Kyiv City Ballet in Thoughts by Vladyslav Dobshynskyi
Photographing Fall for Dance at New York City Center
This Fall, I had the pleasure of photographing Fall for Dance at New York City Center.
This was the first time I made photos of a full show with a live audience for this festival, and it was really fantastic to photograph the show in its full and vibrant entirety (I photographed the 2020 performances during the pandemic without an audience, and last year, I worked with Nel’s video team.)
Photos from Fall for Dance: Hervé Koubi, Bavarian State Ballet and Gibney Company
On September 21, I photographed the New York premiere of Hervé Koubi’s Boys Don’t Cry.
The work was all men and super high-energy and masculine, but also really heartfelt and vulnerable. It was a fun challenge to photograph.
Next was Margarita Fernandes & António Casalinho from Bavarian State Ballet performing a pas de deux from the ballet Le Corsaire.
They were so beautiful and effortless. I was blown away!!
During this program, it was my first time ever seeing Gibney Company perform (I know – how did it take this long?) and they were SO awesome in Bliss by Johan Inger.
Really powerful movers that just took up the space in every way possible. I left with such a good feeling – I’m definitely a fan!
Photos from Fall for Dance: Christopher Wheeldon, Abby Z and Kyiv City Ballet
The September 29th program included Sara Mearns and Robbie Fairchild in The Two of Us by Christopher Wheeldon.
This work was actually a 2020 Digital Fall for Dance Festival Commission, and I photographed the rehearsal process of the world premiere 2 years ago when it was set on Sara and David Hallberg.
It’s such a touching duet set to Joni Mitchell’s song “Both Sides Now,” and for me, knowing Sara and Robbie so personally makes it even more beautiful to watch.
I photographed the two dancers in the pas de deux at Vail Dance Festival, too.
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company performed Abby Zbikowski’s new work Indestructible.
It was an exciting challenge to photograph this work because some of it is in silence and the movement is unpredictable and explosive. I LOVE Abby’s work!
Finally, Fall For Dance included a tribute to Ukraine, with a performance by Kyiv City Ballet.
They performed two works: one more modern, and one more cultural dance. Ukrainian flags were raised up in the audience, and the company asked me to photograph Ukrainians in the audience.
It’s a challenge and a gift to photograph a live performance.
Julieta Cervantes was also at one of the programs, making photos for The New York Times.
I show Julieta’s work to my interns at Jacob’s Pillow every summer.
She has a way of cropping, sometimes cutting off limbs in a photo while still staying true to the work. I was nervous and excited to work beside her, and it made this experience all the more meaningful for me!