A good friend of mine asked me to come shoot her dance performance at the Celebrate Dance Festival on a Sunday afternoon at the Casa Del Prado Theater in Balboa Park. Needless to say, I was so impressed that these women inspired me, and I came home with an idea that I’m hoping to turn into a reality very soon.

I digress.

The Celebrate Dance Festival is a weekend event in San Diego’s Balboa Park that takes place each August. It’s free, open to the public, and features over 70 regional dance groups. I had a shoot earlier in the day up here in Los Angeles so I missed every other performance except for “Fimmine”, created by Sarah Swenson, and performed by Vox Dance Theatre . I’m really glad I was finally able to see my friend Alli at work!

I’ll let the festival program describe Swenson’s piece:

“Using only their gowns and Philip Glass’ thundering polyrhythmic score, seven brides face down one of society’s most loaded rituals.  Employing potent imagery and a spirited rhythmic attach, Fimmine exhibits the devotion, sisterhood, and fierce passion these women summon on their way to the altar.  Swenson’s signature work.“

I thought the piece was beautiful, and the ladies performed well. Here are some of my images from the afternoon: