Issue 08

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Art Pieces Batch 3 by Oliver Endahl

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I have been going strong on my summer hobby of crafting art pieces. (As you might recall from my previous posts featuring batch 1 and batch 2: I either use a photo I’ve shot as a base for a piece, or I use it as the visual inspiration.)

I love seeing artists develop and evolve. I think nowadays we most commonly see this process with actors and directors in cinema. (Because cinema is the art form we all most consume, besides music.) We will often see actors and directors in various films they make over the years, and through that progression, we can see how their style and technique transform over time.

Getting to see the process of how someone further enhances their art is one of my favorite things. I hope you enjoy that process here as I continue to share my work with you all.

ABalleticEnigma

Anna McEvoy-Melo

Caitlin Holt

ABalleticEnigma

June Freeman

Kate Huntington

Lester Gonzalez

The Reverie Dance Company (Vanessa Childress, Jenna Skipworth, Georgia Brinkman, Erin Patterson, Kelly Dornan)

Sydney Tyra

Sarah Takash

Silken Kelly

June Freeman

Sophie Duncan

Sydney Tyra

Victoria Carrillo

Keep an eye on the Zine for future art works.

-Oliver Endahl

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Richard Hankes and Ashlee Montague in NYC Summer 2018

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Richard Hankes and Ashlee Montague are the definition of a power couple. I have shot with them a few times over the years, and this photoshoot we did in Dumbo New York in 2018 is one of my favorites.

Here’s a little background/bio on Richard and Ashlee;

“Richard Hankes and Ashlee Montague are classical ballet dancers turned world record holding circus performers, and Cirque du Soleil alumna. They specialize in acrobatic ballet, adagio, hand-to-hand, aerial, and bottle walking acts. Richard and Ashlee met in 2007 while studying ballet at the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia. Married July of 2017, the couple has performed across the globe together for television, film, commercials, print, and events.” (RichardAndAshlee.com 2025)

This shoot was extra fun for two reasons. First, Richard and Ashlee can do absolutely anything you ask them to. They really have no technical limit. And second, they brought a variety of outfits and props that really elevated the setting and created this whimsical/old Hollywood/clown/comedic aspect that translated into very compelling, layered dimensions.

You can follow Richard and Ashlee’s joint Instagram account here: @RichardAndAshlee

You can follow Ashlee’s solo IG account here @AshleeRoseMontague

And you can check out their official website here: RichardAndAshlee.com

And keep an eye on the Zine for more photoshoots with them going forward.

-Oliver Endahl

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The Pointe Shop 2025 Models

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Madeleine Lee and Victoria Carrillo are the 2025 Pointe Shop Models.

We shot in a photo studio, and at an outdoor location that had a lot of neutral walls and great natural sunlight to work with.

As you’ll see below, they are both extremely technically talented and elegant in their poise.

You can follow Victoria Carrillo on Instagram here: @VictoriaOnPointe_

You can follow Madeleine Lee on Instagram here: @BallerinaMadeleine

And you can follow The Pointe Shop on Instagram here: @ThePointeShop

Till next time,

-Oliver Endahl

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Claire Peoples Interview + Photoshoot

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Claire and I got together for 2 photoshoots. One in-studio, and one outdoors.

Claire is not only a talented dancer, but also a very intellectual human. Below are some of my favorite shots from our shoots, as well as an interview with her!

Introduce yourself

My name is Claire and I am a ballet dancer with New Mexico Ballet Company. I am originally from Roswell, Georgia and I have a BFA in Dance from the University of Georgia. I trained in all dance styles growing up, but ballet and contemporary are my favorites. I trained with Boston Dance Theater and Confluence Ballet before moving to New Mexico.

What drives you to dance?

My favorite part of ballet is actually the class and rehearsals. I love working toward something big, whether it be bettering myself and technique, or a performance. In dance you will never achieve perfection, but you can always try to do better than the day before!

