Striking Photos of Nimble Ballet Dancers Taking Over the Streets of Hong Kong

April 3, 2017

Jessica Burrows

Photographer Omar Robles‘ career continues to take off, as he brings his talents to the other side of the world during a shoot in Hong Kong. After New York, Cuba, Mexico City, and Puerto Rico, the talented photographer tackles Asia for the first time, shooting local ballet dancers on the bustling city streets.

For Robles, the trip was an affirmation of just how far he’s come in his career. The journey was brought about by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, which commissioned him to shoot dancer Brittany Cavaco for a campaign promoting local arts venues. After an intense shoot, he returned to what he does best—calling local dancers to be photographed in urban environments.

“There’s no other feeling in the world for me than that of shooting where the locals walk every day. The markets, the sidewalks, the alleys…that’s where I love to be,” Robles writes. “The main idea behind portraying dancers in urban spaces is to not to disrupt these settings but to compliment and harmonize with them. The visual cacophony of the city cries out for an opposite in order to find balance. That is what I am trying to achieve by juxtaposing the dancers’ beautiful, subtle and soft lines against the hectic and chaotic jumble of the city.”

Brittany Cavaco

Hong Kong as a backdrop doesn’t disappoint. Robles’ photos take on an especially gritty tone, highlighting the electric buzz of the city. His images are more pulled back than usual, perhaps in homage to just how enamored he came of Hong Kong, with its night markets, vibrant neon signs, and narrow alleys.

“Everything felt louder and larger than life. The sensorial overload of the city abruptly brought me to a childlike wonder. Like I was staring at this huge playground. The dancers taking the roll of my figurines performing fantastical feats all across this very surreal topography.”

Robles’ series have become more than just dance photos, but innovative travelogues that manage to capture the unique beauty of each city. We can only wait and see where he’s off to next.