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Last month the Academie de Ballet held their annual recital at the L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center on the campus of Norfolk State University. We’ve been photographing their recital for 25 years.
The Masterworks Touring Company will soon be introducing their latest production, ISOULation. We met at COLLECTORnorfolk for a video shoot of this dance but began with some posed still photos for marketing purposes. Masterworks Touring Company’s mission is to present the Good News of Jesus Christ through dance, drama and personal testimonies. With excellence and integrity, their vision is to use God-given creativity to give Him glory as we bring restoration and redemption to the arts, cultures and people groups around the world.
Hurricane Maria was a terrible storm. Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands were leveled by it. Fortunately, by the time Maria reached our latitude, she had weakened and stayed offshore. The results for our area were higher than normal tides, rough surf, and blustery winds. Conditions like this are unusual. We decided to take advantage of it to create these amazing images of Jessica. We first did a fashion look. The gown caught the wind making beautiful lines in the fabric. After that, Jessica went to one of her dance costumes, also with a flowing skirt. In this case, we both went into the surf which became a challenge trying not to get knocked over by the powerful undertow. Cameras and salt water don’t mix. We finished with a long flowy length of fabric that mimicked the color of the surf foam and a few photos in the nearby dunes. We both had so much fun on this shoot. I hated to see it end.
Hampton Roads Photography has had a long relationship with the Masterworks Touring Company. With excellence and integrity, their vision is to use God-given creativity to give Him glory and bring restoration and redemption to the arts, cultures and people groups around the world. Each year we create new head shots and group photos as they prepare for the new season of performances. This year the Touring Company is made up of six dancers, Jessica Hartsfield, Emileigh Earlenbaugh, Krystal Descano, Olivia Shedd, Elise Hughes and Quinn Ricks.
In the upcoming season, they will be performing at the CBN Rosh Hashanah event in September, Pembroke Mall, MacArthur Mall and Cedar Manor in December, The Wave Church Women’s Conference in February, The Stockley Gardens Art Festival in May and the Miss Virginia Pageant in June. Other events will most likely be added. In April, they are looking at another missions trip. This year the Touring Company went to Amsterdam to dance in the red light districts, sharing their message.
Claire is a fourteen year old dancer and gymnast. She had an unusual request for a Christmas present. She wanted some dance photos done on location, specifically in the NEON district in downtown Norfolk.
Brooke Blackman was one of the original members of the Masterworks Touring Company.
On Friday and Saturday, October 7th and 8th, Masterworks presented it’s original ballet, Lily and the Gypsies at the Sandler Center in Virginia Beach. We were privileged to be able to photograph this production.
