After dancing as Principal Dancer with San Francisco Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, Maria Kochetkova became a Freelance International Performer. For the 2020/21 season, she is dancing as Lead Principal Dancer with the Finnish National Ballet.

The dimensions of the image are 16”x21” individually hand printed on 20x 25 inch Hahnemühle 325gsm Fine Art Baryta paper. Each numbered print is signed by Maria Kochetkova and myself. Your purchase will also include an 8×10 photograph of us at the time of the shoot and a statement of authentication. I only release a few of these fine art prints each year.

Print cost is $900. Boxing and insured shipment in the Continental USA & Canada via UPS is $38. Shipping to UK via US Postal Service is $74 and includes tracking. Purchaser may be responsible for entry duty upon delivery. The print is packaged with great care and shipped flat in a 30x25x4 inch box.

If you prefer to order one through me directly or for International Delivery Shipping Estimates, please contact me at Gene@Geneschiavone.com.

READY TO PURCHASE?

Prints shipping to the US & Canada – Proceed to Secure PayPal Checkout for US & Canada (You do not have to have a PayPal Account).

Prints shipping to the United Kingdom (UK) – Proceed to Secure PayPal Checkout for UK (You do not have to have a PayPal Account).

Other International Shipping Orders – Email me directly at Gene@Geneschiavone.com with your address so I can research shipping cost and I will send you a PayPal Invoice.

Customer Feedback from Australia:

I received the print today and, I must say, I am very happy with it. It was packaged well and arrived safely. In terms of the print, it looks even better than I thought it would! Overall, I am very happy with my purchase.

Regards, Stephen

The post MARIA KOCHETKOVA LIMITED EDITION SIGNED GICLÉE PRINT appeared first on Gene Schiavone Ballet Photography.

Natalia and I came together to create an image to announce her joining The Royal Ballet for the 2013/14 season, and a marketing piece for The Royal Ballet to promote her appearance in their production of Swan Lake.

The dimensions of the image are 16”x24” individually hand printed on 19”x28” Hahnemühle 325gsm Fine Art Baryta paper. Each numbered print is signed by Natalia Osipova and myself. Your purchase will also include an 8×10 photograph of us at the time of the shoot and a statement of authentication. I only release a few of these fine art prints each year. It is the only signed photographed of her’s offered to the public.

Print cost is $900. Boxing and insured shipment in the Continental USA & Canada via UPS is $38. Shipping to UK via US Postal Service is $74 and includes tracking. Purchaser may be responsible for entry duty upon delivery. The print is packaged with great care and shipped flat in a 30x25x4 inch box.

If you prefer to order one through me directly or for International Delivery Shipping Estimates, please contact me at Gene@Geneschiavone.com.

READY TO PURCHASE?

Prints shipping to the US & Canada – Proceed to Secure PayPal Checkout for US & Canada (You do not have to have a PayPal Account).

Prints shipping to the United Kingdom (UK) – Proceed to Secure PayPal Checkout for UK (You do not have to have a PayPal Account).

Other International Shipping Orders – Email me directly at Gene@Geneschiavone.com with your address so I can research shipping cost and I will send you a PayPal Invoice.

Customer Feedback from the UK:

I just wanted to let you know that my Natalia Osipova print arrived safely and I am very happy with it. It is absolutely stunning, looks so much better than I had hoped, it’s perfect. It was packed very well. Really appreciate it, Many Thanks.

The post NATALIA OSIPOVA LIMITED EDITION SIGNED GICLÉE PRINT appeared first on Gene Schiavone Ballet Photography.

After many years, I’ve decided to retire from studio work and close my facility in Naples, FL.

My original intent was to do this in October when I turn 75, however, with all the crazy things going on, I thought it would be uncomfortable for the dancers and myself to do shoots where we work in close proximity for hours. I knew this day would eventually come, it’s just that I thought it would be a little further out.

I want to sincerely thank all the dancers I’ve worked with over the years, I do have hundreds of pairs of signed shoes and photos to remember you by.

I gave a lot of thought to choosing a photo for this post, this one, taken at the Mikhailovsky Theatre, (St. Petersburg RU, 2008) says it best. I intend to continue my stage work when things normalize and am scheduled to be at Lincoln Center with American Ballet Theatre this summer.

Perhaps one day I’ll publish some of my studio work and the amazing dancers I’ve captured.

Thank you all…gene

The post Studio Work Retirement Announcement appeared first on Gene Schiavone Ballet Photography.

Excerpt:

Famed ballet photographer Gene Schiavone joins us to talk about ballet, theater and dance photography. It does get a little technical at times but Gene really goes into detail on equipment, settings, obstacles, where to stand and more when photographing with stage lighting.

