Capturing Movement: Behind the Scenes of The Redirect at the Dairy Arts Center

On September 5 and 6, 2025, the Gordon Gamm Theater at the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder, Colorado, came alive with The Redirect—an evening of contemporary dance presented by BW Creative, choreographed by Celia Grannum Perarnaud and Brandon Welch, and enriched by a collaboration with poet Erin Robertson.

At its heart, the performance explored breath, resilience, and instinct, with dancers moving between quiet stillness and dynamic physicality. But what made this production especially remarkable was how it extended beyond the stage: through Poetry in Motion, a preview at the Boulder Public Library, Erin Robertson’s poetic reflections, and a booklet combining poetry with photography, the project became a multi-layered artistic experience.

The Redirect:

Dance as Breath, Dance as Resilience

The Redirect was inspired by the most fundamental human act: breathing. Choreography rose and fell with the dancers’ inhalations and exhalations. Moments of precise control alternated with gestures of surrender, and relationships emerged through duets, group formations, and solitary reflection.

Audiences witnessed themes of:

• Breath as guide: Movement informed by rhythm and flow of respiration.

• Control versus release: Dancers shifting between precision and vulnerability.

• Resilience of spirit: Showing adaptability and persistence in the face of change.

• Connection: Interactions between performers highlighting human relationships.
  

Over two evenings and a matinee, each performance revealed subtle variations in energy and emotion, keeping the work alive and evolving with every audience.

Poetry in Motion: Erin Robertson at the Library

Before the official premiere at the Dairy Arts Center, The Redirect extended into the community through Poetry in Motion, hosted at the Boulder Public Library.

This intimate preview offered audiences a raw, unfiltered experience of the choreography. Dancers filled the library space with energy, transforming a familiar environment into a place of expression and reflection.

Erin Robertson, the collaborating poet, shared original poems written in response to rehearsals. Her work mirrored the choreography, translating movement into language. Where a dancer curved inward, her poetry echoed the breath; where ensembles expanded outward, her stanzas reflected motion and release.

The event also included a discussion with choreographers Celia Grannum Perarnaud and Brandon Welch, Erin Robertson, and members of the cast. They shared insights about the choreographic and poetic creative process and offered excerpts from the evening of dance that would premiere at the Dairy Arts Center. Audience members were invited to ask questions and share reflections, creating a dynamic dialogue between artists and the community.

This collaboration demonstrated how dance, poetry, and conversation can interact to enrich understanding and engagement with performance art.

The Booklet: Photography Meets Poetry

To preserve the interplay of movement and language, a booklet was created combining Erin Robertson’s poetry with my photographs from both the library preview and the Dairy Arts Center performances.

• Photographs captured the dancers’ arcs, gestures, and expressions, reflecting the emotional and physical storytelling of the choreography.

• Poetry articulated the ephemeral moments of breath, tension, and release.

• The dialogue between image and word created a lasting artifact that extended the performance beyond the stage.

  This booklet exemplifies multidisciplinary collaboration, showing how dance, poetry, and photography can complement and amplify one another, giving audiences a richer, layered experience.

Photographing The Redirect: Challenges and Inspirations

Capturing a contemporary dance performance like The Redirect is both technically challenging and creatively rewarding.

1. Timing Motion

Dance is kinetic. I anticipate crescendos and key gestures to capture the peak of each movement—whether a leap, a collapse, or a duet moment.

2. Capturing Breath

Breath is visible in ribcages lifting, torsos curving, and subtle hand movements. Photographing these moments brings the choreographic intention to life.

3. Stage Lighting

The performance moved through dramatic lighting shifts—from bright washes to shadowed compositions. Shooting in RAW and adjusting quickly allowed me to preserve clarity while maintaining mood.

Why Document Performances Like This?

Professional photography preserves fleeting moments of artistry and amplifies the impact of a performance. For The Redirect, documentation serves multiple purposes:

• Archival: Choreography and poetic collaborations are preserved for future reference.

• Promotional: High-quality images support grants, press, and marketing.

• Emotional: Dancers see themselves captured in expressive moments.

• Community Engagement: The Poetry in Motion discussion and the booklet extend the performance into tangible, shareable artifacts.
  
  

Technical Snapshot

• Camera & Lenses: Canon body with 50 mm 1.8 lens

• Settings: Wide apertures (f/1.8–f/2.8) for low light, high ISO to freeze motion.

• Editing: Color balance to preserve skin tones under stage lighting, while maintaining dramatic lighting and atmosphere.

• Collaboration: repeated viewings of practice sessions and working with choreographers, Erin Robertson, and performers allowed anticipation of peak moments.

Why Hire a Photographer for Your Show?

Your months of rehearsal deserve more than phone snapshots. Professional photography ensures:

• High-resolution, publication-ready images.

• Galleries reflecting the emotional and kinetic arc of your performance.

• Materials for marketing, grant applications, and press.

• Opportunities for creative collaboration, like the Poetry in Motion booklet.
  

Final Reflections

The Redirect at the Dairy Arts Center was more than a performance:

• A meditation on breath, resilience, and connection.

• A community experience through Poetry in Motion at the Boulder Public Library.

• A collaboration with poet Erin Robertson, whose words echoed the movement.

• A booklet where poetry and photography converged to create a lasting artifact.

• An interactive artist discussion with choreographers, Erin Robertson, and cast members, engaging audiences in the creative process.

As a photographer, it was an honor to document this layered project, preserving moments of movement, reflection, and dialogue that will continue to resonate beyond the stage.

If you’re a choreographer, dancer, or arts presenter in Boulder or Colorado, I would love to help you capture your next performance—images that preserve artistry, tell your story, and extend your work far beyond a single night.

👉 Contact me today to book dance, performance or event photography in Boulder, Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville, Broomfield, Superior, Erie, Lyons, Nederland, or beyond.