Hushed Dialogue

Images by Tony Powell • Words by Natalie Berk

© Tony Powell. Natalie Berk. May 17, 2010

I had the honor of being photographed by Tony Powell yesterday. Being my first artistic shoot, it was an enlightening experience. As a young girl on the threshold of a grown-up world, it’s sometimes difficult to shed anxieties and it’s scary giving yourself permission to just relax – but with my Mother at my side holding a big silver reflection board, and Tony cracking jokes, I slowly began to let go.

© Tony Powell. Natalie Berk. May 17, 2010

© Tony Powell. Natalie Berk. May 17, 2010

© Tony Powell. Natalie Berk. May 17, 2010

Working with Synetic Theater has taught me that each body holds its own individual story. Tony, as a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, shares this frame of mind. It’s unbelievable to have an established artist like Tony collaborate with a young artist such as myself. And I am so incredibly lucky to have him to give breath to my artistic visions.

© Tony Powell. Natalie Berk. May 17, 2010

Today I watched some of my own stories come to life through the moments captured by Tony’s lens.

Celebrating Martha!

Martha Hill circa 1922

With my Juilliard professors Laura Glenn (Limon technique) Janet Soares (Dance composition) and Danny Lewis (Limon technique)

© Tony Powell. Mary Hinkson

To say that a quarter of  The Cathedral NYC‘s ballroom last night was occupied by living legends of the dance world is not an over statement. Each year around 200 dancers, choreographers, and educators gather to celebrate the life of pioneer in-the-field, Martha Hill. I have the great honor of being the official photographer of the Martha Hill Dance Award Gala and look forward to it each year with great anticipation.

© Tony Powell. Martha Hill Dance Fund President Vernon Scott

© Tony Powell. Dancer Dian Dong and Choreographer HT Chen

© Tony Powell. Choreographer Robert Garland and Ailey II director Sylvia Waters

© Tony Powell. Choreographer, dancer, and teacher Mary Anthony

© Tony Powell. Hannah Baumgartner and Henning Rubsam

Martha Hill is credited with singlehandedly uniting the chiefs of modern dance, during it’s infancy, and also for laying the groundwork that enabled the discipline to be studied, as a major, in colleges all across the country.

Tony Powell. Choreographer/Dancers Murray Louis and Beverly Blossom

© Tony Powell. Awardees Beverly Blossom, Hortense Zera, Jacqueline Green, and Virginia Johnson

I was very fortunate to have been one of the last students hand-picked by Martha to attend The Juilliard School - where she presided over the dance program for over 30 years. Well into her eighties at the time, Martha Hill was an inspiration like none other, full of energy and insight, wisdom, and compassion.

© Tony Powell

Ten years ago an award was created to celebrate her life which recognizes 3 individuals each year in 3 different categories of the life arc of a dancer: The Young Professional, The Mid-Career, and The Lifetime Achievement Awards. This year’s event was presided over by choreographer and dancer Murray Louis with awards going to Jacqueline Green, Virginia Johnson, and Beverly Blossom respectively.

© Tony Powell. Dance critic Jennifer Dunning

© Tony Powell. My Juilliard professors Jeanne Ruddy (Graham technique) and Linda Kent (Taylor technique)

© Tony Powell. Georgia Engel, Virginia Johnson, Elvi Moore

With my Juilliard classmates choreographer and dancer Rebecca Stenn on the left and author and dance educator Dr. Elizabeth McPherson (Beth just wrote the new book about Martha Hill)

© Tony Powell

© Tony Powell. Ernesta Corvino

Turquoise Test

Check out more photos from the shoot at: www.tonypowell.smugmug.com

Turquoise © Tony Powell 8-4-09

I’ve been really fortunate to be the beneficiary of the largess of an individual in town that wishes to remain anonymous. Summer is generally slower at the magazine so it usually isn’t the time to buy new equipment. I was able, however, to purchase my dream camera – the Canon EOS 5D Mark II – the other day, as well as a Tronix Explorer XT 1200 watt portable power supply which allows me now to take all my strobes to any location. I no longer have to rent from Penn Camera! The camera showed up yesterday via UPS and I can’t remember anticipating the arrival of a piece of equipment more than this. Not only does it rival the EOS 1Ds Mark III in pixel count (21.1-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor with DIGIC 4 Image Processor) and image quality, it’s the first digital EOS camera to record in full 1080p resolution High Definition video. And it’s also $5,000 less! I look forward to shooting and editing my first HD film, with the new camera, in New York City this September. I’ll be collaborating with my best friend from Juilliard, the choreographer and dancer Rebecca Stenn, on a dance film, whose score I will also compose. When aspiring model Turquoise Williams called me up yesterday to arrange a test shoot, I decided to use my very reliable Canon EOS 40D, one last time, before switching solely to the 5D Mark II. A few examples from the yesterday’s shoot!

Turquoise © Tony Powell 8-4-09

Turquoise © Tony Powell 8-4-09

Turquoise © Tony Powell 8-4-09

Turquoise © Tony Powell 8-4-09

Turquoise © Tony Powell 8-4-09

Turquoise © Tony Powell 8-4-09