Tell us about Dancescapes.
I've been interested in capturing movement in dance. Dancescapes, curated by Alka Pande, showcases 70 photos taken over five decades, accompanied by a book of 250 photos.
How would you describe your style?
The photographs range from solo performances, operas to epic dance-dramas. I am interested not in the faces, but the movement. Often, you can't recognise the dancers in my photos.
Why do you capture movement?
I love the fact that photographs of dance can look like paintings, as I capture movements in slow shutter speed.
Which are the collection's stand-out photos?
The photos of Sonal Mansingh, Birju Maharaj, dancers from Orissa, Manipur. I also like the ones that capture the sweep of the lehenga worn by Rajasthani dancers at a performance.
How large is your collection of photos?
I have about 4,00,000 negatives of dance, music and theatre photography. At the moment I'm working on digitising them.
You continue to romance the film camera.
To me, the film is the soul of the photograph. I shot for a year in digital but then I went back to my Nikon F5 film camera, shooting with 80-200 mm lens.
Which was your first camera?
A Rolleiflex; I used it for about seven years.
Did you travel a fair bit to document the performing arts?
No, it's all shot in Delhi. I hate travelling.
You're often spotted near the stage at a performance, camera in hand....
Yes, I hover around the side...I like to get the light over the dancer's head.
You're also a costume designer, theatre director, and choreographer. What's next?
I'll start working on publishing books of my theatre and music photographs.
