Ballet Portraits with Eri Nishihara: A Passion Project
I was perusing a bookstore with a friend a few months ago when I saw a book filled with beautiful pictures of Mindy Copeland and her stunning ballet portraits. It was captivating. I started dreaming up a way to do more photography in the realm of artistic portraiture. It led me to plan a new passion project that would push me past my comfort zone and into the lives of other impact-makers. I wanted to focus specifically on the active and outdoor space. I wanted to be intentional with my camera and celebrate people in my community. Those following their dreams, pursuing their passions and making a difference in their community. The people who are ultimately creating a ripple effect and impacting our world. This led me to my first subject…
Passion Project Subject One: Ballet Portraits with Eri Nishihara of the Richmond Ballet.
I carefully researched local impact makers and knew I wanted to find a talented dancer. While I am not a dancer (nor would I be skilled enough to be one; there’s a reason my parents didn’t name me Grace), the art/sport has always intrigued me. I started here after hearing wonderful things about the local ballet in Richmond. This is where I found the amazing Eri Nishihara.
I am so thankful for Eri Nishihara and her willingness to join me on a Saturday afternoon in downtown Richmond. We snapped photos for several hours, capturing more poses and prompts than I had planned. With very little instruction and guidance, Eri found her poses naturally and beautifully as we glided through the session. From jumps and static poses, her talent exuded from every pore.
Introducing Eri (Pronounced Air-ee) Nishihara
Eri began dancing at the age of five in Hiroshima, Japan. She holds a BFA in Ballet Performance from the University of Utah, where she studied for two years before joining the second company at Richmond Ballet in 2014. She was promoted to the main company in 2017 and has since danced in many works (list here). Eri also serves as a piano accompanist and instructor at the school. Read Eri’s full bio here.
Ballet dancing is well known for being graceful and elegant. But we can’t forget these dancers’ strength, resilience, and power. They are constantly building their strength and moving their bodies with intricate movements that work even the smallest muscles. Eri mentioned they have 10-12 hour days of nothing but practice, five days a week. Talk about dedication! In addition to practice and rehearsals, Eri teaches dance classes and community outreach events. She spends time outside of practice promoting the ballet and upcoming performances. This girl is on the move and making a HUGE impact not only in the local community but artists worldwide.
Their passion for dance and creating art with their bodies is awe-inspiring.
Learn more about Eri and her upcoming performances with the Richmond Ballet by visiting https://richmondballet.com/.
