Impressed by his background, photographer Omar Z. Robles has been capturing the sleek and refined actions of ballet dancers for over four years now. From Melbourne to Rio De Janeiro, Omar lets the dancers our bodies inform their very own tales, usually juxtaposing their elegant magnificence with gritty city environments. “Earlier than being a photographer I studied and carried out professionally as a Mime,” he informed Bored Potato. “I discovered in pictures an analogous approach of making tales utilizing solely the visible language.”
His newest sequence, Naked Sky Dance, takes place on the rooftops of New York Metropolis, with the dancers exhibiting a extra susceptible aspect by stripping off and posing nude. “The bare physique speaks volumes to our fragile but mystical and sleek existence,” Omar mentioned. “We're born bare and it was a unadorned act (normally) that introduced life to every and everybody of us.”
“I usually dancers within the streets, however I assumed the rooftops could be an attention-grabbing twist while offering some privateness for the time being of photographing.”
In addition to the beautiful photos that his sequence has produced, Omar delves into the background tales of the dancers themselves, bringing their tales to life and offering an attention-grabbing context to the photoshoot. “Because of the character of this sequence and the present social local weather, I wished the dancers to turn into the voice of the photographs,” Omar informed us.
One dancer, Alexandra Jacob, shared her very private motivation to be part of the sequence. “I selected to take part to de-stigmatize the notion that nudity has to at all times be related to sexuality in a visible setting, in addition to to reclaim my private proper of consent after a silencing of my historical past with sexual assault,” she wrote. “This mission was extremely liberating in a way that like being on stage, I used to be in a position to shed my outer layers and uncover the liberty of self-worth.”
One other participant, Terk Lewis, aimed to encourage individuals to embrace their variations and never really feel hindered by a perceived ‘excellent picture’ that the dance world could have promoted up to now. “What appealed to me about posing for this sequence is the truth that I've a really completely different kind of physique,” he mentioned. “I don’t obligatory seem like most dancers, I've tattoos and I'm taller than your common male dancer. I need to empower people that may relate to me and my picture by doing issues within the dance world that simply a few years in the past individuals who appeared like me weren’t in a position to do. I imagine there’s inspiration there to be given.”
Omar’s Naked Sky Dance permits his topics to not solely to reveal their our bodies to the world, however provides them a voice that goes past the visible, and provides us a perspective on the highs and lows that include being knowledgeable dancer. Scroll down beneath to take a look at the sequence for your self, and go to his blog to study extra about Omar’s work.
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Alex Wong
“As a dancer, I'm innately self-conscious about my physique as a result of we are typically pretty important of our traces and method. Being nude would possibly deliver much more consideration to any potential errors or flaws. Issues that perhaps the on a regular basis particular person may not discover however a skilled dancer would. I selected to work with Omar on his #BareSkyDance sequence and dared to pose nude as a result of he's a photographer that I've labored with earlier than and I do know I can belief to take the pictures that can signify my work effectively.
Via this photos I need to honor the robust and masculine position of the male dancer, significantly the male Asian dancer. I would like individuals to see not solely the wonder but in addition the robust athleticism of the male dancer.
After I get older, I look ahead to coming again to this photos and produce again the recollections of my youth and the physique that I nurtured by means of my profession as knowledgeable dancer. “
Brittany Cavaco
“Doing the #BareSkyDance sequence with Omar was extraordinarily liberating. I've at all times struggled with my physique picture. Even not too long ago I've been informed by somebody in knowledgeable setting that I shouldn't be thought of a ballet dancer due to the way in which my physique naturally is formed. I don’t discuss this usually however I'm additionally a sufferer of sexual assault. The incident has made me much more self acutely aware of my physique and ashamed. The considered my physique not with the ability to be partially hidden beneath cloth made me cringe. Nevertheless Omar is somebody I belief and somebody who I do know would seize these photos in a approach that might be respectful, thought scary and significant. The day we occurred to shoot on was chilly and wet, not the standard day one feels impressed to bop on a rooftop bare. Nonetheless standing on the rooftop, my physique uncovered to the world, I now not felt self acutely aware, ashamed and susceptible, I felt free and proud. When wanting on the photos I instinctively wished to choose aside and critique each a part of my physique however the liberating feeling I felt on that rooftop introduced me again right down to actuality. These photos confirmed how unbelievable the human physique really is. The truth that I'm able to dance and stand on my toes and put my physique by means of such immense stress day after day is superb. It hasn’t been a simple highway however it's so good to really feel pleased with my completely imperfect physique.”