Watch the interview online at Understand Photography’s YouTube Channel  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqP78l5cXwo

The post Dance and Ballet Photography with Gene Schiavone Interview appeared first on Gene Schiavone Ballet Photography.

Although I’ve photographed Julie Kent for American Ballet Theatre over a period of 15 years, it was wonderful to see her in her new role as Artistic Director at Washington Ballet.

Read Sarah L. Kaufman’s Washington Post Review

The post Washington Ballet’s Premier of John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet appeared first on Gene Schiavone Ballet Photography.

Excerpt:

This week we have the honor and privilege to have with us in our virtual “PIAZZA NAVONA” Gene Schiavone : one of the most famous and brilliant photographers of Dance. He is the official photographer of the American Ballet Theater and has worked with internationally renowned dancers (from Roberto Bolle to Svetlana Zakharova). His photographs are published in all the most important magazines dedicated to the world of dance.

Read the interview and article online at https://www.riccichiara.com/gene-schiavone/

The post Gene Schiavone, the Artist who captures the Essence of the Ballet appeared first on Gene Schiavone Ballet Photography.

Sometimes you need to be in the right place at the right time and need to know the right person. For Gene Schiavone, the person he knew was his wife Ellen. The right place was his home and the right time was a fundraiser event his wife had organised.

Mrs Schiavone had been a volunteer with the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) for years and she had a fundraiser at the Schiavone house, during which Gene Schiavone took photos he sent in to the press department of the ABT. Eventually, he retired from his corporate job and he would travel with the ABT Studio Company for two years and learn the trade of dance photography. After these two years, he got a shot at being the photographer for the main company. And the rest is history, as they say.

Mr Schiavone has been an acclaimed dance photographer for over 20 years and is the staff photographer for the American Ballet Theatre, his work has been published in every major newspaper and he has captured pretty much every dancer and ensemble out there.

We approached Mr Schiavone and he was gracious enough to answer some questions on who his unsung heroes of ballet are, who he wished he could capture and why Swan Lake has a special place in his heart.

Spectacle: What is important to you, when you take photos of dancers? What do you try to capture?

Gene Schiavone: There are two important elements in all my work, one is technical, the other is aesthetic. With regard to stage work, my first job is to document the performance from a historical perspective, to create an archival record. I recently photographed Misty Copeland’s debut of “Giselle” and it was important for ABT to have a record of the performance. The goal was, out of 900 images, to tell the story of the ballet in a series of 15-20 photos. In “Giselle” it’s the bench scene where she’s plucking the daisy, the confrontation between Albrecht and Hilarion, the mad scene and Giselle’s death etc. Each ballet has their own “photo points” which tells the story and you must capture. The technical aspects are very challenging due to severe lighting conditions which are usually low light and sometimes almost no light. There is always a balance between blur and grain. Fortunately, the new professional digital cameras allow you to get results that just weren’t possible ten years ago.

“The key to a successful photo is to bring out the emotion within the dancer.”

Spectacle: Why is it important to have background knowledge of the ballet? 

Gene Schiavone: I began with no knowledge of ballet. My introduction to the art was through my wife Ellen who was for many years involved with ABT as a volunteer, fundraiser and later as a Trustee. It took a long time and the rejection of hundreds of photos before I began to learn what was proper and what was not. The key is to anticipate the movement and that’s done by listening to the music and watching the feet. Each movement has only one correct moment to be captured
so timing is critical. By taking a rapid series of photos, you’ll most likely miss the right moment.

Spectacle: You have photographed so many dancers and ballet, is there one you haven’t captured but wish you had? An event? A dancer? 

Gene Schiavone: I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to photograph some of today’s most noted ballet dancers but I have always wanted to photograph Sylvie Guillem on stage. Tall ballerinas have such striking lines and she is an exceptional artist. Hopefully, there will be a possibility in the future.

Spectacle: Just like the dancers, you have to be on point when you take your photos since the moment goes by so quickly. Did you ever miss an important moment? And how do you make sure you won’t? 

Gene Schiavone: After many years I have finally come to the realisation that “you can’t get every shot”. For me, the greatest challenge is the opening of Act II in “Swan Lake”
when Odette enters from stage left, takes two steps into a grand jete. To me, it’s the most important shot of the ballet and the timing is critical, she must be captured at full extension. There is almost no light and she is white against a dark background so exposure is very critical. It’s taken a long time and many missed shots to perfect this. For photo enthusiasts, my camera settings are 360sec, F2.8, 16,000 ISO, -1 exp comp.

“I have finally come to the realisation that you can’t get every shot”

Spectacle: You mentioned before that Swan Lake is your favourite ballet to capture, what is so special about it?

Gene Schiavone: As in act II of “Giselle” act II in “Swan Lake” is difficult so it really tests my skill, it’s very emotional, and has beautiful movement accompanied by wonderful music. I much prefer the traditional story ballets with their classic movement.

