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Powerful Backstage Photos Of Ballet Dancers Through Eyes Of Russian Ballerina
St. Petersburg is an all-kind-of-arts city. And, first of all, it is a city of Russian Ballet Heritage. Here lives an extremely talented Russian ballet photographer, "Soul in Feet" project founder and professional ballerina, Darian Volkova.
"Giving people an opportunity to see behind the scenes of ballet through ballerina's eyes - that's what my photography art is about. As a viewer, you can see just one side of ballet, the world of beauty and lightness but ballet is more than the world - it's the universe." As a professional dancer, Darian often travels around the world with her company, and as a ballet photographer, she doesn't forget to take stunning pictures during tours. Darian has shot in the theaters from Russia to Iceland.
"My last destination was France. It was unforgettable! I always enjoy it, to work with ballet dancers from another country. They have different ballet dance school but we are still soulmates."
At home Darian takes beautiful photos of prima ballerinas of Mariinsky and Mikhailovsky and other theaters. She likes one-to-one shooting. It's maybe similar to the myth about Pygmalion and Galatea she's kind of a sculptor, and dancer is her creation she tries to make alive.
More info: darianvolkova.com | Facebook | Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Final score:
124points
YvonneBernal 9 years ago
WoW! Stunning AND thought provoking... no wonder you're a photographer. You're a darn good one at that!
SolveigHauksdottir 9 years ago
This picture is taken in Harpa, Reykjavik music Hall (Iceland). Such a beautiful building, and a lovely photo.
RELATED:
#2
Final score:
122points
Alicia-JaneNapier 9 years ago
I don't think this represents sadness...it's passion and dedication
BillingtonJ.O. 9 years ago
A sacrifice...For Art. This shows she feels it is worth it. I bet she is an excellent dancer.
Maggie Stephens Dougherty 9 years ago
It sure does give you an insight into ballet, and it hardship, but the end justifies the means!! They're poor feet takes such punishment! It seem so flawless as a patron, and joying it from the seats! They certainly work hard at it!!
KelvinGorrell 9 years ago
It is hard to create the illusion of flying and being weightless that ballet dancers portray. This shows the strength that it really takes as well as the pain. Bravo!
PeggyHamburg 9 years ago
After looking through all the pictures I have to wonder what captivates the soul of those in ballet that they would so painfully punish and disfigure their bodies. Are they so driven by the applause, notoriety, beauty? I don't understand.
MelodyDiermyer 9 years ago
Passion isn't something you can really put into words. A love of dance can't be contained by any spoken language. To dance is to be set free. Sometimes dance is the only way to express what one is feeling. I"m not speaking for anyone but myself. I'm barely an intermediate ballet dancer, but that's what I feel in my soul when I think of dancing. Dancing is freedom.
Load More Replies... #3
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#4
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102points
TamaraHeikalo 9 years ago
Yes, but don't forget, they love it, too. So I try not to worry about their choice.
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#6
Final score:
91points
JosieMills-nowRichards 9 years ago
Great photography!! highlights the complexity of this particular human art form. has anyone ever seen a well covered ballerina? and if we did, would people be commenting about that in a negative way....Probably!
TammyChapman 9 years ago
Ballet is a beautiful art form. But they go through so much pain to get there. And they're required to be so skinny, or their trainers will body shame them. They go through hell to be able to perform. And I've seen people say that it's not a "job". It's most definitely a job! They have to work hard and practice every day. They are extremely dedicated to their art. So while I still think it's too hard on their feet and on their weight, I still respect them for their love and dedication to the art of ballet.
#7
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78points
GlynisLailann 9 years ago
Or rather, swans lying dormant waiting to be invigorated.
Load More Replies... #9
Final score:
76points
Pataman 9 years ago
Dance-obviously the most physical of the arts. Never a day off.
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#10
Final score:
75points
JasminMountain 9 years ago
For anyone wondering, she most likely has Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, a lot of ballet dancers and gymnasts do due to the extra flexibility given to joints. She also has a the best part of a lifetime of very dedicated training, which mayy be why she's as flexible as she is, but yes, JBS can be a very painful condition if the muscles aren't strong enough to compensate for the ligaments and tendons being too loose- bones start grinding together dislocations and slipped disks are common too.
AvonleaArnette 9 years ago
Most people think of ballerinas as princesses, and weak little girls but this photograph completely proves them wrong, it's beautiful.
KarlaLittke 9 years ago
This is not natural. Oh the pain & troubles when they are old....Ouch.
#11
Final score:
71points
#12
Final score:
69points
YoliAnderson 9 years ago
It's good to see the reality behind the image,ballet is not just long arms and grace,the dancer's body gets so much pain over the years to perform all these moves,in my opinion it's too much.
MargaretMauro 9 years ago
Yoli, it's too much if ballet is not your passion. it's great to see these coz it lets others see that it takes a lot of dedication and toughness to be a ballerina. this goes for dancers too - actually this goes for any 'job' that you're passionate about. some of the wear and tear may not be physical - just look at people who are passionate about helping victims of abuse - their wear and tear is on their emotions and pyche (sic).
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JosieMills-nowRichards 9 years ago
The beauty and the beast, such is the reality of this discipline called Ballet.
#13
Final score:
64points
#14
Final score:
59points
Michel M. Prins 8 years ago
The amount of hours she had to spend on achieving such a flexible pose payed off perfectly
#15
Final score:
56points
LisaMariaPoeRodrigues 9 years ago
Cant we just enjoy the damn pictures ? If you want to be good, real good, in anything (..) you need to work hard -blood sweath and tears.
