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Dance Imagery – A Special Collaboration

August 6, 2018 by 4dancers

Dance for Life 2018 Final Imagery, Dancer Rena Butler
Photographer: Todd Rosenberg, Painting: Alice Klock.
© Todd Rosenberg 2018

Each year in August the Chicago dance community comes together to provide a night of support for its own through the Dance for Life benefit performance, organized by Chicago Dancers United. Money raised from this event goes directly into the Dancer’s Fund, which supports local dance community professionals affected by critical health issues.

Each year new artwork is commissioned, and this year it features the work of two talented artists, not just one. 4dancers asked executive director Phil Reynolds about how the artists were selected for the imagery this year. Here was his response:

“Dance for Life conducts an annual photo shoot with Chicago dancers to develop imagery for our marketing and promotional material. Knowing of Todd Rosenberg’s extraordinary work with many Chicago-based dance companies, I reached out to him asking if he would consider working with us on Dance for Life Chicago 2017. He very generously agreed. The result, “The Red Shoot,” as we refer to it, was spectacular. A year later, I contacted Todd about working with Dance for Life in 2018. He said, “yes,” and suggested a collaborative concept he had in mind with painter Alice Klock. His photographs would be painted upon by Alice. Again, the resulting images are magical.”

We thought it would be interesting to explore the collaboration between these two artists a bit more, so we sent them each a few questions about the process of creating these images for the event. What follows is our Q&A with each, starting with Todd.

Todd Rosenberg
HS Pro Portraits, Todd Rosenberg. © Todd Rosenberg Photography 2017. Portrait shot by Sophie Paolino

What made you think of doing this collaboration with Alice, and how did you manage the actual workflow of collaborating with one another?

I have always loved and appreciated Alice’s work, so when it came time to do something for this year’s Dance for Life campaign, I approached Alice and she was completely on board. Initially we tested out some images for the DFL committee to see and once the concept was approved,  we got the ball rolling. At the time of the actual shoot, Alice was not feeling well, so she couldn’t be at the actual DFL shoot. But we had already discussed specifics as far as what could or would work well movement-wise for her.

Can you describe how the photo shoot process worked for this—things such as where it took place, how many dancers there were, and how you directed the shoot?

Basically there 8 dancers from four companies in the city, including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (my “home” company and where I had met Alice), Joffrey, Giordano and Visceral. With this process, I talked with the companies and worked with them finding dancers who would volunteer their time. In some cases, these were dancers I had worked with in studio or enjoy photographing during performance. It is always nice to have a familiar dancer. Joffrey was generous enough to donate space for us so we did the shoot at their studios. The work was done on a white seamless with the dancers wearing “nude” clothing to easily allow for Alice to create their costumes and the art around the bodies. We had both hair and makeup artists: Sara Jean Stevens for hair and Kasha Rodig for makeup.

Dance for Life 2018 Final Imagery. Dancer Andrew Murdock. Photographer: Todd Rosenberg, Painting: Alice Klock. © Todd Rosenberg 2018

As far as direction, a lot of it was free improv where the dancers provided the input. As we shot, the images were coming up on a screen and we could see what could or would work. Having different dancers with different dance disciplines, it provided us a wide variety of options. I was able to text images to Alice along the way and she was providing input.

Once the images were taken, they were provided to Dance for Life for selections, preferences to be made. Those images were then worked on by my former assistant Sophie Paolino, who blended the clothing into the dancers for Alice to paint. I printed the images onto the same water color paper Alice normally paints on, which gave her the texture she needed for her portion. I was able to print a few copies of each selected image to allow for creativity without fear of having only one copy.

What was the best part about working with Alice on this, and was it easier or more difficult than doing a shoot for Dance for Life on your own?

The best part is that I got to enjoy her mind as she created around my photos. My main goal was to make sure that she had a good canvas to work so we could create awesome works of art. There is nothing difficult about working with Alice, she is the furthest thing from high maintenance. I loved the process to create these, and I really love the final products. And she and I already talked collaborating again.

Next we asked for some perspective from Alice’s point of view:

Alice Clock
Alice Clock, Photo by Isaac Aoki

How was this type of artwork similar or different from what you have been doing with your painting?

Movement has always been a very important element in my visual art. To create this work with Todd has been a pleasure for this reason and was very much in keeping with the energy of my usual work. It differed in that here I have been working with subjects that are outside of my own design. Complimenting the dancers has been the goal throughout and within that has been a fun challenge of creating movement with the paint that does not take away or distract from the beauty of the photographs.

