The Wild Reed series on dance continues with some beautiful images from photographer Jordan Matter's project, 'Dancers Among Us' – a project my friend Brian alerted me to earlier this week.
In 2010, Matter shared with My Modern Metropolis website the inspiration for 'Dancers Among Us':
The idea for this body of work came during a performance by the Paul Taylor Dance Company. I was inspired by the dancers’ stunning combination of artistry and athleticism. Their commitment obviously extends beyond the rehearsals and performances – it is a way of life. I began to photograph these dancers as everyday people. In the photographs they are away from the stage, yet they cannot leave dance behind. As they go about their daily routines, they do so as dancers. This speaks to the power of a passionate life; if you’re fully invested in something, it is always with you.
The "power of a passionate life"! I love it!
And I see it as totally related to the spiritual life; to a life of authenticity and thus deep connection to self, God and others. I like to think that the conscious decision to cultivate such a life (a decision we often make on a daily basis!) is always cause for celebration.
I see a joyful and celebratory quality in Matter's images. And given the time of celebration that many of us are currently experiencing, this makes the sharing of these images this evening all the more special. Enjoy!
Dancers are storytellers. They’re trained to capture passion with their bodies. The often create a fantasy world or offer us a deeper look into familiar settings. They bring to life what we feel but what most of us, lacking their artistry and athleticism, are unable to express physically.
– Jordan Matter
Recommended Off-site Link:
Dancers Among Us Captures Moments of Unexpected Grace – Sarah Kaufman (The Washington Post, October 19, 2012).
See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
The Dancer and the Dance
The Premise of All Forms of Dance
The Soul of a Dancer
Gay Men and Modern Dance
The Church and Dance
The Trouble with the Male Dancer (Part 1: Redefining Notions of Masculinity)
The Trouble with the Male Dancer (Part 2: Homophobia and the Male Dancer)
The Trouble with the Male Dancer (Part 3: Homosexuality and the Male Dancer)
Recovering the Queer Artistic Heritage
Dark Matters
The Naked Truth . . . in Dance and in Life
Seeking Balance
Images: Jordan Matter.
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