Oliver Endahl

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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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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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Art Pieces - Batch II

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The second batch of my art pieces.

(If you haven’t seen batch 1, you can view that set here )

Morgan Quinn’s pointe. (Inspired by a photo we shot of her in a pool) I love how the colors turned out for this one, as well as the dreamy vibe. If you look closely you can see I created a variety of mini vortex shapes in the “water” to create the sensation of movement, and reflected light.

This piece is a combination of photographs that I manipulated and combined. So the first bit I started with was a photograph of Paris France that my wife Nicole snapped while on a trip there. (You can clearly see the Eiffel Tower) The second aspect was a photo I shot of Ariana Emnace standing in the ocean at Santa Monica beach. Those were the main pillars, and then I manipulated the format, the environment, and painted some birds, ocean, a swirling vortex, and also some black ridges to create a more dynamic composition and otherworldly feel.

For this one, I started with a photograph I took of the mountains while skiing in Utah. (That’s the bottom half of the image) I then took 3 different photographs I shot over the last 14 years or so. One of my wife Nicole Voris getting partnered by Dylan W (Which I snapped around 14 years ago I believe?) Another of June Freeman on pointe, (taken in 2024) and another of Madison Keesler in a classic Swan Lake pose. (Taken 12/13 years ago) I then converted all 3 of those images into an “8 bit” aesthetic. After that, I placed the dancers where I found it compositionally interesting, and then I started to paint!

I am extremely happy with how the colors in this one turned out. The red, blue and also that light-light purple. (Which even goes down onto the mountain range in the lower half of the image) The paint and colors create a powerful and beautiful dreamy sense of mystic and movement. This one with the mountains and the dancers atop them makes me think of the Greek Gods a bit. (Which have always been an influence in my work. Many of the titles for my videos and various photographic series have been inspired by stories of the Greek Gods)

This piece of Sofia was a photograph we shot in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. (You can see more photos from this set in this Zine article here) For this one, I loaded in the photo, layered on a transparent light beam, then got to painting!

Adding paint to a photograph with minimal processing doesn’t work for every shot. However, for this one it worked out great. I love how the paint co-exists so well with the architecture and tone of the photo.

The process for this one was interesting. I started with a photo I snapped of the ocean at the end of a photoshoot I had at Santa Monica beach. (If you turn the photo sideways to the left, you can clearly see the ocean water, with the Malibu mountains in the background.) I then manipulated and processed that image a bit, and then started painting on it. I used a fiery color palette. (As you can see) The whole time I worked on it, I had the image horizontal, as it was shot. However, after I finished painting, I thought something was missing. So I experimented with the aspect of the piece, and decided that rotating it to the right made it more interesting to look at, and then I realized that it needed something in the center of the frame to anchor the viewer. So I tried out a variety of dance poses before coming across this image of Olivia grounded while moving her arm upwards in a fluid motion. I was drawn to that. It feels hopeful and exciting. I processed that image and doubled it (One with black, and one with white)

This piece features 3 different dancers. Jenna Skipworth, Adeline Wylie and Paige Wilkey.

This process began with a vertical photograph I shot of the afternoon sky. (Which is the main background) I processed the image so the sky is black and the clouds are white, then I turned the photo sideways. After that I took a photo of Adeline that we had shot in the studio, processed it and positioned her in the upper left corner. Once I had her in place, I began to experiment with colors and shapes. I had about half the colors/paint in place before I added Paige Wilkey’s foot and hand in the right bottom corner, then I added more paint, and then I added Jenna’s body on the left towards the end of the process. (I also threw in a few small cartoon-esq looking mountains in the upper right at the very end)

This piece has a lot going on, (which I like) and I hope it takes the viewer a few seconds to identity that there are 3 humans present in the image.

This piece features Paige Wilkey, Ella and Rachel Bullock and Madison Keesler.

This is another photo of the mountain range I shot while skiing in Utah. (I take a lot of photos while skiing apparently) I processed that image and tweaked the colors a bit, then got to painting! I tried a variety of designs, but ended up landing on this mysterious, snowy wind atmosphere. (This piece also reminds me of Greek God vibes)

Erika Danielle is featured in this one. I started with a silhouetted shot we created of her on a cliff in the Bay Area, I then took that image and layered a photo of bokeh lights behind it, then painted a variety of multi-colored brush strokes on the bokeh background, and then messed with the transparency of that brush stroked layer. (Which is way it looks shiny and crystal-esq) I then painted the waterfalls/water pools as the finishing touch.

This shot features Kate Huntington on the left and Isabella Caso on the right. (I took the photo of Kate on a shoot in at a studio in Arizona and the photo of Isabella in a studio in LA)

I shot the background (Which is Santa Monica Pier) last fall at sunset. For this one, I processed the photos of Kate and Isabella, blurred the background, and then painted.

With both Kate and Isabella’s movements leading the eye upwards, I felt it was organic for the paint to move in that direction. (Which also leads the viewer towards the pier)

This image features Kayla Incontro on the right and Jenna Skipworth on the left. The background in this one is a photo of landscape/the sky. The image of Kayla on the right was taken of her in San Francisco, and the image of Jenna on the left was captured in Denver, Colorado.

I spent a lot of time painting and experimenting with colors on this one. I love the colors that I ended up with, and also am a big fan of the blues on the bottom (which I think almost look like waves)

This one I created on July 18th. It features an image I shot of Vanessa Childress in a photo studio. For this one, you can actually view a time lapse of how I went about creating it below!

So that’s batch II of my summer 2025 art. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about them. I like writing these posts because writing feels like a rebellion against social media, and the tech oligarchs who own them.

I think a large portion of society, because of our shared constant consumption of short form media on social networks, has created a consistent behavior where people are constantly searching for a large emotional reaction within themselves when interacting with any media on the internet. Because of this, I think it’s become difficult for a lot of people to interact with things like the text you’re reading now. (When reading text, it takes more effort/imagination on your own part. Your brain has to actually think, instead of just consume)

Reading text creates a balance. It is a mental mixture of creating, and consuming. (That’s just one of the many reasons I currently feel compelled to share my work through this Blog/Zine/Newsletter format)

Till next time,

-Oliver Endahl

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Reverie Dance Company: Jenna Skipworth Interview

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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