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Ballerina Girl By Robert E. Martin "Style is the effectiveness of assertion." -George Bernard Shaw A decade ago I first became exposed to the expository elegance of Richard Curry's photography. His son-in-law had opened a jewelry shop & gallery on South Michigan and Richard's images adorned the walls, stimulating one's eye with each step & turn. The topical material was varied - pictures of his wife, kids, circuses, the Amish, ice shows, motorcycle gangs, sports events, Woodstock, and various other events and personalities both large and small within the lexicon of American culture. But what resonated throughout each image was an indelible sense of style - warmth reflected by the subjects and captured by the genuine passion triggered by the man behind the lens. Since that fateful meeting ten years ago, the photography & journalism of Richard Curry has formed an integral and unique part of this publication. Apart from making intense treks into fringe areas of Cuba, Amsterdam, and Hawaii as the Review's 'Accidental Tourist'; a guiding focal point of Richard's artistry rapidly targeted the subject of professional Dance. Indeed, through the Review Richard was allowed backstage at the Midland Center for the Arts for a Sarasota Ballet performance. The company later saw his photos and he was off & running. Over the past decade, Richard has worked with 18 different ballet companies and many of the more imaginative ones such as: The American Ballet Theatre, Pilobulus, and the Monte Carlo Ballet Co. Stacy Slichter at the John Ringling Home, Sarasota, FL. Photo by Richard Curry And now, Richard has collected forty of his favorite dance photos in a self-published book and video entitled, Ballerina Girl. Printed on glossy stock with meticulous press values, one obtains the full power and color of these images, filtered through the tastefully muted lighting & shades that often stand in juxtaposition to the powerful strength and grace of these lovely women. In essence, the book is a creation of enchantment initiated through the essence of a dancer's spirit. "Many people say the apple does not fall far from the tree, and in the Morgan Arthur Curry family, this was the reality," says Richard. "My father would drive down the streets, take out his 'reflex' camera, and shoot most anything. As he got older, Dad decided to photograph every single flower in North America and other parts unknown. My brother Morgan has circumvented the globe with his wife Kathy, and continues to videotape nearly every country known to man, and a few that aren't! So in my family, my interest in photography was not a foreign subject." Regarding his Dance photography, Richard says he was striving for settings that matched the personality of each dancer 'outside' of the stage. "With my camera I took the dancers out of the theatre and put them into different environments - the streets of Quebec, Beale Street, Memphis, Tampa's Ybor City, on the wings of old fighter planes, in the homes of John Ringling and Powel Crosley, Clearwater and St. Petersburg beaches, the Don Ceser Hotel, and other eclectic venues. I found the girls to be creative, passionate, confident, and intelligent young women." Noemi Pallos at the John Ringling Home. Born in Hungary, Noemi says that "In the USA, if you want something and you're a survivor and a fighter, you can get it. In Hungary, that is not always true. "In professional ballet, I see women who dance with emotion that brings passion out of their very souls," continues Richard. "They have a relentless commitment to their art, which takes to the stage life's feelings in movement. It is their grace and strength that make it so powerful. With a photo you can bring out the spirit of that work, as true as the work itself. Five of Richard's 'subjects' he met as youngsters and he has been privileged to work with as they've moved on to enrich their lives. "Stacey Slichter is now married and starring with the Atlanta Ballet Company. Brenda Langan danced with the Columbia Ballet, is married, and is not a top performer in Chicago. Mischa Abshire graduated from the University of Florida and is presently getting a Masters Degree at Duke University. Naomi Pallos went on to perform with Ballet West of Utah, is married, and now going to Utah University to become a nurse practitioner. Her sister, Petra, is pursuing an acting career at the same school in Salt Lake City. All of these girls had aspirations, set goals, and found ways to accomplish them." "It was a treat to spend time with all of these young ladies," concludes Richard. "I was the photographer for all three of their weddings and have created a bond with each. They made putting this book together possible, as has my patient and loving wife, Paulette. This was a labor of love and my hope is that everyone who sees it finds my images with the purity and passion that it was intended." "Gene Kelly said it best: Dance is love, joy and dreams. My hope is that this work bring it to light for people." To obtain a copy of 'Ballerina Girl', containing 40 quality images, or the 'Ballerina Girl' video containing 300 photos set to music, you can order through Richard's website: www.ballerinagirl.homestead.com or send a check for $25.00 for the book and $35.95 for the video to: Richard Curry 870 Circlewood Dr. West Saginaw, MI 48609. You can also place an order through Review Magazine by phoning 989-799-6078.
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