Photographer Jordan Matter started his Dancers Among Us Project by asking a member of the Paul Taylor Dance Company to dance for him in a place where dance is unexpected. So, dressed in a commuter’s suit and tie, the dancer flew across a Times Square subway platform. And in that image Matter found what he’d been searching for: a way to express the feeling of being fully alive in the moment, unself-conscious, present. Often we fear the unknown when we could be anticipating it's rewards." I thought this was beautiful. And this is me. I'm so scared sometimes when I should be more excited of what the future holds. I'd have loved to give it 5 stars BUT, I have a few issues with it. As other reviewers have mentioned, the author's essays at the beginning of each section add nothing to the experience, and they are so disjointed that they actually detract from it. I finally started skipping them entirely. This was beautiful, one of my favorite photography books. It's inspiring to see what the human body is capable of and it's hard not to smile while reading this book. Born to Danceis a look at the wonders of childhood through the boys and girls who have found their calling in dance. Matter was inspired to start the project by his young daughter, who threw in an arabesque while shoveling snow. This tiny, spontaneous act was so heartwarming that it set the photographer off on a new mission. Since 2014, he's been photographing dancers as young as 5 years old all the way up to 18 years old, capturing the magic and mischief that it means to be a child.

This book beautifully captures young dancers on and off stage. Everyday life seems inseparable from a dancer’s heart/body connection. Each young person featured here told the photographer that they were born to dance. Dance had chosen them. Born to Dance is all about the visuals so I won't hold off any longer and include my many favorite shots: Dance is storytelling and a language; it is a means of expressing emotions, both powerful and beautiful. Dance requires you to build your problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Dance is multicultural. It transcends boundaries; it creates and connects friends” I was beyond ecstatic to receive this follow-up collection to Dancers Among Us by the talented photographer and YouTube star Jordan Matter, featuring gorgeous color photographs of well-known dancers as well as stars-in-the-making, ages 2 through 18. Photographer Jordan Matter's Dancers Among Us is full of images like this one of Jeffrey Smith, former member of Paul Taylor Dance Company.

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I've been obsessed with dancing lately and I just loved seeing the strength and lines of these dancers. The photo of the girl on the bridge upside down taking a picture called View Finder featuring Adrienne Hayes. I know I've seen that picture before. I think it may have been an ad on Facebook or something. Anyone else notice this? First and foremost, I have to highlight the theme of the book, centering around "a celebration of what it means to be young and full of possibility and to live life joyfully." It was all captured so beautifully through the many selected titles, including: "play with me," "when I grow up," "oops," "do they like me?" and more. Brief Book Summary: Photographer Jordan Matter was inspired by his son’s active engagement with the world around him and created the photographic essay Dancers Among Us in 2010 in an attempt to reflect that awe and to externalize the emotions which typically go unnoticed as we pass by strangers. The dancers he has photographed express human experiences such as living, working, loving, grieving, and exploring in chapters of the same names. Kids still see the magic in life's small moments. There's no cynicism. To them, each day is still truly an adventure,” Matter tells My Modern Met. “They are so excited to participate in every single photo shoot, like it's the Super Bowl. I hear stories about how they haven't slept for weeks leading up to a shoot, that it's all they can think about. When the day finally comes, they always want to push the limits and do mischievous things they're not usually allowed to do.”

This book is absolutely true and gorgeous. If you have known, or are the parent of a wiggling little critter turning pirouettes in all of places, then you might have a dancer on your hand to support. Not everyone is born to dance, but those that are, know it. For them, there is no separation of any kind in the world, just dance. And the images as well as the dedications beautifully illustrate it. Evaluation of Literary Elements: The power in Dancers Among Us comes from the strength of the dancers in each photograph— it places every emotion in equal impact, whether it is exuberance or devastation. Without words, the dancers are able to express and Matter is able to capture human emotion. The photographs each conjure up questions as to why the dancer is in that situation, leading to stories in the reader’s mind which fit the scenario. I received a digital copy of 'Born to Dance' from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you! I love in the photos that the pedestrians either don't even care that the dancers are dancing around them or else they have looks of astonishment on their faces. It's great. Bonus Scan the QR code next to dozens of photos and watch behind-the-scenes videos documenting the shoots.Inspired by his toddler son's wide-eyed enthusiasm for life, photographer Jordan Matter decided to rediscover the world around him through his camera lens. Using professional dancers as his muses and everyday life as a canvas, Matter began photographing dancers leaping, laughing, reclining, and soaring in some of the most unconventional spots: in offices, crossing a busy street, high up in a leafy tree limb, and even in the shower!