Terk Lewis
“What appealed to me about posing for @OmarZRobles #BareSkyDance sequence is the truth that I've a really completely different kind of physique. I don’t obligatory seem like most dancers, I've tattoos and I'm taller than your common male dancer. Via these nude photos I need to encourage different individuals to embrace their variations and really feel supported in being distinctive and completely different. I would like empower people that may relate to me and my picture by doing issues within the dance world that simply a few years in the past individuals who appeared like me weren’t in a position to do. I imagine there’s inspiration there to be given.”
Karina Terán
“As knowledgeable dancer I've achieved a number of picture shoots up to now, at all times highlighting traces, method and at all times searching for the esthetics of magnificence within the motion or in a pose that may freeze these moments of pure artwork with our our bodies. For the primary time I made a decision to take the chance of exhibiting my physique nude, as I'm experiencing a really particular and distinctive time in life: the time of being pregnant.
As a dancer, to see drastic adjustments in your physique and to embrace them with happiness is one thing that you simply don’t think about till the second you reside the superb journey of motherhood, and also you understand then that the concept of esthetics and sweetness about your physique can transcend the skinny lengthy traces we -dancers- at all times search for. The present of giving life to a brand new human, the love of anticipating a child and the sensation of that connection is one thing that may not be described with phrases. It turns into a problem to find this “new you” who appears completely different however who additionally feels highly effective on the identical time, with a distinct kind of energy that you simply didn’t know may exist in you.
A dancer is so used to lightness, pace and elasticity… and the absence of those frequent qualities make you see deeper into this new magnificence, this new YOU with curve traces, heavier, slower however with the fantastic blessing of carrying a life inside.
I accepted to be a part of the #BareSkyDance Collection, to honor the miracle of maternity and my love for dance. I imagine each robust girl on the market who has skilled the wonderful time of being pregnant, regardless her form, it has a lot magnificence to share with the world. Being pregnant ought to at all times be loved, celebrated and all of us girls ought to love our our bodies greater than ever. I embrace this memorable journey with happiness! When my arabesques aren’t as excessive as earlier than, when my stability is in a distinct place, once I can’t present any belly muscle groups and in trade I present a giant and rounded child bump that I'll bear in mind endlessly, in essentially the most pure and inventive approach these photos have captured at my 32 weeks of being pregnant. Thanks Omar for an exquisite work!”
Taylor Massa
“I've been following Omar for fairly some time on Instagram and I've at all times admired his work. And for a while, I had questioned how I may get the chance to shoot with him. When he posted that he wanted extra volunteers for his Naked Sky Dance, I knew that was my likelihood. I've achieved one different nude dance picture shoot earlier than and I beloved it, so I knew I might be comfy doing this type of factor once more. I get pleasure from being photographed nude as a result of as a dancer, I see my physique as artwork, and I see my nude physique because the rawest model of that artwork. I don't see it as a sexual or inappropriate factor in a context corresponding to #BareSkyDance. I see it as magnificence and nature and freedom. Omar is doing work that captures all of that in a really inventive, skilled, and sincere approach.”
Stephanie Chisholm
“What a gorgeous idea Naked Sky Dance! To be totally bare, susceptible, open is, for my part, essentially the most harmful factor an individual can do and in addition essentially the most lovely. I selected to shoot with Omar as a result of his pictures, particularly this sequence, captures that essence. It's a lovely expertise to be totally bare and susceptible, embracing the fantastic thing about the pure state, but surrounded by town chaos of New York. The juxtaposition of those two issues intrigued me and I believe rooftops are the proper location to seize the uncooked great thing about each; a view of town from above the chaos the place pure magnificence can come to life.”
Silken Kelly
“With the Naked Sky Dance sequence, I hope a sense of liberation is conveyed indirectly, form, or kind. I additionally love the juxtaposition of the tender susceptible vitality of the dancer, contrasted with the usually harsh, steely environment. That to me is about an individual retaining their ideas, or religion, or what have you ever, in regardless of of every thing occurring that's out of your management.”
