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
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 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
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.
Till next time,
-Oliver Endahl
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 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
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.
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
Keep an eye on the zine for more shoots with this talented crew in the future.
Till next time,
-Oliver
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.
You can follow Briana on Instagram here and you can check out our previous shoot featured in the Zine here
Till next time,
-Oliver
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 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
Jaclyn Younger and I met up early one morning for a quick photoshoot on a nature trail.
Shooting outdoors is always more challenging for the dancer than shooting indoors, but shooting outdoors in pointe shoes on a twisting tree trunk and is next level.
Always a blast shooting with Jaclyn and I love the work we created on this quick nature shoot that morning.
You can follow Jaclyn on IG here.
Till next time,
-Oliver Endahl
Hunter and I shot together in the San Francisco Bay Area in May of this year.
We started the shoot at Bernal Heights in SF.
Bernal is a beautiful spot to shoot with stunning views of the city.
The wind was a bit intense, (to say the least) but Hunter was a trooper and played off the energy and vibe of the wind with some of the poses.
After we finished at Bernal Heights, we went to a nearby neighborhood and used this gorgeous garden spot that had lovely vinery and foliage.
After the garden area, we headed to the coast and shot at Ocean Beach for sunset.
As you can see, Hunter is a talented dancer with huge charisma and a unique movement quality. It’s always a blast creating with her and this shoot was especially fun.
You can follow Hunter on IG here.
Till next time,
-Oliver Endahl
The dancers of Shirley Winters Ballet and I got together early in the morning in the Fresno area of California.
I was up before dawn driving to the location, and as usual with getting up before the sunrise for a photoshoot, it was well worth it.
The dancers of Shirley Winters Ballet were extremely talented and fun to work with. They took direction well and each had unique strengths and charisma that they harnessed during the shoot.
You can check out Shirley Winters Ballet through their website here:
And you can follow them on Instagram here: @SWinters_Ballet
-Oliver
Jaclyn Younger and I have shot many times over the years. She is a frequent collaborator and is always a joy to work with. These photos were created earlier this year at a new photo studio I hadn’t used before.
I gave Jaclyn various interview questions for this post. Here are her answers
What’s been your favorite piece to perform?
Over the years I've performed several traditionally classical roles that I really love (demi-soloist in Paquita, Snow Queen, Dew Drop, and Spanish Lead in The Nutcracker, and variations such as Gamzati's wedding variation from La Bayadere and the La Esmeralda variation), but the pieces that tend to stick to me the most lean more neoclassical and contemporary. Last season I performed in an original piece, Quatro, by Juilliard alumni and current University of New Mexico professor Vladimir conde Reche and it will always be a piece that I remember as a catalyst for growth, challenge, and overall, the love of performance as a whole. I can't wait to see what new roles and pieces continue to inspire me in the near future.
What are other forms of art you enjoy outside of ballet?
Outside of ballet, I'm very drawn to both writing and photography. I graduated with a BA in Multimedia Journalism which I have been able to turn into a side job of professionally curating blogs and social media sites. Additionally, I work as an Assistant Creative Director for a nationally known wedding photography team (shout out to Alicia Lucia Photography), that allows me to continue to expand my skills as a writer, curator, and viewer of real-life love stories.
Beyond my professional pursuits, I'm a sucker for art galleries both big and small. I'll find any excuse to visit an exhibit or full blown museum in my local community and when I travel.
What do you think needs to change about the ballet industry?
There are so many elements of ballet that need to change, but the most prominent to me are the treatment of dancers and the perception of bodies in the dance world. Too many times dancers are asked to essentially work for free or for very little money in high stress situations with sometimes zero medical or emotional support from dance companies. In any other field of work employees are able to demand more, however in the dance world, especially when it comes to ballet, asking for livable wages and appropriate work conditions is taboo and dancers are generally expected to 'tolerate it'. I fully support the notion of more dancers, no matter the size of their companies, unionizing in order to create a better present for themselves and future for aspiring dancers.
Additionally, I think that there needs to be a huge adjustment in the way that the ballet world handles the idea of a 'perfect ballet body'. For too long there has been a stigma around weight in ballet companies around the globe and this diminishes the fact that dancers are human beings and therefore should be able to embrace change in their bodies over the years.
If ballet as a whole can't take on the demands of the 21st century such as treating dancers like people instead of just bodies, there is a real question of if the art form itself can truly be salvaged moving forward. As someone who loves ballet to my core, I hope that ballet, and the dance world at large, can adapt and create a more welcoming, realistic community for all.
