It’s almost the 4th of July (how did that happen?!) and I’m headed up to Maine with a pack of friends for a weekend of sun, sand, and fireworks. Wishing you all an Independence Day that is both fun and safe. Happy 4th!
photo of Brenna DiFrancesco by Andrew Mariner Ayer.
“Good things always happen when artists come together to shake off the winter blues” -there’s no better way to describe my Sunday afternoon with Andrew Mariner. I had been anxious for another collaboration with Andrew ever since our downtown photoshoot back in November, so of course jumped at the first non-freezing Sunday of this new season to get together. He is just so talented and down-to-earth, a genuinely cool guy. The above photo is a behind-the-scenes snap by my friend Brenna (who also got in on the photoshoot action), but I can’t wait to share some of Andy’s gorgeous photos here soon, along with a few more details about our day. 
Also, the lovely creators of Danseuse Balletwear (more info on them coming soon), featured me and the contents of my dance bag on their blog today…head over here to check it out, if you’d like…
For now, I’m off for a slow walk around the East Side to soak in some of this gorgeous sunshine. Happy Wednesday!
“Okay, go now! Wait, no no no, run! Car!” Not your typical photoshoot soundtrack, but then again, this was by no means your typical photoshoot…
I was introduced to the work of Andrew Mariner through social media (#2014), where I was drawn to his avant guard approach to ballet photography and immediately started picturing Providence’s highly photogenic cityscape reflecting in his lens. I decided to reach out to Andy about getting together for a shoot as part of his ballet series, and several weeks later, I was darting into the center of the financial district, dodging cars in my pointe shoes, Alex tossing me around in all different positions (sheesh, that boy is strong!). Yes, people were staring at us as we “fished” through traffic or pushed up into a press over the Providence River. But, you know, I felt oddly comfortable rocking a tutu on Westminster Street…sort of just blended in with the, let’s just say eclectic, wardrobes splashing around RISD’s campus.
Andy’s sharp eye and undeniable ability to capture that perfectly imperfect moment is what I admire most about his photography. He came prepared, with a selection of locations and ideas ripe for collaboration. Of course Alex and I were all too pleased to indulge! We have become quite good at working together on spontaneous experiences of this nature, as you may recall. Always a pleasure working with old friends, and making new ones as well.
PS- No, we did not plan our coordinating Christmas-colored outfits, but we were quite excited by the adorable, thematic serendipity :)
PPS- all photos by Andrew Mariner.
Setting The Barre 