Third Culture Tales Richmond

March 28, 2025

On March 28, we gathered in Richmond for a sold-out evening of stories, music, and connection. Hosted at Central Stage and presented by Diaspora Arts Connection, the night marked the second U.S. edition of Third Culture Tales—a series dedicated to amplifying voices shaped by movement, memory, and cultural complexity.

We opened the evening with a powerful reflection from Nazy, founder of Diaspora Arts Connection, whose story grounded the audience in the night’s theme of navigating identity across borders and generations. Her words set the tone for a night that would be both intimate and expansive.

Next, Nima took the stage—a blind pianist and composer whose music transcends genre and language. His live performance transported the room, reminding us that music is its own kind of storytelling, one that speaks directly to the soul.

Kelleh followed with a deeply personal and poetic account of queerness, transformation, and the complexities of growing up between cultures. Their vulnerability opened a door for reflection that lingered in the air long after the final line.

Vivek brought his signature humor and insight, sharing a story that was at once hilarious and heartfelt. With a life spanning Zambia, India, and the U.S., Vivek gave voice to the unexpected joys and strange truths of living across cultural lines.

We closed the evening with Amir, a master percussionist and teacher of Persian music. Through story and rhythm, he reminded us of the beauty in tradition and the power of keeping cultural heritage alive in new contexts.

From the laughter to the silences, the melodies to the memories, Third Culture Tales: Richmond was a celebration of the in-between. It was a reminder that our stories—however fragmented, however layered—are bridges. And in sharing them, we find new ways to belong.

We’re grateful to every performer and every person who filled the room with curiosity, warmth, and open hearts.

More stories. More voices. More Third Culture Tales.