Documenting rehearsals for Les Sylphides at Birmingham Royal Ballet — April 2025.

While I always enjoy photographing the final production on stage, I’m just as drawn to the behind-the-scenes process. Rehearsals offer a completely different perspective — quieter, more intimate, and full of moments that often go unseen by an audience.

From a photographer’s point of view, it’s a chance to focus on the details: the repetition of movement, the adjustments between dancers and choreographers, and the concentration that fills the studio. Without the costumes and stage lighting, the raw physicality and precision of the performance really come into focus.

Spending time in these spaces gives a real appreciation for what goes into each production. Every sequence is refined over and over again, and every dancer brings an incredible level of commitment, discipline, and artistry to their role. It’s not just about the final performance — it’s the hours of preparation, resilience, and teamwork that make it possible.

Being able to document that process is always a privilege, and it never fails to leave me in awe of the dedication behind the work.