Dance is poetry in motion goes the famous phrase and, like poetry, the art form is often subject to individual perception. Whether it is classical, traditional, folk or contemporary, artistes have explored these dance forms to suit their mode of expression. Yet, for audiences, these performances are often limited to entertainment. This weekend, a group of performers aim to change that perspective by making the audience question and interact with the performances.

The idea for the show, Viewpoint, was sparked when Shruti Maria Datar struggled to find a space for contemporary dance expression in the city. Having returned after stints in Belgium and Bengaluru in 2014, the choreographer found herself out of place in a space dominated by the commercial form. “The idea is to encourage independent forms of expression through dance which are distinct and give you food for thought,” she says. The project, Viewpoint, will bring together four dance performances curated by Datar to kickstart — what she calls — a community platform for contemporary performance artistes, separate from the commercial realm in the city.