LeeSaar Dance Company photo by Christopher Duggan at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2014

LeeSaar performing “Grass and Jackals”

LeeSaar Dance Company Photos

I guess it’s a sign that my wife Nel & I have been in the dance video & photo business for a while… Like so many other companies we’ve photographed and filmed at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival this year, LeeSaar The Company is one we’ve worked with before and have a great relationship with.

LeeSaar Dance Company photo by Christopher Duggan at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2014

We photographed and filmed an early showing of their production Grass and Jackals at MASS MoCA in February 2013. They’ve tweaked the show some since we last saw it. Their dancers are so strong and move with such clarity and precision.

LeeSaar Dance Company photo by Christopher Duggan at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2014

I was able to photograph the first half of LeeSaar’s show before getting called over to the Ted Shawn Theatre to photograph Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s dress rehearsal.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Photos

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet photo by Christopher Duggan at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2014

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet

Aspen Santa Fe performed one dance in full costume, and it was a gorgeous one. Very dark, moody and dramatic lighting.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet photo by Christopher Duggan at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2014

 

In an effort to conserve their energy for their opening night performance, the dancers marked through the ballet intermittently. Then, they would pop into full-out dancing for a few moments, just enough for me to grab some powerful images. I really had to stay on my toes as I never knew when those explosive moments were about to happen.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet photo by Christopher Duggan at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2014

Dance Portrait Shoot with Kelsey MacEachern

Kelsey MacEachern has been a part of the Pillow community for several years. She is a dance major at George Mason University and works at the Pillow. Kelsey is a gorgeous dancer and asked me if we could do some portraits for her portfolio.

Kelsey MacEachern dance portraits at Jacob's Pillow by Christopher Duggan 2014

Kelsey MacEachern dance portraits at Jacob's Pillow by Christopher Duggan 2014

When I asked her if she needed audition images showing an arabesque, etc., Kelsey said she was thinking of doing something a little more edgy. I said, “Yes.”

Kelsey MacEachern dance portraits at Jacob's Pillow by Christopher Duggan 2014

Kelsey MacEachern dance portraits at Jacob's Pillow by Christopher Duggan 2014

Normally, I like making creative portraits outside, using natural light, especially when I can make use of the beautiful Berkshires environment, but it was raining yesterday and the ground was wet. We used the only available studio and I tried to create as much variety in the space and in the dance portraits for her as possible. The window light is so gorgeous. I think it worked.

Kelsey MacEachern dance portraits at Jacob's Pillow by Christopher Duggan 2014

Christopher Duggan and Nel Shelby, Manhattan-based husband and wife team, make photos & video with dance artists every summer at Jacob’s Pillow.

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