Where did you draw your inspiration from for the theme of your painting throughout this process?
I drew inspiration from the dancers themselves, and the design already apparent in their movement. With each photo I took time to examine the directions of energy within their bodies and from that attempted to describe these trajectories. When painting on photos it can be easy for the final image to come off as a bit cartoony. I worked to avoid this by illustrating the energy I perceived, to extrapolate out what was already in the photo vs. projecting something external onto the image.
Dance for Life 2018 Final Imagery. Dancers: Hanna Brictson, Prince Lyons. Photographer: Todd Rosenberg, Painting: Alice Klock. © Todd Rosenberg 2018
 
What was the best part about working with Todd on this, and was it harder or easier than working on your own?
The best part of working with Todd on this was our mutual commitment to this very important cause. Todd is an amazing artist, it’s always a pleasure to work with him, and his generosity and collaborative energy is perfect for this kind of project. Artistically it was harder than working on my own, not because of Todd, but because of the technical and logistical difficulty of working with watercolor on photographs! I’m used to working on my own blank canvases so to work on a surface that is itself part of the image was interesting. I went through quite a few drafts, and destroyed more than a few of the photos with water leakage or rogue paint drops before we completed the final pieces. It was a wonderful process though, I loved the challenge, and am very happy with what we created together.

A selection of prints that Todd and Alice collaborated on will be available for purchase at Dance for Life Chicago on Saturday, August 18th at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University.

The mission of Dance for Life is to support organizations and dance professionals facing critical health issues. The money raised through the annual benefit performance goes directly to the Dancer’s Fund. Learn more about the fund here, and get tickets for the 2018 show here.


Todd Rosenberg has been recognized among the top tier entertainment and sports photographers in the city of Chicago. A native of Chicago, his impressive client list contains some of the the most distinguished entertainment venues in the city including a 20 year relationship with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera, Hubbard Street Dance, and Second City. In addition, his work is seen nationally through advertising as well as with the NFL and on the pages of Sports Illustrated; the publisher of 24 years of Rosenberg’s sports images, including more than 15 cover photos.  www.toddrphoto.com

Alice Klock attributes her painting and drawing skills to self study and to tutelage from her visual artist Grandfather and Father. She has shown paintings at multiple Chicago art galleries, designs personalized tattoos, and enjoys sharing her work and process worldwide with the 15,000+ followers of her online blogs under the name “Klockonian”. Alice is also a dancer and choreographer in her ninth season with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. For more information visit www.klockonian.com

Filed Under: 4dancers, Dance Photography Tagged With: Alice Clock, dance art, Dance Artwork, dance for life chicago, dance photography, Dance Program Book, dance programs, Todd Rosenberg

Finis: A Look Back At Dance Photography

November 30, 2014 by 4dancers

by Christopher Duggan

Jacob’s Pillow Dance just announced four dance companies that will be performing at the festival next summer 2015: Martha Graham Dance Company, Michelle Dorrance / Dorrance Dance, Jessica Lang Dance and New York Theatre Ballet.

I have photographed three of these dance companies at the festival in past years, and I’m looking forward to photographing more dance next summer. A look back below.

Jessica Lang Dance

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See more by visiting Christopher’s blog entry on Jessica Lang at the Pillow.

Martha Graham Dance Company

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See more by visiting Christopher’s blog entry on Martha Graham Dance Company at the Pillow.

Michelle Dorrance / Dorrance Dance

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See more by visiting Christopher’s blog entry on Dorrance Dance at the Pillow.


Contributor Christopher Duggan is a wedding and dance photographer in New York City, the Berkshires and beyond. Duggan has been the Festival Photographer for Jacob’s Pillow Dance since 2006. In this capacity, and as a respected New York-based dance photographer, he has worked with renowned choreographers and performers of international acclaim as well as upstarts in the city’s diverse performance scene.
Christopher Duggan, Photo by Julia Newman
Christopher Duggan, Photo by Julia Newman

He photographs dancers in the studio and in performance, for promotional materials, portraits and press, and he often collaborates with his wife, Nel Shelby, and her Manhattan-based dance film and video editing company Nel Shelby Productions (nelshelby.com). Together, they have documented dance at performances from New York City to Vail International Dance Festival.

Christopher Duggan Photography also covers the finest wedding venues in the Metropolitan and Tri-State areas, in Massachusetts and the Berkshires, and frequently travels to destination weddings.

His photographs appear in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, The Knot, Destination I Do, Photo District News, Boston Globe, Financial Times, Dance Magazine, and Munaluchi Bridal, among other esteemed publications and popular dance and wedding blogs. One of his images of Bruce Springsteen was added to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and his dance photography has been exhibited at The National Museum of Dance and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.

His Natural Light Studio (http://www.christopherduggan.com/portfolio/natural-light-studio-jacobs-pillow-photography/) at Jacob’s Pillow is his most ambitious photography project to date – check out his blog to see more portraits of dance artists in his pop-up photo studio on the Pillow grounds.

