Empowered Me

For years now, I had kind of railed against doing a photo series for cancer. It was not due to the nature of the cause, by any stretch. For me it didn’t fit artistically. I felt as though I would be cliche’ if I did it. There were so many photographers (god bless them all!) who have used cancer as a platform to do good with their craft. So, I always pushed away from it.

Cancer affects me. Christmas of 1999, my grandfather came down to my moms house for dinner as he did every year. I was getting married that next April (2000) and asked my grandfather to get fitted for a tux as I wanted him in it. He said he couldn’t but gave no further explanation. It was short, sort of abrupt, but not mean or nasty. But it clearly left some questions, none of which I was prepared or planning on asking. He must have had his reasons. Later on that night, he came up to me in the kitchen and rolled up his sleeves. On his arms were blotches. He had skin cancer and apparently other forms, all of which he kept from us until this time. We lost him May 28, 2000.

My birthday weekend this year, I traveled to SLC, Utah to work with Dancers Against Cancer. They were helping in an event for a young woman diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. The day I traveled, my birthday, I got a text from my sister. That morning, one of my oldest childhood friends lost his battle with cancer. My step father beat throat cancer and my grandmother is battling it currently.

It was towards the end of my trip in SLC that I began to get visions of a portrait series with dancers for cancer awareness. When I started seeing these images, I immediately sent a text to the head of Dancers Against Cancer, damning her. I had finally been bitten by the bug and there was not shaking it.

At that point, I took out my notebook and began jotting down the poses I was seeing. When I got back home, I continued to draft up poses and ideas. Then, I began to locate some bodies for it.

First up was Jane. Jane and I have known each other for a year or so, maybe more? Jane is a dancer with Ballet Fleming which is a company that I shoot for here in Philly and help out on their steering committee. Jane was already coming in for a shoot when I talked to her about participating in this project. She was very excited to be involved. Today was our shoot. Here are some images.

Empowered Me is about just that Empowerment. Strength. Courage. Willpower. Dancers will be used to help portray these traits.

I hope you enjoy it!!!

Here is the scoop (below) on that monumental trip to Salt Lake City!

http://brianmengini.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/dancers-against-cancer/

TUTU TUESDAY!!!!

Every girl likes to dress up and feel pretty, right? Well, here is a chance for your little princess and 7 of her girlfriends to do just that!!!

That’s right!! We are giving away a FREE photo shoot for your little princess and her 7 closest girl friends AND… we are giving them each a tutu from Tutu.Com that they will get to keep once the shoot is over! As if that was not enough… ALL 8 PRINCESSES will be featured on not only my Facebook page and blog, but they will ALL be featured on Tutu.Com’s Facebook page, which has over 15,500 followers!

Tutu.com is a world renowned creator of tutus. Their work has been in countless magazines including Vogue. They are suppliers of major ballet companies all over!!!

Check out their FB page!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/TutuCom/54783047781

Ok, so it is a contest, so you must DO something to win it and obviously, there are rules as always. I hate rules, don’t you? I think that is why I am an artist. Ah, but I digress. Or is it regress. No, no. I am sure, it’s digress. So, again, I digress. Sorry, this all may be alot to DIGEST. HA! I made a funny!!! Alright. make with the rules and shtuff, right? Right. Grand so.

Simply comment on this blog with WHY your princess should get this auspicious act of charity and good fortune. What would it mean to you? What would it mean to her? Please, save the Jane Austen & Mr Darcy fluff for your book of the month club. I have ALL of the dvd’s. I like the one with Colin Firth the best. Ok, rambling again. MY daughter would love this. Actually, I may actually enter this contest under the moniker, Mr Darcy. But seriously, tell me why you want this for your princess.

Rules. Yes, here are those blasted rules.

1) The girls must be under 10. NO ADULTS!
2) Parents must be present and willing to sign a model release for each girl at the photo shoot.
3) The shoot will take place at my studio in Phoenixville
4) You MUST take the girls back home with. For the love of god, dont leave them with me.
5) You MUST tell ALL of your friends how fun creative and handsome I am.
5 1/2) and funny too!!!

CONTEST ENDS AT 7PM WEDNESDAY NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok so… git them cinderella stories churnin and godspeed to ya!

Fine Print Disclaimer:

*** Prints, etc, will be sold separately.

This message will self destruct in 30 seconds

We are family!!

