If you've ever had a conversation with me for more than 5 seconds, you know that speechlessness is something I experience approximately never. But trying to put words to one of the most rewarding experiences of my photography career is not easy. Everything I write feels inhibited or overly professional, so I'll just say it like this; photographing dancers from the cast of Hamilton was REALLY, REALLY FREAKING AWESOME!
I have been a musical theatre nerd my entire life. I unabashedly belt show tunes in the shower (you're welcome to everyone who has ever lived with me) and have been performing since I was a young child. So when I got to see the national tour of Hamilton during its stop in San Diego, I was ecstatic! Unless you've been living under a rock for several years, you'll know that Hamilton is the talk of the town. The musical won 11 Tony Awards in 2016 and has been sold out for virtually every performance in its existence. I'll admit, I was nervous to see if the musical would live up to the hype, but after seeing the show, I can honestly say that you just can't hype it up enough. It's truly spectacular in every way.
However, the excitement of seeing the show pales in comparison to the excitement of actually collaborating with these incredibly talented performers in the photography studio. Besides being insanely talented and stunningly beautiful (seriously, is this a requirement for Hamilton casting?), these dancers were kind, gracious, and a dang good time to hang out with! While I'm not a gifted dancer myself, I have long believed dance to be the most beautiful and expressive of art forms. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I believe that dance is altogether beyond words. And so, creating together with these beautiful people was truly an experience that left me speechless.
A huge and heartfelt thank you to all of these amazing dancers!