Press Release: Dancers of The Royal Ballet – A Photographic Exhibition

[Jan McNulty]

NOW IS ALL THERE IS - BODIES IN MOTION

Dancers of The Royal Ballet – A Photographic Exhibition

The Gallery at The Hospital Club, Covent Garden

 

25 January 10am-4pm; 26 & 27 January 10am-6pm FREE ENTRY

 

 

Now Is All There Is - Bodies in Motion is an exhibition of 34 stylized images of Royal Ballet dancers taken by photographer Rick Guest. Celebrating the physicality and expression of the dancers’ bodies, this exhibition captures them in a different light away from the Royal Opera House and uniquely styled by Olivia Pomp.

 

This series of black and white photographs is the fusion of three art forms: photography, fashion and dance. These images were taken over the last two years and illustrate key disciplines of ballet technique - balance and poise - but with a strong fashion edge that is both evocative and playful.

 

The exhibition takes is name from a quote by choreographer George Balanchine calling for his dancers to be ‘in the moment’, to never hold back and to give everything, ‘What are you waiting for? What are you saving yourself for? Now is all there is!’ This passionate plea has been realised in these photographs which captures some of The Royal Ballet dancers in an astonishing moment in time.

 

The Royal Ballet dancers photographed for this project include Lauren Cuthbertson, Melissa Hamilton, Marianela Nunez, Nehemiah Kish, Steven McRae, Thiago Soares, Johannes Stepanek, Eric Underwood, Edward Watson and Zenaida Yanowsky.

 

Olivia and Rick have a unique partnership which has developed over many years collaborating on international editorial commissions. Rick’s extensive experience of photographing athletes - most recently for the London Olympic Games - gives him the insight into how best to capture the human body in motion, seizing moments of weight and weightlessness.

 

For this project, Olivia focused on celebrating the strength and power inherent in the dancers’ poise, underlining their form by styling with unconventional garments and accessories custom-crafted by young British designers including Derek Lawlor, Hannah Morgan, Alison Lewis, Georgina Pragnell and Ana Rajcevicz.

 

Each image is float-mounted and framed in American oak to form a dramatic installation. All art pieces are a limited edition of six and will be for sale.

[Arky]

Thanks for this, Janet. It very conveniently coincides with when I am going to see Onegin, so it will be easy to go to Endell Street on the way!

[Jan McNulty]

There were a couple of images in the press release but the forum software would not let me publish them. I have to say that they were absolutely STUNNING. Please report back when you have seen them Arky.

[Arky]

Will do, Janet.

[alison]

Some of them were from a previous fashion shoot or something - I recognise them from when we linked to the last time. Still worth seeing, though, I imagine.

[alison]

And one of them - Johannes Stepanek, as it happens - has actually made it on to the front cover of the Dancing Times for January, I see.

[Jan McNulty]

Thanks for that Alison. Got home to find that Princess Chunkydog has mad confetti of the cover and first inside page again. Fortunately the rest was readable! Would anyone like a mail-eating Jack Russell terrier ? (I'm only joking!)