Ok folks! The time is now to begin the first leg of our week long contest spree jimmy jammy thingy!

Since school starts tomorrow for my kids, I figured we would start by giving away a free family session. Now, this is for a family session, not a couples session or of just your kid(s). This one is for the full crew. This also is JUST FOR THE SESSION! You get no prints, etc, with this. However, you will have them BEFORE Christmas and you know Grandma (the one who DIDN’T get run over by a reindeer) LOVES pictures of her beautiful family for Christmas!! Very pretty LARGE print to hang over the fireplace. Plus, you get to be the smart one in your circle of friends because you will NOT be in the mall in November trying to get an appointment at one of “those” studios.

That is a self portrait of my family taken last year, October, actually. That can be your family! No really, it can – I am giving mine away, please take them! HA! I kid.

In order to enter this contest, you must comment on this blog posting with what you and your family do for fun or the funnest moment you ever had with your family! We will choose a random winner and announce it on Facebook! The contest ends at 7pm Tuesday night (tomorrow) and will be announced at 8pm on my Facebook page!

You MUST be able to travel to my studio in Phoenixville!

You MUST have a family! The family should be yours, btw.

You MUST schedule your session for the month of September.

You DO NOT get extra credit for multiple entries. I will delete and disqualify you and leave nasty rumors about you on Facebook. I’ve done it, its not pretty.

ALSO… THEY MUST BE TRUE COMMENTS!!! I DON’T WANT SOME SAPPY ROMANCE NOVELIST LEAVING AN EXCERPT THAT’S IN ONE OF HER BOOKS ON THE SHELVES AT WALMART! NOR DO I WANT A PIPE DREAM. I WANT REAL DEAL HOLYFIELD HERE FOLKS!

SO… good luck and get writing!!!

Holly Curran

Each client offers a unique experience. One I enjoy is where we can talk about different experiences, choreography and other artists. These kind of conversations allow you to connect as artists in a wonderful way. You allow yourselves to be taken to a completely different place and that is why we create is it not? These unique experiences are truly what make my job so amazing. Its such a thrill to be part of their lives and learn about them.

Holly and I have been friends on Facebook for a while and finally met when I started working with Ballet Fleming. She’s a graduate of the University of the Arts and also danced with Ballet Austin. I have shot her on stage and did a mini Tutu.Com shoot. I had donated a photo shoot to Ballet Fleming for their silent auction for Tapas. Holly was the lucky winner! That was also fun for me. Well, we finally were able to get a date set and she came in from NJ for the shoot. We had a lot of fun. We talked dance – choreo, her travels and experience, some of mine and of course, we created some fun images! It is really awesome to get to know people better, you are able to connect on a deeper level and you get to learn! This summer, she will be doing a summer residency in Montana with Ballet Montana so she wanted to get the shoot in before she left. I am glad we did!

Here are some of the images….

Kat hitting the hardwood, ruffling the neighbors!

Kat and I kinda met in February when she was one of the performers for the first ever Tap Teaser on Tour, to benefit my program, Hope Dances. Our second encounter came when Pamela Hetherington asked me to do the promo shots for her and Kat’s upcoming Fringe show, “Too Darned Hot.”

I actually was behind Kat in the coffee shop two doors down from my studio, but since I had only seen her once, I wasn’t sure it was her, so I said nothing. However, as I was checking FB while waiting for my java, our dialogue began. Apparently, she messaged me while SHE was in line, asking if I wanted something. I saw it and responded when I was in line.

So anyway, the shoot was a blast. At the end, Kat and I spoke about working together again. I don’t shoot a lot of tap so I am still uncertain of it. I don’t have the same confidence as when I shoot ballet or hip hop. But I wanted to shoot more, for the fun and challenge!

We finally locked in a date and time and met at my studio. She started by just dancing and I would capture as I saw things. She was going full out. My studio is an old building in downtown Phoenixville and you can hear EVERYTHING from floor to floor.

Well, in no time at all, I was engaged in a multi floored chat with my neighbors upstairs who were trying to paint as Kat was hoofing. It was one for the books for sure! “What’s going on down there? It sounds like someone is tap dancing!” “They are!” “why?” “I’m doing a photo shoot!” “While someone is tap dancing?” “Yes! I’M A DANCE PHOTOGRAPHER!” “Well, its hard to focus on painting with the dancing.” “SORRY!!!” Epic to say the least!

