Mixing it up in the trenches

To use a sports comparison when I shoot I usually prefer to be a pocket quarterback letting things develop in front of me and not a scrambling quarterback making things happen on the move. This is not to say during some performance shoots, especially and mainly during dress rehearsal runs, that I don’t move around but my style is my style. Recently I got to shoot a Tech/Dress Rehearsal by LEVYDance (www.levydance.org/) in conjunction with the Temple Dance Department and PDP (Philadelphia Dance Projects) to provide some archive documentation for the Temple Dance Department.

If you missed this one night performance then you missed a very cool show. The piece “ROMP” not only incorporated students from the Temple Dance Department but also brings the audience onto the stage to be a part of the piece and me as a photographer to get in the trenches and shoot amongst the action.

Not that I haven’t shot site specific work where there is no traditional audience seating but this type of performance presents the challenge of capturing interesting moments as usual but also not impeding the flow of the piece by getting in the way of the performers. Plus when not knowing where or how the movement will flow you risk a kick to the noggin or just a collision in general. I definitely enjoyed the show plus the challenge shooting the rehearsal since sometimes it’s important to step out of your comfort zone and also see dance in a different way.

Though more of a challenge to shoot the piece was very enjoyable and for those who missed it and live in the NY area be sure to join LEVYdance, Feb 17th-19th for the NY premier of ROMP at the Joyce Soho.

For now enjoy a few additional images (please note that some shots are not in full costume though) and stay tuned for the next Behind the Lens column. Same bat time, same bat channel or rather same URL. =)

• About
• Latest Posts

Bill Hebert

Photographer & Contributor at The Dance Journal

Bill Hebert (pronounced AY-BEAR), has been photographing performances in Philadelphia and New York for almost 8 years now primarily capturing dance.He has worked such local artists as Montazh, Rennie Harris Puremovement (RHPM), Headlong Dance Theater, BalletX, Winged Woman Dance/Tina Heuges, Nichole Canuso Dance Company and Group Motion among many others in Philadelphia.NY based and touring companies Bill has had the pleasure of working with include: Paul Taylor, Limon Dance, Parsons Dance, Doug Varone and Dancers, Merce Cunningham, RubberbandDance Group, Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, River North Chicago Dance and Pilobolus. Bill has also had the pleasure of participating in three photography workshops with renowned dance photographer Lois Greenfield. Bill’s philosophy and mission is to “Capture the Essence of the Moment” and give the work a life beyond the stage. Bill Hebert is currently a photographer for The University of Pennsylvania’s Dance Celebration series, was one of the photographers for both the 2008 & 2009 Live Arts and Philly Fringe Festival, Choreographic Sketches in NY, 2010 IABD Conference and proud to be a part of the team for the “By Local” series in Philadelphia which will give local artists a chance to tell their story while doing what they love which is to entertain and enlighten others.

Latest posts by Bill Hebert (see all)

• The Dancing Monks of Assam - April 18, 2018
• In the studio with Darrell Grand Moultrie - February 4, 2018
• Bill Hebert’s Philly Holiday Sampler - December 17, 2017