Take a journey through the ballet world, behind the curtains with Paulio Sóvári’s photographs. A ballet dancer turned photographer, Sóvári takes pride in creating images that are irreplaceable and capture the essence and uniqueness of individual dancers, offering viewers a chance to see their emotional journey beyond the beauty of the public performances. Each of his images has a story to tell. His philosophy is simple yet profound: “My photography aims to present people as I see them. They may not realize this perspective until they view themselves through my lens, which often inspires them to extend more grace to themselves.”
Born in Romania and presently based in the United States, Paulio Sóvári began his artistic journey at The Juilliard School, where his artistic foundation as a dancer, teacher and photographer was initiated. His professional career included Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Berlin State Ballet, and Oper Graz.
His first commission was with Germany’s Berlin State Ballet. Driven by a desire to diverge from typical, classical ballet photography, he leveraged his unique perspective and collaborative approach to highlight emotion and vulnerability in his pieces. He saw untapped potential in his subjects—an uncommon occurrence in the elitist, fiercely competitive performing arts industry.
Shortly after he began taking photos, he was given the opportunity to manage and update the company’s social media channels and brand. He was eventually contracted as both a dancer and photographer for the company, revamping the branding of their website and producing visuals for the company’s annual season book. Later when he moved to dance with Oper Graz, he was again commissioned there for his dual talent and experience as a photographer and dancer, a rare combination in the industry.
Sóvári’s transition from dance to photography was a natural progression. His unique style and genre are deeply reflective of his diverse origins and the myriad experiences that have shaped his life. He has a visual color deficiency, grappling with the challenge of distinguishing between shades like blue and purple or between brown, green-gold, and tan. He was also adopted as a child, so he has often found himself navigating a world that, to him, was not as colorful as it was to others.
However, Sóvári didn’t let these challenges deter him. Instead, they fueled his resolve and determination, shaping his unique perspective on colors and how they complement each other in a world that often overlooks these nuances. His life experiences have given him a special sensitivity for the emotions and vulnerability of the human experience and this insight has led him to carve out a niche for himself in the realm of dance photography. His work in this field is a testament to his perseverance, passion, and his willingness to challenge the status quo and redefine conventional perspectives, giving the layman a rare insight into dancers’ lives.
In the photograph titled Hurricane, the close-up of the pale pink whirling gossamer tutu of a dancer in motion shows an exquisite sensitivity to color in motion as the pink appears to emerge from a cloud of soft white lights. Seeing only a small portion of the dancer’s body, one can get a “Acceptance” sense of the movement or energy exerted by the dancer.
Equally exquisite is Swirl in which we see a seated dancer in a white translucent cloud that is dissolving and reappearing within an eternal blue abyss. Neither photograph shows the dancer’s face or full figure yet both reveal a subtle intimacy and vulnerability of the dancers, which is never seen by audiences during performances.
In Acceptance we see a ballerina’s legs and feet outstretched showing veins and bandages on her toes. Her hands are cupped together in a position of rest. It is a moment of repose that appears to be much earned.
A profound sense of the physical demand on a dancer’s body can be seen in the photograph Recovery. A seated ballerina guides her left leg in a stretch. A caring expression can be seen on her face as she relieves her body in a moment between dances.
For Sóvári, photography is about pushing boundaries and the art form to its limits. He subscribes to the philosophy that we all have a purpose that brings us together, “People will always remember how they felt with us, and that’s what I aim to capture. I want the essence and energy of a person to shine out, offering viewers an invitation into a world that’s real and devoid of any pretense.”
For Sóvári, photography is about pushing boundaries and the art form to its limits
Having worked around the world, Sóvári firmly believes that it is art that transcends borders and helps connect us as humanity. His work, a testament to this belief, captures not merely images, but emotions, experiences, and the essence of each individual, inviting viewers into a world that is real, raw, and authentic. Paulio Sóvári’s photographs are real-life experiences, capturing moments of beauty, struggle, and triumph. They invite the viewer to step into the shoes of the subject, to feel the emotion, to experience the moment, and to connect with the individual on a deeply personal level. G&S
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