So, from that point on, we stopped dancing and just started to hit poses which actually worked out well! I had such a great time working with Kat! She is such a sweet person and just a wonderfully fun talent. I think we got some great images!!

Here are some of our faves!!!

Poke Buddies….

Sometimes ya just need a good poke! When you do, ya gotta have a good poke buddy on stand by… Someone you can call when the urge hits you! My poke buddy is in Florida!

When I got to Tampa, I did my usual check-in on Facebook at the airport. Cheryl Ogle and I have been friends on Facebook for a while and when I “checked in” I saw she had done the same at some point previously. I had forgotten she was down there! Within the next day or two, I posted on my status about Tampa and she commented. Well, we quickly made plans to hook up on my last day. By that time I was in need of some R&R and a good poke! Get your mind out of the gutter. We poke on Facebook.

So, Cheryl and her daughter Skylar showed me around Tarpon Springs and we did mini shoots of each other. It was a lot of fun!

We wound up back at her house then went out for lunch as the local place wasn’t open yet.

From lunch we went to Clearwater for a little bit.

After, we went back to her house for coffee, met her son and hubby, who had been out all day looking for a boat. Then, it was off to the airport for my return trip home.

Here are some images from our shoot!

I had so much fun hanging with Cheryl for the day! Looking forward to doing it again in January!

Tiffany Hedman

Tiffand and I have been friends on Facebook for a while. Through that and me working with some of the dancers from Boston Ballet, she became more familiar with my work and apparently liked it. I had always admired her and especially her presence. So when she one day indicated she would like to work with me, I was elated.

It is often tough working through schedules with dancers, especially in a major company and if they are higher ranked. Eventually, we were able to get things worked out on a trip I was planning for Boston to work on some other things. I remember this entire weekend, almost, we were being bounced from studio to studio, trying to find one open. Finally, we did and we were able to get some work in. Tiffany was a true joy work with and such a sweet person. Here are some of the images from our session!

Barre Boys ~ PNB Soloist Benjamin Griffiths talks about Seattle, Boston & Food!

1. What’s your hometown?

I grew up in Boise, Idaho.

2. How old were you when you started ballet?

I started ballet when I was 7 years old.

3. Where did you last study before joining PNB?

The last school I studied at was the School of American Ballet in New York City, but I also danced professionally with Boston Ballet for three years before I came out to join PNB. And although I was already a professional, I learned so much in those years at Boston about the level of commitment it takes to be a professional dancer from from Mikko and the ballet masters, as well as, dancers like Larissa Ponomarenko, Sarah Lamb, and Victor Plotnikov.

4. What is the dance scene like in Seattle?

The dance scene in Seattle is small but growing. PNB is the only company in the area to maintain a classical/neoclassical repertory. The other established company is Spectrum Dance Theater, which is directed by Donald Byrd. There are also many fairly young contemporary companies that put on amazing show in the area, and we are fortunate to have University of Washington’s sponsored Dance Series at Meany Hall, which presents touring companies, such as, Lines Ballet, La Compania Nacional de Danza, etc.

5. What is your favorite ballet?

It’s too hard to choose just one. I love “In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated,” “Red Angels,” and “Agon.” “Coppelia” also holds a special meaning for me since it was my first leading role in a full-length story ballet.

6. Is there a ballet or specific role you would love to do that you haven’t yet?

I would love to dance “Red Angels,” “Prodigal Son,” and Prince Desire in “The Sleeping Beauty.”

7. If you had to pick one, what would you say is your favorite style of ballet?

I love the Neoclassical style because it still draws on the foundations of classical ballet steps and line while pushing the boundaries of traditional ballet. In many ways, I think that it is even a more pure style of dance because it leaves out the pageantry and pantomime so that the audience and the dancer have to truly focus on the dancing.

8. If you weren’t a ballet dancer, what career do you think you would most likely have chosen?

That’s a good question and one that I’m still trying to answer. Ballet has been my first passion since I was very young and I have sort of had tunnel vision while working toward my goals in this profession. However, I realize that this career will not last forever and am trying to broaden my interests by taking college courses at Seattle University. I am also very interested in city planning and sustainability, as well as teaching ballet.

