DANCE

Dance to me falls within the confines of movement. I think that I understand dance, but not on the same level as the skilled dancer. The movement specialist can range from the earthy soil to soar and all that may fall in between from one extreme to the other. For me, to photograph a dancer in action means to dance with them as a partner. I am learning how to follow and to anticipate the moves. Not to be tripped over but to flow with and to sometimes lead with the field of view of the camera.
Light as a feather and as heavy as an elephant. A combination of grace style and finesse. Silent in bare feet, but the click-clack in tap shoes, the squeak of the bare feet on hardwood and the whoosh of the slide and following through. Dervish-like or in movement fully affected by the thunder of syncopated drums or the highs of the strings to lift and pirouette. Leaping, flowing, spinning, softly and quietly or only making the sounds of the accompanying costume that conceals the body, but announces the energy spent.

"Dance Company on 4th of July" El Cerrito, California August 2023

"Dimensions Dance Company 50th Anniversary" Oakland, California November 2022	"Dimensions Dance Company 50th Anniversary" Oakland, California November 2022

"Dimensions Dance Company 50th Anniversary" Oakland, California November 2022	"Dimensions Dance Company 50th Anniversary" Oakland, California November 2022

"Dimensions Dance Company 50th Anniversary" Oakland, California November 2022	"Dimensions Dance Company 50th Anniversary" Oakland, California November 2022

"Dimensions Dance Company 50th Anniversary" Oakland, California November 2022	"Dimensions Dance Company 50th Anniversary" Oakland, California November 2022

"Dimensions Dance Company 50th Anniversary" Oakland, California November 2022	"Dimensions Dance Company 50th Anniversary" Oakland, California November 2022

"Myra and Melford and Oguri" San Francisco, California October 2021

"Oguri" San Francisco, California October 2021	"Jen Shyu" San Francisco, California October 2021

"Dancer at her home" Berkeley, California October 2020

"Dancer at the park: Northern Mongolian costume" Berkeley, California October 2020	"Dancer at the park: Northern Mongolian costume" Berkeley, California October 2020

"Dancer at the park: Northern Mongolia costume" Berkeley, California October 2020	"Dancer at the park: Northern Mongolia costume" Berkeley, California October 2020

"Dimensions Dance Company" San Francisco, California October 2015	"Dimensions Dance Company" San Francisco, California October 2015

"Dimensions Dance Company" San Francisco, California October 2015	"Dimensions Dance Company" San Francisco, California October 2015	"Dimensions Dance Company" San Francisco, California October 2015

"Bhangra Dancer" El Cerrito, California October 2018	"Carnaval Dancer" San Francisco, California June 2017	"Carnaval Dancer" Oakland, California June 2017

"Bhangra Dancers" Berkeley, California May 2015	"Bhangra Dancers" Berkeley, California May 2015

"Bhangra Dancers" Berkeley, California May 2015	"Bhangra Dancers" Berkeley, California May 2015

"Egret Dancer" Berkeley, California September 2014

"Egret Dancer" Berkeley, California September 2014	"Egret Dancer" Berkeley, California September 2014	"Egret Dancer" Berkeley, California September 2014

"Belly Dancer" Richmond, California August 2013

"Suhaila Dance Company" El Cerrito, California July 2013

"Bandaloop Dance Company" Oakland, California November 2012	"Bandaloop Dance Company" Oakland, California November 2012

"Bandaloop Dance Company" Oakland, California November 2012	"Bandaloop Dance Company" Oakland, California November 2012

"Bandaloop Dance Company" Oakland, California November 2012	"Bandaloop Dance Company" Oakland, California November 2012

"Bandaloop Dance Company" Oakland, California November 2012	"Bandaloop Dance Company" Oakland, California November 2012

"Honey Goddess" Richmond, California May 2012	"Ms. Cook" Richmond, California January 2012	"Ms. Cook" Richmond, California January 2012

"Fantasy Festival Belly Dance" July 2011	"Fantasy Festival Belly Dance" July 2011	"Fantasy Festival Belly Dance" July 2011

"Fantasy Festival Belly Dance" July 2011	"Fantasy Festival Belly Dance" July 2011	"Fantasy Festival Belly Dance" July 2011

"Fantasy Festival Belly Dance" July 2011	"Fantasy Festival Belly Dance" July 2011	"Fantasy Festival Belly Dance" July 2011

"Fantasy Festival Belly Dance" July 2011	"Fantasy Festival Belly Dance" July 2011	"Fantasy Festival Belly Dance" July 2011

"CCSF fashion show dance performers" May 2011	"CCSF fashion show dance performers" May 2011

"CCSF fashion show dance performers" May 2011	"CCSF fashion show dance performers" May 2011

"CCSF fashion show dance performers" May 2011	"CCSF fashion show dance performers" May 2011	"CCSF fashion show dance performers" May 2011

"Suhaila Dance Company" July 2011	"Suhaila Dance Company" July 2011	"Suhaila Dance Company" July 2011

"Suhaila Dance Company" July 2011	"Suhaila Dance Company" July 2011

"Suhaila Dance Company" July 2011	"Suhaila Dance Company" July 2011

"Suhaila Dance Company" July 2011	"Suhaila Dance Company" July 2011

"dance movement photograph" San Francisco, California June 2011

"Hoop Dancer: Betty" Oakland, California May 2011	"Hoop Dancer: Betty" Oakland, California May 2011
"Hoop Dancer: Betty" Oakland, California May 2011	"Hoop Dancer: Betty" Oakland, California May 2011

"Dancer: Vincent" February 2011	"Dancer: Vincent" February 2011

"Dancer: Edward Jackson" December 2011	"Dancer: Edward Jackson" December 2011

"Dancer: Edward Jackson" December 2011	"Dancer: Edward Jackson" December 2011

"Dancer: Gayle" December 2010

Dancer: Pat Cosgrove 2010	Dancer: Pat Cosgrove 2010

Dancer: Patricia Bulitt 2010	Dancer: Patricia Bulitt 2010

Dancer: Gayle 2010	Dancer: Donna 2010

Dancer: Patricia Bulitt 2010	Dancer: Patricia Bulitt 2010

Dancer at The Joyce Gordon Gallery, Oakland California 2008	Dancer: Dancer at The Joyce Gordon Gallery, Oakland California 2008

Dancer: Patricia Bulitt 2010	Dancer: Patricia Bulitt 2010

Copyright Raymond Holbert 2023: Use of these images and or text is prohibited without permission from the author.

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