Gone to the 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 from working with the dogs would be getting them to cooperate for the pictures, this wasn’t the case for Collum. 

She said she’s been working with animals for years, so Collum has multiple tricks she employs. First, she uses different techniques to get the dogs to look at her. Then, she looks for the expressions in the dogs’ faces to know the right time to take the photo. She said she wants them to have a relaxed and happy look.

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.

“We’re trying to get people to think about and be aware about homeless animal population, especially in Alabama,” Collum said. 

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

“The images, and much of the book’s content, give the reader a glimpse at what it takes and what it means to be a ballet dancer,” Simon said.

She said the book explains the significance of pointe shoes. There are multiple pictures included that exemplify that point. Collum was fascinated by the shoe cabinet. 

The shoe cabinet is a wooden box where dancers keep their pointe shoes in order to dry them out and preserve them. 

Collum was thankful the dancers were willing to give up their personal time to participate, while Simon said she enjoyed getting to know the dancers on a down-to-earth level.

“I think, probably the best part [of putting the book together] is having something tangible that can live on and reach so many different people, not only locally, but all over the country who can look at these photos and be inspired,” Collum said. “I hope that it will live on and reach people and motivate people.

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

“Sit. Stay. Plié.” is available for purchase on Amazon, at Homewood vendors including White Flowers, Whole Dog Market and Little Professor and at sitstayplie.net.