Interview

Camryn Burke Photoshoot + Interview

Camryn Burke is a dancer, model, intellectual deep thinker, and just all around very funny, positive and entertaining person. (She confirms all of this in her interview below)

This was our first photoshoot together in a good while, and while we didn’t have too much time, only 2 hours, it was great to reconnect and create a few photos in the process.

Introduce yourself:

Hi! I’m Camryn Burke I grew up training to become a professional ballet dancer and was fortunate enough to study ballet in many different cities including New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and St. Petersburg Russia. Right now, I am currently a full time student studying philosophy and also work as a model and property manager. I have been living in SoCal for the past 3 years and am actually working on moving as I am writing this. I am hoping to eventually move back to New York or to Europe but of course also need to prioritize finishing my degree so I am still figuring things out.

What is it about philosophy that is compelling to you?

Philosophy interests me because you are dealing with fundamental questions that resist definitive answers. Unlike fields of study where your own success or the overall collective progress is measured by solutions that are generally more clear and objective, philosophy requires you to find comfort in uncertainty, placing meaning onto exploring possibilities rather than reaching a certain outcome. This mirrors my own “life philosophy,” if I can call it that, since I believe fulfillment comes less from reaching fixed outcomes and more from the ongoing process itself — because the process is where life actually happens.

What are some ways you feel you’ve changed as a dancer/artist/model?

I think that the most prominent way I have changed is that I have learned to be less fanatic about my pursuits. I think anyone who has done ballet or any other rigorous pursuit can attest to the demands it makes of you and who you have to become to meet those demands. This personality doesn’t always develop in ways that are beneficial to your own wellbeing. It isn’t always appropriate to sacrifice so much of yourself and be so rigid and unforgiving. I think that the laxity of the modeling industry has taught me to be a little more relaxed with myself. I dont think that this is a testament to the modeling industry probably more of age but I have also noticed a change in my perceived freedom to be more assertive with my own wants and needs and identify what those wants and needs are.

What are 3 facts about you?

I am ginger naturally, not by choice.

I have a brother who is also ginger.

In my old age, I have finally come to accept the fact that I am a ginger.

What’s your favorite way to drink coffee?

I typically only drink black coffee. I do like lattes or cappuccinos sometimes but generally here in America, anything besides black coffee tastes like poison to me.

What are your thoughts on A.I? (& do you use it yourself?)

I am really not a fan of it. However, I do use it but only for things that I wish to not think about. I think for me and for most other A.I. users to reason we justify its use is to be more efficient with our time but that still leaves the question of what we are choosing to do with our time instead. I think there is a great benefit to going through the process on your own and not using A.I as a shortcut because there is value to be found in the process. Also A.I., while an impressive innovation is still very limited and predictable in its output. As someone who appreciates art and other products of human innovation I think that A.I. and its limited creative abilities is counterproductive to those pursuits.

Do you watch streaming services/ or movies? If so, what have you watched lately that you’ve enjoyed?

I honestly have not watched any streaming services or shows for a long time. The last TV I watched was Game of Thrones over a year ago. I enjoyed that show but since then I can’t seem to find the value of placing my attention on most TV shows or movies. I think it is also a product of my busy schedule recently and I have other preferred ways of unwinding that i would chose over watching a show or movie. My roommate and I will go to the movies frequently and I enjoy it as a social outing. Despite what it sounds like I really do like movies I just am a little snob and only enjoy specific movies that I think are thought provoking to consume.

Which fictional character do you see yourself in?

I honestly have not considered this question but I often get compared to any fictional character that is ginger. I don’t know if that is a good metric for comparison though.

What’s your current favorite food?

Vanilla ice cream, it’s perfect, it’s timeless.

What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?

I’m actually really funny although there is no evidence of that here you’ll have to trust me on that.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to have the courage to leave situations that don’t meet my needs or that cause me to be someone I don’t want to be. You will save yourself a lot of time and unnecessary pain.

How are you able to find your own “voice” and what advice would you give to other artists who might be struggling to find their “voice”?

Don’t use A.I.! I don’t know if I can give advice on this coming from a place of having found a “voice” for myself but I think that you have to self-evaluate often and look for things that you uniquely have to offer the world and also what things you notice in other people. Your evaluations of others often can provide insight into what you yourself value (or don’t value) which is important to determine when developing your own voice. Also to incorporate my own “life philosophy” once again, you want to evaluate your artistic process, what habits, rituals, etc you do in solitude that comprise the efforts that precede the visible outcome. These are the moments where your unique perspective takes hold without external influences.

You can follow Camryn on Instagram at @Camryn_Burke

And keep an eye on the Zine for more shoots with Camryn in the future.

-Oliver Endahl

Reverie Dance Company: Jenna Skipworth Interview

Reverie Dance Company is lead by visionary artistic director Jenna Skipworth, and is based in Denver, Colorado.

They recently had their inaugural performance and are currently in the process of putting their second show together.

I shot with the artistic director, Jenna, as well as the dancers in her company twice in the past few months. Below is photos from our two photoshoots, an and interview with Jenna.

Introduce yourself

Hi! I’m Jenna Skipworth. I am a Colorado native and current Denver resident. I have been a freelance professional dancer for over 10 years. I have a degree in music from Berklee college of music, a comprehensive Pilates certification, and am a certified Franklin Method instructor. I love to perform, create, and teach!! Most recently, I am the Artistic Director and founder of Reverie Dance Company.

What drives you to do reverie? What motivates you?