MiaVita 9 years ago
There is a lot in this photo. If you don't see that, and based on the story this picture show is telling...don't get your panties in a bunch. Of course it's hard work. That's part of the story. geez lady.
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mcami 9 years ago
I think people who have never been on pointe should try them and see that it isn't as painful as it looks like. Of course, after some training, we don't want any broken ankles. But it really isn't very painful, especially if you enjoy what you're doing and if there is any pain, you don't notice it (unless it's something bad, in which case you should stop) because you're concentrated in what you're doing.
Maggie Dougherty 2 years ago
To me, this photo says, about the hours of dedication that it takes, to actually wear these toe shoes out.
Hannah Hollowell 9 years ago
I wonder how many ballet shoes a professional dancer goes through in a year???
MichaelMcQuown 9 years ago
Ballet -- masochism set to music. The human toes were not meant to bear the weight of the entire body.
EveHershkowitz 9 years ago
Beautiful .. but at what cost to the dancers? It's one thing to work hard at something, it's another to destroy your body in the process.
Pataman 9 years ago
It's called passion. Passion for the dance and passion for any performing arts. One must give all to the art of choice. Otherwise one becomes mediocre.
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Laure 9 years ago
I guess it is more about how the idea of pain and hard work is miles away from what people see in dancers: grace, elegance, a hobby rather than a «real» job etc. It is not a question of a «female» profession, whatever it means, rather than the fact that you don't need to mention that being a soldier, miner etc. IS an extremely physical job. Everybody knows it. But not everybody knows what it means to be a dancer, male or female. Also, have a look on bored panda, you'll find others posts about what you would probably call male professions, and you'll see that yes, we also talk about them. But it's about dancers here :)
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#16
Final score:
52points
#17
Final score:
43points
Magala Gutierrez 9 years ago
They look amazing , is not nesesary to stand in toes to be a great dancer.. i wish soon ballet will not require them to destroy their toes.
clever username 4 years ago
as a young dancer i can say that it is very much worth hurting your toes for passion and beauty and commitment
Load More Replies... #18
Final score:
40points
#20
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34points
#22
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#23
Final score:
30points
Maggie Dougherty 2 years ago
What a beautiful photo, her tutu looks like it's made of feathers.
#24
Final score:
30points
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20points
KatarinaStratford 9 years ago
As an ex ballerina I can definitely say that going on your tippy toes in those shoes can lead to slight damage to the toes and toenails but other than that the rigorous training has led to me having rather good joints and muscles. Plus my flexibility is top notch
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#41
Final score:
16points
#49
Final score:
12points
TammyChapman 9 years ago
I've also noticed, after looking at all the pictures, that everyone is talking about the women, and what they go through. Yet when it's a man in the picture, they say things like: So strong....So powerful....etc. They go through the same training, and put their bodies through the same pain as the women do. Why are people not recognizing this??
blugeagua 9 years ago
Because this is still a misognist world and people like to criticize women more than men.
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TammyChapman 9 years ago
Ballet is a beautiful art form, but they are required to be so skinny. Many of the dancers in this post appear to be unhealthy. Bones are not supposed to show this much.
#56
Final score:
10points
Add New Image
What do you think ?
JayWeigel 9 years ago
What I think is basically awful is that there have been NO technical advances in the shoes whatsoever. NONE. The dancers, particularly those who dance in pointe shoes, are dancing on cardboard and cloth. It's c**p. There is no excuse for it, either.
BeckyCorina 9 years ago
there are things such as 'ouchie pouchies' which you can wear in your pointe shoes you can also use lambs wool however professional dancers do not usually or are not allowed to use this. personally I prefer to wear my point shoes without any support as I feel i can feel my feet better and control my body easier.
Load More Replies...
DanielChristie 9 years ago
the pict tells pain. we taste the their hurt as a sweet candy. just now i know their sacrifice to perform & entertain. Thumbs up.
jmleclercq 9 years ago
Really great work, congratulations. If you want to promote it on the photography blog (blog.jmleclercq.com), contact me. It's totally free.
Starlight481 9 years ago
Wow. The pain they must go through for the enjoyment of others, who ever would had thought something so beautiful could be so devastating.
AnamakSulSabihah 9 years ago
All I can think about is consumption ..the pain they must go through for the perfect leap... definition of of "beauty" these dancers dedicate their lives, bodies and souls for us to enjoy.. it is sooo beautiful.. it.. hurts....
JayWeigel 9 years ago
What I think is basically awful is that there have been NO technical advances in the shoes whatsoever. NONE. The dancers, particularly those who dance in pointe shoes, are dancing on cardboard and cloth. It's c**p. There is no excuse for it, either.
BeckyCorina 9 years ago
there are things such as 'ouchie pouchies' which you can wear in your pointe shoes you can also use lambs wool however professional dancers do not usually or are not allowed to use this. personally I prefer to wear my point shoes without any support as I feel i can feel my feet better and control my body easier.
Load More Replies... DanielChristie 9 years ago
the pict tells pain. we taste the their hurt as a sweet candy. just now i know their sacrifice to perform & entertain. Thumbs up.
jmleclercq 9 years ago
Really great work, congratulations. If you want to promote it on the photography blog (blog.jmleclercq.com), contact me. It's totally free.
Starlight481 9 years ago
Wow. The pain they must go through for the enjoyment of others, who ever would had thought something so beautiful could be so devastating.
AnamakSulSabihah 9 years ago
All I can think about is consumption ..the pain they must go through for the perfect leap... definition of of "beauty" these dancers dedicate their lives, bodies and souls for us to enjoy.. it is sooo beautiful.. it.. hurts....
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