Another medium that shares a similar purpose, yet differs in method in a sense, is photography.
When Preeti Sunderajan of Shiri Dance Company met Anne Maniglier, a photographer from France, the two realised they shared a common pursuit of presenting art, with two different mediums, in a new dimension. And this ambition enabled them to represent a subject by creating a fusion of dance and photography. “Our work presents an association as well as a confrontation, between moving, emoting cities and moving, emoting performers.
The idea is to capture these images, the sensations, the tempos and the intentions that drive a modern city and abstract them to their counterparts within the world of performance art,” says Preeti. 
The show
‘Dance and the City’, as the work is called, will display photographs of life in a city by Anne and a dance depiction of the various aspects of city life by the dance company.
But it wasn’t easy as both artistes had to spend long hours and several months to be able to understand the other’s art form. “Though Shiri Dance Company follows a neo-traditional style of dance, it wasn’t easy for me to understand the nuances of the dance. Even now, at times, I wonder what’s happening during rehearsals (laughs). But despite all of that, we are able to connect in terms of two artistes with a similar objective.
And what I have realised is that the toughest part is not about capturing images, but being able to strike a similarity for viewers between images of the dance and images of the City,” shares Anne who has been photographing major cities as also reputed dancers and performers the world over.
The dance performance will focus on four aspects of City life — morning, traffic, a typical workplace and unwinding.
“The idea is for the audience to relate to what’s happening on stage as well as in the photographs which will complement these aspects of life,” says Preeti.
But apart from being able to understand art, at times, Anne says it can be just visually appealing. “Not always does a piece of art have to say something specific. Leave the logic behind and simply enjoy the view.” The show that will be at Alliance Francaise on August 25 at 7:30 pm, will have a dance performance by Shiri Dance company along with an exhibition of photographs by Anne that will present a fusion of images of dance and those pertaining to life in a city. The photographs will be on display till September 3 at the venue. For details call: 98451-90333. Entry is free.