Reverie has been an idea for many years in my head. After personally experiencing and watching friends experience the depth of toxicity In the dance world, I knew I wanted to do something to change it. Even on a small scale.

I’m so motivated to create a positive and dancer-first space. A place where choreography is designed around the dancers and their strengths, where no one dances for free, individuality is celebrated, and dancers are deeply respected. A place that needs to exist!

What are some ways you feel you’ve changed as a dancer/artist?

Over my career, I’ve become more conscious of the people around me. Everyone has a story and they interact and are shaped by their own stories in their own ways. Any freelance job I’ve been lucky to get has introduced me to the most interesting people. When you hear more stories, you can’t help but become more empathetic.

I’ve also become more aware of how I can change the dance world, and encourage friends around me to do the same. Things like talking about pay rates, encouraging each other to speak up in bad situations, to walk away when you know you deserve better, and things like that.

What are 3 facts about you?

  • I’m married to the most amazing human, Sam, and he has lovingly supported me through my dance career and Reverie!

  • I obsessed with pop culture things from 1950s-90s. Movies, music, clothing. I listen almost exclusively to classic jazz, wear vintage clothing and jewelry.

  • I find family heritage and history fascinating. My mom was adopted and through DNA testing, we’ve discovered new family members and uncovered more family history. For instance, I’m very Sicilian and my great grandfather carved a church door in Catina, Sicily that is still standing to this day!

What’s your favorite way to drink coffee?

Espresso martini please!! But honestly, I’ll take and enjoy coffee in any form. I love trying local coffee shops, buying locally roasted beans, and finding special coffees all over Denver.

For at home coffee, I decided a long time ago that I wanted to make pour over coffee every morning. I have stayed committed to it ever since.

What is the role of art in society?

Art has many important roles. It can range from simply being a creative outlet, a way to massage the brain and take a break from normal life, or to try to find a new way to see the world. It can also be something that carries a ton of weight. It reflects culture and current events, it can break you, heal you, and change you.

As dancers, we feel the impact of art intensely and tend to blend how someone perceives us with our own love of art. This can create deep wounds that are hard to heal. I hope to treat all my dancers with a tenderness that helps them fall in love with their own abilities and the way they can create art as individuals, despite how someone sees/treats them.

What movies have you enjoyed lately?

Sam and I have been really into watching old movies from the 60s and 70s. Anything from classic James Bond, to old movie musicals (my absolute favorites), and obscure ones with titles that are too long and are completely unhinged.

What are some of your hobbies/passions outside of dance?

  • I could sew for 24 hours without stopping. I’m super amateur and self-taught but severely obsessed!! Sam calls it my “sewing black hole”

  • Thrifting!! Could thrift all day every day. It feels like treasure hunting.

  • I love hosting and planning parties! Bachelorette, birthday, garden parties… you name it, and I will go crazy.

What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?

Although I am born and raised in Colorado, I can’t ski or snowboard. In fact, I tried once and broke my wrist. If I hit the slopes, they hit me back.

What do you want audiences to take away from a reverie performance?

I want them to see each person on stage as a unique individual. I want them to feel our positive and genuine connection to one another. To witness our collective love for dance and to fall in love with dance themselves.

You can follow Reverie on Instagram here,

Here is the Reverie website

And you can follow the artistic director Jenna Skipworth on IG here

Till next time,

-Oliver Endahl

Adeline Wylie - May 2025

A photographer friend of mine, Pat Berrett, and I got together with dancer Adeline Wylie for an outdoor photoshoot in the early morning.

Pat knew of some cool locations in the area and introduced Adeline and myself to this amazing white rock structure, as well as a lovely trail that had a large view of a valley.

Below are my favorite shots from the shoot, as well as a short interview with Adeline.

What’re 2 favorite ballets of yours? (And why are they your favorites?)

As far as classical ballet goes, I love Romeo and Juliet. Juliet has always been one of my dream roles, and the music is so so great. John Neumeier’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is also super fun and whimsical. My favorite stuff to dance and watch is new mixed rep stuff. My mom would take me to see the Houston Ballet mixed repertory shows with cutting edge contemporary ballet, which really sparked my motivation to become a professional dancer.

What’s your favorite soda flavor?

Root beer and cream soda. Specifically root beer made by breweries or craft soda companies.

What is the role of art in society?

Art is a form of expression and entertainment, but it can also persuade change, foster connection, communication, and education.

I love the way art can produce feelings and different perspectives even if the audience speaks a different language or comes from a different culture.

Also love this quote lately about art: "Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable."

Have you ever boogie boarded backwards?

lol No

What are some of your hobbies/passions outside of dance?

Connecting with nature and people, eating good food, reading fantasy, rock climbing, and making art.

How has your relationship with dance changed through the years?

My love for dance hasn’t changed, but my time focused on it has. Dance used to take up so much of my mental space and energy. It’s still a huge part of my life, but no longer my main measurement of success. Being a dance school director has also opened my eyes to how students should be treated with more encouragement and support. You don’t have to beat someone down to achieve successful.

If you had to eat cold pizza, what would your topping preference be?

Black olives, fresh basil, bell peppers, and ranch.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?

Instead of comparing yourself to dancers around you, absorb and learn from them. I was so hard on myself.

If you could replace any one of the three flavors in Neapolitan ice cream, what would the new flavor be?

Let’s swap the normal chocolate for Ben and Jerries brownie core.

Where do you see the art of ballet going?

It’s hard to say, but I can think of where I would like it to go. Hopefully more diverse in terms of everything. I think we can diversify and expand while still preserving classics.

You can follow Adeline on Instagram at @Addy.Wylie

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

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