Ballet Zaida Zine

Kate Huntington in LA

Kate Huntington and I got together for a quick shoot at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California.

It had rained the night before our shoot so the air was extra clear, which created beautiful light for our early morning shoot.

You can follow Kate on IG here @K8Huntington

-Oliver Endahl

Kayla Incontro in SF

This was Kayla Incontro and my first time shooting together. We utilized a variety of indoor and outdoor locations in the Bay Area, and created a huge amount of epic shots.

You can follow Kayla on IG here @KayinContro and keep an eye on the Zine for more shoots with her in the future.

-Oliver Endahl

Zahna Simon in San Francisco

Zahna Simon is a deaf dancer located in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the company and festival assistant director at the Urban Jazz Dance Company and is extremely talented.

We used a variety of locations in SF, including the Sutro Bath Ruins, Ocean Beach, the Hidden Staircase, and Sutro Heights Park.

You can follow Zahna on Instagram here @DeafEnPointe

-Oliver Endahl

The Pointe Shop 2024 Models

Jane Woodford and June Freeman are the 2024 Pointe Shop Models.

For this session with them, we shot in the Orange County area in Southern California.

Both June and Jane are extremely talented and this shoot was absolutely epic.

You can follow them on their IG’s below, along with the Pointe Shop.

@JuneDelilahFreeman

@Jane_en_Pointe

@ThePointeShop

Till next time,

-Oliver Endahl

Elseana Skowronski Interview + SF Photoshoot

Elseana Skowronski is a talented dancer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. We’ve shot together many times over the years.

Below is an interview with Elseana + photos from our latest shoot.

Top 5 favorite movies ever (in no order; just 5 movies)

Dirty Dancing, You’ve Got Mail, The Wedding Planner, Chicago, 500 Days of Summer

Favorite movie of 2024!

Wicked, hands down. I’m not really one to go to the theaters much or explore very many new movies. Usually when movies are heavily hyped I inevitably  am disappointed. Wicked lived up though. Obsessed.

Does your relationship to dance feel different now than it used to? (Put another way; Has your relationship with dance changed at all?)

Definitely! I used to get much more caught up in the perfection of it all and get very stressed out by the performance aspect. I don’t dance as much as I would like anymore, but I definitely have more of an appreciation for just the movement and artistry of it all. I also unfortunately deal with a lot of chronic pain, so that has had an effect on the way I move my body. I think over all I am much more gentle and forgiving of myself when I dance now!

What music artists do you listen to?

Soooo many! My top artists this year were Olivia Dean, Hozier, SZA, Kendrick Lamar, and Noah Kahah, which I think represents my music taste pretty well.

What brings you joy?

Lately my friends/family/community has felt especially warm and important to me. Also music, flowers and my house plants, and art :)

Is it important for people to have hobbies?

I would argue yes! I think it shapes you into a full human. I think it’s easy to get caught up in work/school/responsibilities/etc. but if you don’t have enjoyable interests, what’s the point of life really?

Do you enjoy traveling? If so, what’s been a recent favorite trip of yours?

I do! I have been traveling more and more lately and I went on a lot of fun trips this year. Most recent fav was definitely Sri Lanka! It was my first time out of the country and I went to see one of my best friends! I got to spend some good quality time with her, ate a lot of really good food, swam in the ocean, and fulfilled a life long dream of seeing elephants in the wild hehe.

Where do you think the genre of repertory dance should go? Is there anything you want to see more of?

I would love to see repertory dance become more accessible to viewers and more inclusive in its representation. I feel like art deserves to be seen and felt and experienced by the masses, and that’s difficult when it is often catered toward such a small demographic.

What is your current go to “feel good” show?

Always Gilmore Girls and How I Met Your Mother!

What is a movie you saw this year that you liked but probably won’t rewatch?

This is actually a really difficult question because I am a major re-watcher, even if the film was mediocre lol. I think maybe this move called Love At First Sight. I technically have already watched this twice… But the first time was during a movie night I had with a friend and we literally talked through the entire thing, so I went back to watch again, and though it was a cute and enjoyable watch, we weren’t missing much by talking through it lol.