Filed Under: Dance Photography, Finis Tagged With: christopher duggan, dance photography, Dorrance Dance, finis, jessica lang, martha graham dance company, michelle dorrance

Dance Against Cancer – Dance Performance Photography At AXA Equitable Theater

October 31, 2014 by Rachel Hellwig

Gillian Murphy and Jared Matthews in Don Quixote Pas de Deux. Photograph by Christopher Duggan.
Gillian Murphy and Jared Matthews in Don Quixote Pas de Deux.

by Christopher Duggan

It’s always a joy to photograph Dance Against Cancer because it’s a dance performance for a good cause and there’s an all-star cast. I’m always excited to see all these amazing performers in one place for one evening, and this year was extremely special for me, because my mom survived major pancreatic cancer surgery last year.

Tyler Angle and Maria Kowroski in Chaconne.
Tyler Angle and Maria Kowroski in Chaconne.

The program starts off with a voiceover from the artists, introducing themselves and saying who they are dancing in honor of – or in some cases, who they are dancing in memory of.

Tiler Peck and Robert Fairchild in Acheron.
Tiler Peck and Robert Fairchild in Acheron.

This year, I made these photographs in honor of my mom. I’ve never had cancer hit so close to home before and it feels very different to contribute to this program when the person on my mind is my own mom. Thankful for her doctors and nurses and thankful for dance artists who move for a cause.

American Dance Machine for the 21st Century in Simply Irresistible.
American Dance Machine for the 21st Century in Simply Irresistible.
American Dance Machine for the 21st Century in Simply Irresistible at Dance Against Cancer at AXA Equitable Theater in NYC.
American Dance Machine for the 21st Century in Simply Irresistible at Dance Against Cancer at AXA Equitable Theater in NYC.

 

Contributor Christopher Duggan is a wedding and dance photographer in New York City, the Berkshires and beyond. Duggan has been the Festival Photographer for Jacob’s Pillow Dance since 2006. In this capacity, and as a respected New York-based dance photographer, he has worked with renowned choreographers and performers of international acclaim as well as upstarts in the city’s diverse performance scene.

Christopher Duggan, Photo by Julia NewmanHe photographs dancers in the studio and in performance, for promotional materials, portraits and press, and he often collaborates with his wife, Nel Shelby, and her Manhattan-based dance film and video editing company Nel Shelby Productions (nelshelby.com). Together, they have documented dance at performances from New York City to Vail International Dance Festival.

Christopher Duggan Photography also covers the finest wedding venues in the Metropolitan and Tri-State areas, in Massachusetts and the Berkshires, and frequently travels to destination weddings.

His photographs appear in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, The Knot, Destination I Do, Photo District News, Boston Globe, Financial Times, Dance Magazine, and Munaluchi Bridal, among other esteemed publications and popular dance and wedding blogs. One of his images of Bruce Springsteen was added to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and his dance photography has been exhibited at The National Museum of Dance and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.

His Natural Light Studio (http://www.christopherduggan.com/portfolio/natural-light-studio-jacobs-pillow-photography/) at Jacob’s Pillow is his most ambitious photography project to date – check out his blog to see more portraits of dance artists in his pop-up photo studio on the Pillow grounds.

Filed Under: Dance Photography, Finis Tagged With: American Dance Machine for the 21st Century, AXA Equitable Theater, christopher duggan, dance against cancer, dance against cancer 2014, dance photography, Gillian Murphy, Jared Matthews, maria kowroski, Robert Fairchild, Tiler Peck, Tyler Angle

Transitioning And Growing In This Dance Life

October 8, 2014 by 4dancers

ballet dancer as swan with feathers
Nicole Teague by Rachel Malehorn

by Rachel Malehorn

When I feel the fall’s first chilly breeze, I know that change is in the air. Nature’s cycle strips leaves from trees, puts scarves on necks, and ripens pumpkins in their patches. Fall also finds the dancers of Milwaukee Ballet back in our studio, home after a long summer lay-off to prepare for our first production, Don Quixote. The process of getting back into the rhythm of daily class and rehearsal has made me reflect on the nature of transition. Some people thrive on change while others balk. In the flow of life, change is inevitable. What interests me is how we as people, and we specifically as dancers, can take advantage of these transitions – to seize any opportunity to grow.

dancer with blue
Susan Gartell by Rachel Malehorn

Student to Professional

Of the many transitions I went through moving from student to professional dancer, one of the most challenging and least anticipated was navigating my first summer lay-off. As a student, I had spent my summers attending summer intensive programs, which prepare a young dancer for a professional career. But once I had finally landed my dream job, and had just finished my first year with the Company, how should I spend the summer months?

