Male Ballet Dancers Beautifully Interpret Birds Falling from the Sky

When you take a group of dancers away from rehearsal and ask them to represent birds falling through the sky, their bodies can take on the most beautiful poses. This is exactly what happened when photographer Matthew Brookes worked with twenty male ballerinas from the Paris Opera Ballet. “A metamorphosis happens and they channel something from another dimension,” the artist told WWD. “It’s something godly, almost mystical.” What adds to this otherworldly transformation is that the dancers aren’t in a familiar location. For his Les Danseurs project, Brookes brought the dancers to a minimalistic setting that allows the men to be the main focus.

“I was fascinated by their physicality, their strength and the training that’s involved,” Brookes adds. “They are first and foremost athletes, more than artists.” With his background in fashion photography, the artist used this expertise to create images that feel high fashion. Between his graceful creative style and the ballerinas’ stunning interpretations, this makes for an eye-catching photo book that celebrates the art of dance.