A pair of worn pointe shoes, wide satin ribbons neatly wrapped around the lithe legs of a ballerina, are a rare sight to be seen on New York City’s industrial wharfs. Photographer Dane Shitagi follows the routine of a ballet company in the Big Apple, photographing ballerinas dancing amidst iconic New York haunts. The New York City Ballerina Project juxtaposes the elusive behind-the-scenes life of a working ballerina with a stark and busy New York backdrop. Dane’s project includes a ballerina performing a graceful arabesque in the Meat Market, en pointe in Washington Square and donning a full tutu in an apartment in Queens. Taking ballet from the stage to the streets, each of Dane’s portraits explores the collaborative relationship between ballet, fashion and photography.
