KARACHI: SindhuPo, a Look, But With Love (LBWL) production in collaboration with the Italian consulate in Karachi, is the tale of two rivers flowing through two countries — Pakistan and Italy — and dancing.

It is also the story of friendship between two very talented young dancers Suhaee Abro and Lucia Moretti who belong to these countries and who with their moving performances beautifully elaborated the pain of loneliness and separation at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi on Saturday and Sunday.

The two rivers may be here or there but the sound of flowing water is similar to chirping and humming of the birds be they here or there.

And then there are the two girls seated with their backs to each other as they talk in their own languages. Suhaee speaks Sindhi and Lucia Italian as the evening turns into night and then morning dawns with both girls switching to English which both know and understand well.

They have found a common ground. They realise and know that it is better to be together even if they are strangers. That’s how ‘you’ and ‘me’ become ‘we’.

There is appreciation for each other and their different cultures. And as the similarities in both of their existences dawn there is bonding. They clash, too, they push, pull and drag each other as their friendship is tested.

But they always come back to find each other and doing so they learn each other’s ways and dance to each other’s tunes.

The idea behind LBWL is thinking globally and going for collaborations. It is the meeting of two different cultures exploring many more in the future. The productions and projects that are aimed to be created by Suhaee and Lucia are searching for a connection while embracing the differences in their worlds as women, artists and souls.

Ms Anna Ruffino, Consul General of the Italian Consulate in Karachi, said that when Suhaee met with her and suggested the performance she got a positive response from them almost immediately.

“I thought yes, why not because art is the best way to know and understand cultures,” she said.

“SindhuPo is a personal story,” said Suhaee. “I live in Karachi and Lucia is from Turin, Italy. We are both artists but it can be difficult to work together while living so far away from each other,” she added.

A very overwhelmed and emotional Lucia from the appreciation of the packed audiences thanked everyone, especially the Arts Council and the Italian Consulate for making the show happen.

She said it was her first time in Pakistan and that she had been invited here by Suhaee, who she loved like a sister, and now she was also loving her city Karachi and country Pakistan after receiving so much love from here.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2018