(485) Ken Browar and Deborah Ory of NYC Dance Project on Photographing Martha Graham Dance Company’s 100 Years

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Today, on "Conversations on Dance", we talk with Ken Browar and Deborah Ory, the minds (and cameras) behind NYC Dance Project. We talk with Ken and Deborah about their book, Martha Graham Dance Company, 100 years, and how their backgrounds in dance and editorial fashion shaped their approach. They explain how early dancer sessions evolved into a slow, highly collaborative process focused on a few images that suggest continuing movement rather than freezing it. For the Graham centennial, they installed a studio setup at the company for three years, photographed 25 works from largely current repertory, combined studio and location shoots, used historical research and images as references. The resulting book, Martha Graham Dance Company, 100 Years" is available for purchase here.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:24 Deborah Dance to Camera

02:28 Ken Fashion Roots

03:55 First Dancers and Launch

05:50 Instagram and Early Growth

06:18 Fashion Meets Dance Craft

08:48 Shooting Movement Not Freeze

10:41 Slow Shoots and Safe Space

14:04 Dancer Perfection and Control

15:21 Graham Company Shift

17:17 Why the Centennial Book

18:31 Building the Studio Setup

19:30 Building the Book Archive

19:46 Choosing 25 Iconic Works

21:15 Studio Shoots and Coaching

22:05 Editing and Page Sequencing

23:07 Outdoor Locations Strategy

24:15 Researching Graham Repertory

25:52 No Reshoots and Costume Logistics

26:26 Group Shots and Precision

28:45 Costumes and Fabric Movement

31:47 Where to Buy and Signed Copies

33:10 Future Projects and Farewell