Dancing When the Moment Strikes
Any dancer knows that the best dances are the ones we don’t plan for. We hear the right song on the radio, walk into an empty studio, see the right face, hold the right hand, feel the right breeze… and all of a sudden we’re moving without thought.
Nothing is more spontaneous than breaking into dance unannounced… but an impromptu dance photo shoot is a close second.
Dance Photographer Juan Irizarry (creator of Philadelphia Dance Photo Project) and dancer Kimberly Landle met up in Center City on a Friday night for one such impromptu dance photo shoot. Irizarry explained, “She went on to dance and perform several jumps to the delight of passersby and folks on the park. City Hall was just the perfect background for this shot.” The spontaneity of the shoot was what made this photo one of Irizarry’s favorites. Personally, what I like about this photo is the color. Landle’s skirt matches the shadowy ivory of City Hall, and her top matches the black of the night.
I love the amount of art that Philadelphia offers anyone simply walking its streets. Whether it’s the murals, a drumline, a dance flashmob, an artist painting, or a spur-of-the-moment dance photo shoot that you happen to catch, the city is bursting with inspiration and beauty if our eyes are open. This photo captures the essence of this spontaneity.
While this photo is the last in our three-part series about the Philadelphia Dance Photo Project, Irizarry is constantly adding new, awesome photos to his Project’s Facebook page. His work is dynamic, and he is always experimenting with different styles of photography, working with different types of dancers, and capturing unique moments.
Juan Irizarry is a Philadelphia based photographer, founder of the Philadelphia Dance Photo Project. Juan seeks to showcase the city’s beautiful architecture, important history and diverse people through photographs that incorporate the vibrant and growing Philadelphia dance community. The Philadelphia Dance Photo Project has not been limited to just ballet, but seeks to capture all genres of dance. Juan became a professional photographer in 2007, he has served as president of local camera club’s, taught workshops on the basics of photography and won several international photography contests. Additionally he has a successful career as an IT professional specializing in database administration spanning more than 2 decades. Juan and his wife Millie offer a full range of photography services both onsite and at their studio in Philadelphia.
Juan can be reached via email at philadelphiadancephoto@gmail.com and via phone at 215-720-1575.
Article written by Hannah Lorenzo.