You can follow Jaclyn on IG and keep an eye here for more of our shoots in the future.
-Oliver
This is the first time Adeline Wylie and I created in a photo studio together. We shot at a local place and utilized natural light.
Adeline brought a variety of fun outfits that we got to play with. I think the photos have an ethereal/editorial vibe.
As you can see from the photos, Adeline is definitely a pro at modeling.
You can follow Adeline on Instagram @Addy.Wylie and keep an eye on the Zine for more shoots with her in the future.
-Oliver Endahl
Stacey Hazen and I got to shoot at the HappyGoLucky immersive art installation in New York City.
Immersive art experiences like this one pop up from time to time, and I always love creating at them. They’re designed to be utilized for photoshoots. The concept is that your friend stands in the art piece and you snap a photo of them. (Thus, the “immersive” part of the experience.) So you become part of the art itself.
The quality varies from installation to installation, but this one was particularly fun because A. Stacey Hazen is extremely talented and fun to shoot with and B. The colors of this HappyGoLucky really popped off.
(Love that “High Line” text on the phone booth)
You can follow Stacey Hazen on IG here and keep an eye on the Ballet Zaida Zine for more shoots with her.
till next time,
-Oliver
Brooke-Madison Thames
At the Walt Disney Concert Hall
Brooke and I have created together many times over the years. For this shoot, we decided to spend the afternoon making stills at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
The Walt Disney Concert Hall was designed by architect Frank Gehry and is a very unique location. This area of the hall is the “outdoor garden” which is free and open to the public. (And they allow photoshoots to occur there at no charge, which is pretty rare.) So you can just walk in and start creating.
Shooting with Brooke is always a blast. She has excellent technique and a natural eye for lines and fashion.
We shot in the late afternoon so we had great golden sunlight that danced against the silvers of the concert hall and created lovely shadows.
This image is my favorite of the day. It features Brooke standing in a similar pose as Edgar Degas “Little Dancer of Fourteen Years” statue (with the added addition of a cell phone)
You can follow Brooke on Instagram at: @Brooke_Madison_Thames and keep an eye on the Zine to see more of our shoots here in the future.
-Oliver Endahl
Briana Baldovinos
Colorful studio photoshoot in Los Angeles
This was the first photoshoot Briana and I did together. I had seen this colorful photostudio available for rent in LA and thought it would be a great location for us to utilize.
I loved the vibrant colors of this space. I think bright colors are underutilized in art and pop culture. Probably because colors are the “standard” of photos, so people equate less color (black and white) to be more “meaningful” in their expression. (But both black and white and color, are equally valid in their artistic expression.)
Briana brought a great charisma and achieved excellent ballet lines that played well with the lines of the furnishings.
For the lighting, there was one large window located on one end of the studio that we used as our main source. It was an overcast day, so the light came in soft and diffused.
I’ve been photographing for around 14 years so I can shoot quickly when I need to. Briana had done many photoshoots before and is a pro, so we were able to create all these images + more in just a 2 hour time period.
You can follow Briana on IG at @Briana.Ballerina and you can keep up with my work right here on the Zine.
-Oliver Endahl
Ayne Kim was the winner of The Pointe Shop’s 2023 Model search.
For this photoshoot, we created at Papago Park and then at a photo studio in Phoenix Arizona.
We began the shoot at dawn so we could capture the stunning colors from the sunrise. Sometimes shooting at dawn can be a chilly endeavor, but since we were shooting at the right time of the year, we had a perfect 85 degrees the whole time we were outside.
As you can see, Ayne is insanely talented. She achieved these phenomenal ballet positions while standing in pointe shoes outside on dirt. (And she makes it look easy)
As usual, for this shoot I used my Sony A7 R IV and my Sony A 7 IV to create the photos, and then tweaked their colors using Adobe Lightroom.
(Not an ad for Adobe or Sony. I just get a lot of people asking what I shoot and edit with)
After we finished at the park, we headed to a local photo studio that we had rented.
It was great to shoot outside and then in. The vibes from the first half to the second half of the shoot are very different.
The first half captured dance with nature, and the second half focused more on a mesh of dance with a flair of fashion editorial.
Ayne is extremely talented, and I had a blast working and collaborating with The Pointe Shop.
You can keep up with both Ayne and The Pointe Shop on their Instagram accounts listed below;
-Oliver Endahl
