(Photo: Ken Browar and Deobrah Ory)
The French Impressionist painter Edgar Degas was enchanted by the grace and splendor of ballet dancers. He frequently painted them onstage and backstage at work, both dancing and training. The Museum of Modern Art in New York City is conducting an exhibition of his work. To mark the occasion, ballet dancer Misty Copeland recreated some of his famous dancers. It was a great challenge. She tells Harper’s Bazaar:
"It was interesting to be on a shoot and to not have the freedom to just create like I normally do with my body," she says. "Trying to re-create what Degas did was really difficult. It was amazing just to notice all of the small details but also how he still allows you to feel like there's movement. That's what I think is so beautiful and difficult about dance too. You're trying to strive for this perfection, but you still want people to get that illusion that your line never ends and that you never stop moving."
You can see more photos in the series here.
-via Slate Vault