"All the world's a stage" excerpt from new column in Professional Photographer UK December 2014

I was asked recently to photograph 27 dancers from the senior class at the Juilliard School, New York. The school aims to “provide the highest caliber of artistic education for gifted musicians, dancers, and actors from around the world, so that they may achieve their fullest potential as artists, leaders, and global citizens.” In testament to this mission, Julliard alumni have collectively won more than 105 Grammy Awards, 62 Tony Awards, 47 Emmy Awards, 24 Academy Awards, and 16 Pulitzer Prizes. Needless to say, I was so flattered to have been asked to photograph these young prodigies. I have heard many stories of the school’s legendary history and the talent level is dazzling. I was given one day to photograph all 27, which meant that I was able to spend roughly 15 minutes with each individual.

A few weeks ago at Juilliard, the dancers relied on my experience and I on their grace and naïveté – 15 minutes per subject seemed like more than enough time. It was a diverse group; every nationality, color, body type and personality came through the doors. Some came in soaring with confidence, some absolutely immobilized due to anxiety, and many others said with a bit of discomfort, they had “never done this before” – to which I responded, “neither have I”, having never before photographed the Juilliard students – we laughed and moved on. What a magical day it was. I’m no magician, but when that twinkle in their eyes is clear, their confidence builds and their stories become transparent, the photograph gathers the potential to become memorable – this experience never leaves me.

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