Spectacle: I’m sure you have taken thousands of photos, are there ones you treasure the most? 

Gene Schiavone: My archives contain over 900,000 photos from the major ballet companies both here and abroad. Since I’ve been an ABT Staff Photographer since 2004, much of my work has centred around them. However, I am fortunate to have worked regularly with Bolshoi Ballet, Mariinsky Theatre, Boston Ballet as well as many other dance companies such as The Radio City Rockettes. I’ve developed many personal relationships with dancers over the years and I suppose those photos are most important. I am a little saddened to think that most of my photos will go unseen. In a typical performance, I may shoot 1,000 images. After a second edit, there may only be 50 left which are ultimately approved for public use. That means 450 of the unchosen will sit on my hard drives and never be seen. Most of those photos are of the corps de ballet as approved photos are usually of principals and soloists. These are the true unsung heroes of a ballet. I always shoot “the girls in the back row”, the dancers that do show after show with little recognition. To me, these are nameless dedicated dancers around which every ballet is built, yet they are rarely acknowledged for their dedication to the art form. In the years to come, their names may not be remembered but they will be kept alive in my photos. A photograph is a moment in time which immediately becomes the past, I see my responsibility as preserving those moments.

“I am a little saddened to think that most of my photos will go unseen”

Spectacle: Can you enjoy ballet without a camera? Do you go to the ballet when you are not working?

Gene Schiavone: I sometimes attend the ballet with my wife and often find it to be a different performance. When I photograph, I’m only looking at a small part of the stage usually centered around the principals. However when in the audience, I often see things I hadn’t noticed looking through the viewfinder. I also see ballets in “clicks” that shot and that shot and that shot. I get very restless sitting there thinking I could be preserving these images.

Spectacle: Ballet is often perceived as something elitist and with social media and smartphones, it might be harder to excite a younger audience. How can ballet reach these audiences to be performers and/or patrons?

Gene Schiavone: Attracting a younger audience has always been a challenge for ballet. Every company I’ve worked with recognises the problem and tries to encourage that segment of the market by special events geared specifically to them along with discounted student tickets and special access.
Many are meeting the challenge through social media. Facebook, Instagram and simulcasting performances have brought ballet to a much wider audience. I actually have noticed more young people at performances in recent years.

Thank you to Gene Schiavone for taking the time to answer our questions.

The post Gene Schiavone on the unsung heroes of ballet and the challenges to photograph Swan Lake appeared first on Gene Schiavone Ballet Photography.

Beginning on page 348 is an article written by Barbara Ferreri Malinksy titled  “Gene Schiavone: Photographer to the Acrobats of God.”

Excerpts:

Gene Schiavone communes with the Acrobats of God on a daily basis. His camera captures their essence – their artistry where the human body is the instrument of expression. Imbued with the subtle nuance that each performer proffers, the Acrobats of God bestow the gift of transcendence, transporting us from this world to another.

His skill is in demand throughout the world and has taken him to the most prestigious ballet companies and festivals – ABT, New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet, Bolshoi, Kirov, Munich Ballet, Royal Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, the Mikkeli Ballet Festival in Finland, the Youth American Grand Prix as well as other companies and international events. His photographs are published regularly in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and major papers and magazines here and abroad.

Mention just about any etoile in the constellation of ballet stardom and he has photographed them – Paloma Herrera, Ulyana Lopatkina, Alessandra Ferri, Marcelo Gomes, Diana Vishneva, Ethan Stiefel, Gillian Murphy, Roberto Bolle, Irina Dvorovenko, Anastasia and Denis Matvienko, Nina Ananiashvili, Svetlana Zakharova and more. He lives in the firmament of the stars and understands the ephemeral and evanescent nature of his subject matter.

His philosophy reveals his understanding of documenting a transient medium, “Each photograph is a moment in time which has immediately become the past. Ballet is a visual art form steeped in history. It is my hope that these photographs will help preserve that history.”

The post Gene Schiavone: Photographer to the Acrobats of God appeared first on Gene Schiavone Ballet Photography.

Watch as Gene explains the creative process involved in a 4 hour studio session to a ballet student and her mom.  The resulting photos are gorgeous.  It’s a collaboration between artists; ballerina and photographer.

The experience and photos resulting from Gene’s studio photography sessions prepare aspiring young dancers for ballet auditions, college dance scholarships, portfolios, ballet competitions and future ballet photography sessions as professionals. Many families book studio photo sessions to commemorate their young dancer’s passion & dedication with ballet portraits. Learn more at http://www.geneschiavone.com/

Video by Gregg Clemons of Naples, FL

The post Professional Ballet Photographer Gene Schiavone Works with Aspiring Dancers appeared first on Gene Schiavone Ballet Photography.

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