Trussville photographer part of new book that shows insight into the lives of ballet dancers and rescue dogs

Dogs and dancers are seemingly unrelated, but they combine and contrast perfectly in a new photo book, “Sit. Stay. Plié.” 

The book brings together rescue dogs and members of the Alabama Ballet as the dancers go throughout their day with the dogs at their sides.

Produced by Kay Simon and Asha Gangolli, with photography by Trussville resident Connie Collum, “Sit. Stay. Plié.” is a glimpse into the working life of ballet dancers and how their dogs enhance their worlds, Simon said. 

The idea for “Sit. Stay. Plié.” originally began as a calendar, but many doors opened, and the women turned it into a 112-page photo book. For Simon, it was striking how everything fell into place.

While some may think the hardest part of working with the dogs would be getting them to cooperate for the pictures, this wasn’t the case for Collum. 

Rescue shelters throughout Birmingham provided dogs, and though it was challenging to have the dogs in a foreign environment and meeting people for the first time, the chemistry between the dogs and the dancers was striking.

The women designed the book with one purpose in mind: education.

Simon, Gangolli and Collum strove to make readers aware of the plight of rescue animals and animal shelters across the city and state.

On the flip side, they wanted to educate the community about the lives of the members of the Alabama Ballet.

All profits benefit various animal rescues across Alabama and the Alabama Ballet.

“Sit. Stay. Plié.” is available for purchase on Amazon, at Books-A-Million in Trussville and at sitstayplie.net.