quality of movement

i wasn't much older than the girls in these pictures when i studied dance with the inimitable kelli wicke davis at roger williams university in rhode island.  from kelli i learned that every movement must have a purpose, a story, a life.  that at any moment on stage, a picture taken should yield a perfect composition - every finger in place, every dancer precisely synchronized, eyes focused.  what she demanded was extremely difficult, but it's what made us all better dancers.

it wasn't until kelli passed away a few months ago that i found out she was a photographer.  i didn't come to photography until my mid-thirties but when i did, i heard kelli's voice in my head, reminding me to watch closely and give meaning to every frame.  i'm always trying to exploit the in-between moments as perfect imperfections, or choreographed realisms that require a bit of work to present as natural instants - and i'm certain i have kelli to thank or blame for that, depending on how successful i'm feeling.

kelli gave me artistic intelligence that will last forever, and an appreciation for richer, more profound quality of movement that i hope is evident in my work.