9. Outside of ballet, what style of dance do you most enjoy?

My experience with other styles of dance are fairly limited to the repertory of a ballet company which ranges from traditional ballet to very modern dance, and I like different aspects of every style in that range. However I’m always amazed by the hip-hop and latin ballroom dancers on “So You Think You Can Dance” and they are definitely styles that I may want to experiment with, especially the ballroom. Though I have to admit that the hip-hop is a little intimidating since it is so different from the styles that I do right now.

10. When you’re not dancing, what do you enjoy to do, aside from obviously resting?

I love to travel and I’m also a big foodie. I love to experience new restaurants and cuisines. In the summer, I also love being on the water because I love to swim.

11. Do you keep up on any other companies at all? I know being a professional dancer; your time is limited…

I’m not obsessive about it but I do keep up on other companies. The dance world is fairly small, so I like to see what my friends in other companies are dancing and I love to watch video clips of dancers from other companies for inspiration and motivation.

12. Any pre-show rituals?

I have to get to the theater really early because I hate feeling rushed before the show. I also do the same barre to warm up before every show.

13. Do you recall the date of your first performance with PNB?

It was in September of 2005. I was doing the demi-soloists in Balanchine’s “Symphony in Three Movements,” and in the finale my shoe came off and landed right in the space where Patricia Barker was dancing. I was mortified, but luckily my career didn’t continue like that here.

14. Describe the feeling when you took the stage with the company for the first time.

It was an amazing feeling to be onstage with such a great company in such a beautiful opera house. Being from Boise, PNB was the closest major company, and I grew up following the company. So it was amazing to be a part of something that I had been in awe of during my training.

15. Was there a different feeling when you took the stage for the first time after being promoted to soloist?

There wasn’t really a different feeling when my rank changed. I still get just as nervous. For me, I guess the feeling I have on stage has more to do with the role than with my rank in the company.

16. What is your conditioning routine off season?

It depends… I seem to get on a different kick every time we have a break. One time it may weights, and the next break it might be yoga. I almost always stay active and try to use the time to cross train in some capacity though.

17. What do you like most about Seattle?

I love that Seattle has a vibrant cultural scene while still having a laid back vibe. I also love that it has a big city vibe without the cost of living of New York or San Francisco.

18. If you could perform on any stage in the world, what would it be?

I would love to perform at the Garnier Opera House in Paris, just because it is so beautiful and historic. I also used to be obsessed with the documentary of ABT’s summer tour from 1994 when I they performed in the coliseum in Athens, Greece. That would also be an awesome place to perform.

19. Who was your biggest influence as a dancer?

All of my teachers influenced my dancing, but I’d have to say that Lisa Moon, one of my teachers in Boise, had the most influence over my choices as a dancer.

20. What’s your biggest accomplishment to date?

I think that my biggest accomplishment as a dancer was working on and performing Franz in “Coppelia.” It takes such discipline and focus to prepare a full length ballet and a lot of courage to get out on stage and perform under the pressure of carrying a whole evening.

21. What choreographer would you most love to work with?

I would love to work with Jiri Kylian. His ballets are so innovative, organic, musical and it would be an honor to be in one of his creations.

For more images from our session, please visit:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=247902&id=256421562292

For more info on Pacific Northwest Ballet, please visit:
http://www.pnb.org

Pas De Deux in the South End

Just two weeks off my last trip to Boston, I was commissioned to head back up and shoot promo shots of Lia Cirio and James Whiteside for Eglevsky Ballet’s Nutcracker!

After some serious trickery in working through challenging schedules (mostly the dancers’), I booked my flights, kissed the wife and kids bye and was “shipping up to Boston!”

Boston has quickly stolen my heart and I have fallen in love with this amazing city!! The dancers were amazingly friendly, hospitable and accommodating! Though it was the first time I had ever met Lia & Jeff in person, there was a certain feeling of familiarity, that of which you would share with a close friend or someone you have known for years.

This trip was no different in the warmth as I was greeted with a “welcome back” when I sent Lia a text to let her know of my arrival. Shortly after, I bumped into Kathleen on the rooftop who was also all smiles!

The shoot itself went great! We were able to grab some great images in short order. After which, I had some time on my hands to roam the south end some. I also met up with a friend from Facebook, Heidi, who is an appreciator of dance (and my work!). It was nice putting a face with whom I chatted with online!

Apart from schlepping my gear all over Boston, it was an enjoyable trip! I even made some new contacts!

Boston, till we meet again…