My first lay-off was very confusing for me: on the one hand, I had freedom! I could do whatever I wanted – I was cut loose from the rigid discipline binding me during the season. But after only a few weeks of this wide-open schedule, I realized that I was basically addicted to routine, and felt disoriented, rudderless, and in need of some kind of structure. Also, 21 weeks is a long time to subsist without income, and without regular ballet classes, getting back in shape was extremely difficult. Ever since that first summer, I have dedicated myself to answering the question: what does a dancer do when she’s not dancing full time?

This can be a difficult question to answer for people who have spent the majority of their childhoods in single-minded dedication to their art form. When I made the transition from student to professional, it became apparent that only I could determine my life outside the studio. I began asking my colleagues what they did during the summer and received many different suggestions. Eventually, I was able to craft my summer into a time for college courses at a local university, summer dance projects like Terpsicorps in Asheville, North Carolina, traveling, yoga, camping, and adding to my photographic portfolio.

Recently, I asked three of my fellow dancers from Milwaukee Ballet what they did this summer, and got some great answers. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Career, Dance Photography Tagged With: Alana Griffith, career transition for dancers, dance photography, don quixote, Marc Petrocci, milwaukee ballet, Milwaukee Dancers' Fund, Rachel Malehorn, summer lay-off, Valerie Harmon

More From Inside/Out At Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival​

October 1, 2014 by Rachel Hellwig

Marta Renzi & The Project Co at Inside/Out at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2014
Marta Renzi & The Project Co at Inside/Out at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2014

by Christopher Duggan

It will be almost 10 months before dancers return and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2015 kicks in. I love the Pillow so much and am filled with gratitude to have spent 9 summers there. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to create pictures and make a contribution to this historic place.

Schoen Movement Company at Inside/Out at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2014
Schoen Movement Company at Inside/Out at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2014

To me, nothing says “The Pillow” more than the Inside/Out stage. I spent the last few days of the festival working through more than 20,000 photos from the 2014 summer festival and wanted to share some highlights from this amazing dance space.

Laurie M Taylor/Soul Movement at Inside/Out at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2014
Laurie M Taylor/Soul Movement at Inside/Out at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2014

I’ve said it before, but the Inside/Out stage is my favorite stage to photograph dance. It’s hugely challenging working with the available light, the crowd and making choices on where to shoot from. It keeps me on my toes. There’s never a perfect spot, only the perfect way to make a picture in the spot I’ve chosen.

Oui Danse at Inside/Out at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2014
Oui Danse at Inside/Out at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2014

And more than just the dance on the stage, it’s the atmosphere, the trees, the sunlight, the patrons, the kids and everything put together that tells the story of Jacob’s Pillow in the Berkshires.

Emery Lecrone at Inside/Out at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2014
Emery Lecrone at Inside/Out at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2014

 

Adam Weinert at Inside/Out at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2014
Adam Weinert at Inside/Out at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2014

 

Contributor Christopher Duggan is a wedding and dance photographer in New York City, the Berkshires and beyond. Duggan has been the Festival Photographer for Jacob’s Pillow Dance since 2006. In this capacity, and as a respected New York-based dance photographer, he has worked with renowned choreographers and performers of international acclaim as well as upstarts in the city’s diverse performance scene.

Christopher Duggan, Photo by Julia NewmanHe photographs dancers in the studio and in performance, for promotional materials, portraits and press, and he often collaborates with his wife, Nel Shelby, and her Manhattan-based dance film and video editing company Nel Shelby Productions (nelshelby.com). Together, they have documented dance at performances from New York City to Vail International Dance Festival.

Christopher Duggan Photography also covers the finest wedding venues in the Metropolitan and Tri-State areas, in Massachusetts and the Berkshires, and frequently travels to destination weddings.

His photographs appear in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, The Knot, Destination I Do, Photo District News, Boston Globe, Financial Times, Dance Magazine, and Munaluchi Bridal, among other esteemed publications and popular dance and wedding blogs. One of his images of Bruce Springsteen was added to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and his dance photography has been exhibited at The National Museum of Dance and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.

His Natural Light Studio (http://www.christopherduggan.com/portfolio/natural-light-studio-jacobs-pillow-photography/) at Jacob’s Pillow is his most ambitious photography project to date – check out his blog to see more portraits of dance artists in his pop-up photo studio on the Pillow grounds.

Filed Under: Dance Photography Tagged With: Adam Weinert, christopher duggan, dance photography, Emery Lecrone, Inside/Out stage, jacob's pillow, jacob's pillow dance festival, Laurie M Taylor/Soul Movement, Marta Renzi & The Project, Oui Danse, Schoen Movement Company

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