Swan Lake Backstage: A series of documentary photographs captured at a live performance by the Cincinnati Ballet.

For over ten years, I have photographed Cincinnati Ballet dancers in studios, on sets, and in various locations. When I learned Swan Lake would be performed at Cincinnati’s historic Music Hall, I asked if I could take pictures from the backstage wings. The production team said yes, but gave me some rules about where I could go. This new experience gave me a new way of seeing things and will affect how I work with the dancers going forward.

From the audience, you see beauty, grace, and movement that looks easy. The dancers spend years training to move smoothly from one act to the next. Backstage, their grace is matched by the hard work and strong will of professional athletes.

For this project, I wanted to capture more than just the dancers at their best. I focused on the moments in between, showing the details and physical skills that happen backstage. By taking photos from this view, I can share a side of the performance the audience usually does not see and tell a fuller story of the dancers’ art.