Jacline Henrichs
” “Don’t hesitate. Go for it. Be Epic.
These are three mantras I repeat to myself day in and time out to outlive the hustle and bustle of NYC. With out them, I don’t assume I might have survived this lengthy in a metropolis that's well-known for its competitiveness. With the intention to make it right here, you must be one factor and one factor solely; FEARLESS.
After nearly a yr’s hiatus from the digital camera, Omar invited me to be part of his #Bareskydance sequence. I hesitated to agree as a result of I used to be popping out of a break-up, and the vulnerability I used to be feeling left me no need to be in entrance of a digital camera.
After I met once more with Omar, he didn’t realize it, however I used to be feeling the bottom I had ever felt. I felt uncooked and open and uncovered on the within. However I knew in my intestine that it was vital to take cost of my confidence, and one step towards doing that was to place myself again in entrance of the digital camera, nude.
Within the nude and visual on a New York Metropolis rooftop, that openness and rawness was now uncovered on the skin as effectively. “
Cassandra Orefice
“As a mannequin, a dancer (and hell simply as a girl) individuals usually ask me to pose nude. I normally politely decline as a result of I would like my artwork to be about extra then my bare physique. Being bare is totally pure and regular but in addition straightforward. Simple to look good in a photograph, straightforward for individuals to love it. However when Omar requested me to pose for his Naked Sky Dance it was concerning the magnificence and ease of dancing utterly free, one thing that took my mind a LONG time to know. Dance is freedom to me. It’s not about method, not about getting the most effective roles or being on the largest stage. Simply being current on this second, feeling solely what my physique is doing, with my thoughts silent. For me posing for Omar’s new sequence was a celebration within the freedom that dance has given me. The liberty to be pleased with my artwork and the physique that helps me do it.”
Alberte Nilausen
“When Omar contacted me asking if I used to be taken with taking pictures for his new sequence I didn’t know the idea but, I simply mentioned sure! Then he informed me it was referred to as #BareSkyDance. Photos of a large sky, freedom, skyscrapers shaping the horizon of New York Metropolis in distinction to the bare physique of a dancer sounded lovely in my head.
I've labored with Omar a number of occasions, the truth is he was the primary photographer I labored with in New York, and I lay all my belief to his concepts and visions. Capturing dancers he at all times handle to seize the susceptible moments with an eye fixed for effectively thought composition and lightweight.
We had the shoot an unusually chilly summer time Sunday morning in Brooklyn, it was raining and the sky gray. The climate and the exhausting rain got here in play of how the photographs turned out: dramatic and delicate. I used to be utterly soaked and my pointe footwear too however that every one disappeared whereas I used to be in entrance of the digital camera lens.
The town has a lot magic and on this sequence Omar takes it to the rooftops which is a giant a part of New York traits. This shoot was additionally additional particular for me as a result of it was the day I moved again to Europe after 6 years within the metropolis. I felt like town was crying and #BareSkyDance wrapped up my time in New York coming right here hungry with large goals. The sequence has feelings and its celebrates the dancer on high of NY city in an astonishing approach.”
Alexandra Jacob
“I selected to take part in Omar Z Robles’s Naked Sky Dance pictures sequence to de-stigmatize the notion that nudity has to at all times be related to sexuality in a visible setting, in addition to to reclaim my private proper of consent after a silencing my historical past with sexual assault. There’s completely nothing fallacious with both sexuality or nudity, I simply choose to not have them be the idea of how I current myself to the world. I personally really feel there are methods to specific oneself in a extra clear style with out being as overtly erotic.
When agreeing to participating on this mission, I used to be permitting myself be part of a extra susceptible kind of shoot. I consented to working with Omar (who I've gained belief collaborating with for 3 years), I consented to baring my kind unclothed, and I consented to shoot in a extra personal roof setting. The important key's that I made a private alternative; I gave it my approval and never another person’s. This mission was extremely liberating in a way that like being on stage, I used to be in a position to shed my outer layers and uncover the liberty of self-worth.”
,Impressed by his background, photographer Omar Z. Robles has been capturing the sleek and,BoredPotato
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