You can follow Elseana on IG here @Elseana.Dance

Till next time,

-Oliver Endahl

Sofia in SF

Sofia and I have shot together a few times over the years in a variety of states and locations.

This time, we spent the day creating in San Francisco, California.

Isn’t that arabesque crazy?

We started the shoot at Bernal Heights, which offers beautiful views of the city + a nice view of the Sutro Tower (which you can see in the bottom right corner of the image above)

After bernal we headed to the Legion of Honor Museum.

The legion of honor is a popular photo spot in SF because it has a good variety of photogenic locations in the vicinity.

Our last location was Ocean Beach. That evening the weather rolled in some extremely dense fog that created a gorgeous mysterious atmosphere.

This shoot was extremely fun and we got a ton of gorgeous outdoor dance photos.

You can follow Sofia on IG here, and keep an eye on the zine for more photos down the line.

-Oliver Endahl

Isabella Hoy in Los Angeles

This was the first shoot Isabella Hoy and I did together. We hit it off and created some epic stills in a photo studio located in downtown Los Angeles.

Here’s my favorite shots from the shoot + a few questions for Isabella herself!

Give us a short introduction!

Hello! My name is Isabella Hoy. I was born in St.Louis, MO, but CA is my home and has been for the past seventeen years. Although I have been teaching ballet for three years now, I only recently began dancing again. Having stopped dance at the age of fourteen, I feel so grateful to be able to dance again at twenty-three. So, for the past few months my life has been class, class, and more class. When I’m not dancing or teaching, you’ll probably find me reading or spending time with my incredible family and friends for whom I am so fortunate to have in my life. 

What places do you want to travel to the most?

I’m ready to go back to Italy, like… right away! However, at the top of my list right now, I would also include Japan, Amsterdam, Ireland, and Spain.

Who’s your current favorite dance choreographer at the moment?

I’ve been watching a lot of Fredrick Ashton’s work, so I would have to say Mr. Ashton at the moment!

Pizza or burgers?

Pizza (but by that I mean my bisnonna/great grandmother’s handmade Sicilian pizza!). 

Do you need white noise to sleep? Or silence?

Ah yes, the sound of rain and crickets is very soothing to me.

Do you like comedy? (If so, what’re some of your favorite comedy shows or movies?)

Oh, this is such a difficult question, there are too many to name, so I’ll just say the first movie that comes to mind is “The Frisco Kid”  and the first show that comes to mind is “Fleabag”.

What’s a piece of art (movie, painting, play, ballet, broadway, television show, book, song, poem, etc..) That moved you the most this year so far?

I find poetry incredibly inspiring and it truly adds such depth and beauty to my life. I have a notebook where I write down every poem that speaks to me in someway. Out of the hundreds of poems and quotes in there, the one I’m thinking of now is “Ithaka” by C.P. Cavafy 

What do you enjoy about dancing?

I’ve been enchanted by ballet since I was two years old. So I shall say to dance is to live.

What’s something people might not know about you?

Literature, music, and acting has always and continues to be a large part of my life. 

Would you rather cook 20 pies or rollerblade 20 miles?

I love to cook so I’d absolutely bake those twenty pies.

You can follow Isabella on IG here

Till next time,

-Oliver

Rachel and Ella Bullock in Studio

Rachel and Ella Bullock are two very talented sisters.

We met up at a photo studio in the Chicago, Illinois area and utilized all the room had to offer.

Some of the outfits they wore on the shoot were created by their talented Mother, Melissa Oakes.

Rachel and Ella Bullock wearing Melissa Oakes

Rachel and Ella Bullock wearing Melissa Oakes

Rachel Bullock wearing Melissa Oakes

Rachel and Ella Bullock in color

Rachel and Ella Bullock in black and white

Rachel and Ella Bullock in color

Rachel and Ella Bullock in black and white

Rachel and Ella Bullock in color

Rachel and Ella Bullock in black and white

Rachel Bullock

Ella and Rachel Bullock

Ella and Rachel Bullock

Ella and Rachel Bullock 

Rachel Bullock

Ella Bullock wearing an outfit by Melissa Oakes

Ella Bullock

Ella Bullock

Rachel Bullock

Rachel Bullock

Ella Bullock

Ella Bullock

You can follow Rachel, Ella and Melissa on IG below.

