Before the Ballet

 “Before the Ballet,” was made in collaboration with the Charlottesville Ballet Company. Painted in two installations over 3 years, the series focuses on the dancers of the Charlottesville Ballet practicing. It highlights the work the dancers put into their bodies and the overlooked moments of camaraderie, exhaustion, and intimacy bound in their art. In emphasizing the strength and struggle of the women dancing, the series uproots narratives of ballet’s delicate femininity.