Moving Stones: A dance portrait of Indian Heritage

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MOVING STONES
a dancing portrait of Indian Heritage

Every day, millions of people from all over the world come to India to admire its historical heritage. Many Indians, too, move from one corner of the country to the other just to spend few hours near by the magnificence of astonishing buildings. However, only few are aware of the reasons that have brought them there, of the deep significance that heritage has for them. Why do people appreciate Indian heritage so much? Why do people feel attached to it?

In this project, an Indian photographer and a dancer from overseas come together to investigate the emotional meanings of some of the most famous heritage sites of the North of India, the Qutub Minar and Homayun Tomb in Delhi and the Taj Mahal in Agra. Coming from different backgrounds and using different means to express themselves, the photographer and the dancer intend to provide a unique view of these historical treasures. Their goal is to sensitize people to look at Indian heritage in terms of its significance, moving those apparently still stones, through the power of the dancing body.

After a long exchange of views, the project has been carried out in three weekends with great involvement and courage and despites many practical obstacles, as material limitations, difficulties in getting permits, atmospheric discomforts etc.

The first stage of this project, which has culminated in this selection of photographs, has ended with the wish of pushing the idea further, the desire of investigating, in a more systematic way, the emotional significance of other heritage sites all over India, through the jointed use of dance and photography.

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