Rachel

Ella

Melissa

Keep an eye on the zine for more shoots with this talented crew in the future.

Till next time,

-Oliver

Briana Baldovinos at Victoria Beach and the Studio

Briana Baldovinos and I met up in Orange County, California.

We started the shoot indoors at a photo studio, and then headed to the coast to shoot at Victoria Beach.

This shoot was massive. We spent 2 hours in the studio and then at least an hour and a half on the beach. We got a ton of epic photos, and I had a blast chatting with Briana during the shoot! On top of dance, she’s also crushing it in academia. Below is a short interview with her.

Give us an introduction

Hello Everyone, my name is Briana Baldovinos and I am a 22 year old freelance dancer! I currently work at Disneyland as a parade performer in “Magic Happens”. I just recently graduated from UC Riverside with my Bachelor’s of Science in Neuroscience.

What’s your favorite food?

My favorite food is SUSHI!!! I love sushi and can never get tired of it.

What music are you listening to this summer?

My music genre varies on how I’m feeling, but this summer I have really been into house music!

What do you enjoy about modeling?

I enjoy the aspect of letting my confidence shine when modeling. I feel like I can really let the true art form of dance come to life when modeling and allow those who view it see the beauty of dance as well.

What’s something people might not know about you?

Some people may not know that I am premed! I would love to pursue a career in the medical filed and enjoy helping others!

What’s a piece of art (movie, painting, play, ballet, broadway, television show, book, song, poem, etc..) That moved you the most this year so far?

A book that’s moved me is “They both die in the end”, it’s about 2 boys who get news that they will die by the end of the day and don’t know how. They each are looking for a friend to spend their day with and it just puts into perspective that life is short and to make everyday a great day filled with love.

Would you rather Kayak 50 miles or Skateboard 50 miles?

I would rather skateboard 50 miles, my leg strength is much greater than my upper body strength.

What’s your plan for 2025?

In 2025 I would like to continue to grow in my dance and modeling  career and gain more opportunities. I would also like to continue in my medical career and pursue my dreams.

Kenzie Cohen in SoCal

Kenzie Cohen and I started our photoshoot at the DTLA Visuals studios located in Los Angeles, California.

After we created shots there, we headed to the coast and shot in the late afternoon near Santa Monica Beach.

Shooting with Kenzie is great. She creates gorgeous lines and brings excellent charisma (and she’s always a blast to chat with during our shoots!)

You can follow Kenzie on IG here and keep an eye on the Zine for more shoots with her in the future.

-Oliver

Sydney Tyra in downtown LA + Mini Interview 2024

Sydney Tyra and I got together for a shoot at a studio in the downtown Los Angeles area.

Below are my favorite shots from the shoot + a mini interview with her.

Favorite Quote?

I love the quote from Little Women: “Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition, and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty. I’m so sick of people saying that love is all a woman is fit for.”

Favorite pizza toppings???

Artichoke and cheese!

What’s your favorite movie you’ve seen this year? (It can be old or new, as long as it was new to you)

I’d have to say Challengers! Amazing actors/score/cinematography all around.

What’s your unwinding routine?

My unwinding routine includes a solo walk by the ocean with some relaxing music, a long shower, and a Disney movie in my bed with a nice candle lit. (My all time fav is probably the Lion King)

What’s your favorite part about modeling?

My favorite part of modeling is when I get into the “flow” and everything else sort of melts away. I’m able to fully be in the moment and allow myself to express whatever comes to me. It’s almost similar to the feeling I get when I dance/improv!

If you could travel anywhere, what’s at the top of your list?

The top of my list is either Mykonos or Sweden to see the Northern Lights!

You can follow Sydney on Instagram here @Sydney.Tyra and keep an eye on the Zine for more shoots with her in the future.

Till next time,

-Oliver