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

I’ve become less self critical, particularly over the last year. Since I dance in a part time company, there is less time to focus on being perfect. I am trying to focus on always getting better, but really making sure I am also enjoying the movement and actually feeling like am dancing the movement. I used to be very self conscious about my training. I am surrounded by people who went to very strict ballet programs, were homeschooled for dance, or went to prestigious schools. But I am proud of where I came from. I was an underdog in many ways and I’ve found a way to enter the ballet world, when I was told by some that it wouldn’t happen for me.

What are 3 facts about you?

-I have a twin sister and an older brother.

-I have a black and white cat named Cow. He was a stray that visited my house for about a year before I brought him inside! He’s one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

-I also have an office job in marketing at a nonprofit in Albuquerque. I do a lot of graphic design projects and edit websites. We help adults with disabilities, and it is a mission that I am proud of.

What’s your favorite way to drink coffee?

Right now I love vanilla lattes! I also love cold brew. I just ordered some fancy syrups so I can feel like it is from a coffee shop even when I’m at home. This hasn’t stopped me though. I still spend a lot of money at coffee shops.

Some people question whether art and politics are connected. What is your take on this?

Art and politics are absolutely connected. A great example of this is what is currently happening at the Kennedy Center. Art is a form of resistance, it holds up a mirror to the ugliest parts of our society. That’s why the current administration wants to have control over what stories are being put out into the public. It’s up to us to continue uplifting artists from marginalized communities and to keep pushing ballet to be a more inclusive and creative space. Making sure our voices are heard. We won’t be silenced.

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

I love TV shows and movies! I recently binge watched “The Pitt” on HBO. It is a new medical drama. It’s an amazing show.

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

I love to do anything creative. Coloring books, painting, and embroidery are some of my favorite ways to creative outside of ballet. I also enjoy finding new music, food, and traveling. I love reading. I got a Kindle last Christmas and I’ve read over 30 books so far in 2025. Emily Henry is my favorite author.

What’s your current favorite food?

Right now I am loving Mediterranean food. It is healthy but it also tastes amazing!

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

I can be very shy and quiet. When I was younger, I was put in dance classes to help me come out of my shell.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I would tell my younger self that it is okay that your dance journey does not look the same as everyone else’s. Every experience that you will have will put you on the path to where you are supposed to end up. I would also tell myself that opinions are not facts. Don’t give someone’s words about your dancing power over how you feel about yourself or dance. Passion will take you farther than anything.

Which fictional character do you see yourself in?

-My favorite TV show of all time is Parks & Recreation. I would like to think that I am like Leslie Knope.

What advice would you give to other artists who might be struggling to find their “voice”?

-Find artists you admire and replicate their processes. Never copy another artist, but you can learn about their processes and try to create something new that is unique to your voice. Surround yourself with art. Read lots of books, listen to new music, go to museums, watch new choreography, and make new friends. Every experience you take in will add to your voice.

You can follow Claire on Instagram here @ClairePeoplesDance

And keep an eye on the Zine for future shoots with her.

-Oliver Endahl

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2020 Museum of Ice Cream Photoshoots

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In 2020, I was in New York. (This was shortly before the covid era began) While there, I found out about the Museum of Ice Cream and was very intrigued. (The museum is one of those immersive experiences where you walk through various environments)

I ended up being able to achieve 3 different photoshoots there. 1 shoot with Ashlee Montague, 1 shoot with Sara Michelle Murawski (Sarafina) and 1 shoot with Anna McEvoy-Melo.

The designs of the rooms and the colors at the museum were just stunning and created very unique environments that we had a blast shooting in. The images are vibrant with lots of colors. Take your time looking through them; there’s a lot to take in.

Something I find interesting about these images is how much the personality of the dancer affects the feeling of the photograph/environment they’re in. You can see through the 3 different models from these shoots, that they all bring a unique energy to the space they occupy.

You can follow Ashlee Montague on Instagram @AshleeRoseMontague

You can follow Anna McEvoy-Mello here: @aemcevoymelo

Till next time,

-Oliver Endahl