As many of you know, I used to be a dancer. I danced my entire life (since the wee age of 5). I love the way dance makes you feel. Well lately it has been making me feel like an elephant but even just dancing in the living room gives me euphoria. Capturing the perfect moment in my camera is like that too.
People always ask, “do you miss it?” I miss the awesome shape I was in but the challenge of getting that perfect step, that perfect moment expressed is still there for me in photography. Every wedding: I get to find and express that moment, that feeling, that perfection between two people or three or ten.
For me, the perfect assignment would be to capture dancers. Photographing them in rehearsals and performances. I would love to go behind the scenes and document the everyday life of a dancer. The classes, the stretches, the dedication, the determination, the tenacity, the rejection, the ecstatic bliss of knowing you were able to express that moment through your body; your breath. What would be even cooler would be to have married dancers in wedding attire dancing. Hey, if I am dreaming then I can have it all.
This introspection was triggered as I go through my dance photos for a fine art series. These are all images from the last several years that I have taken while photographing Shut Up and Dance. An annual performance put on by dancers from the Pennsylvania Ballet that raise funds for MANNA. Yes, these are from the actual performance. Just like weddings, you have one chance to get that moment.
Sophia, these are incredible…I would have loved to see you dance!