In the Company of Stars

Gerard Uferas spent a year with the Paris Opera Ballet family, and his photographs lead readers into the private world of the Opera Garnier, Paris's landmark opera house. He took his camera backstage, into the wings, the practice halls named after the great figures in the history of ballet, and the ornate neo-Baroque foyer where the dancers gather to warm up before each performance. His images retrace the constant work, sometimes trying, often exhilarating, that fills the days at the ballet, revealing the concentration that precedes a dancer's entrance on to the stage, the poise and gestures, the moments of exertion and of rest. Uferas reveals the secrets of a usually cloistered world, documenting the toil, the dedication, and the months of preparation that culminate in moments of breathtaking beauty on the stage. By capturing forever the ephemeral art of the dance, the photographer has created an enduring homage to the otherwise fleeting professional lives of the dancers. The result is an art that transcends both dance and photography a unique partnership with its own exquisite choreography.