’13 of Hanoi, Vietnam, the dinner is what sparked his involvement in the club: His freshman year he made Vietnamese spring rolls and lotus soup.

Since then, Nguyen has remained committed to the club because of its “open and friendly environment and the beauty of diversity.” The ambiance and popularity of the International Dinner certainly bear that out.

— By Izzy McKean ’12