My daughter’s dance instructor asked me if I would photograph her dance students during their dress rehearsal for their upcoming recital.  I don’t usually do event groups because it is not in keeping with the image I’m portraying to my clients, but I couldn’t turn her down – after all – my daughter is involved.  I decided I would keep it simple and intended to photograph them in the dance studio of the high school where they are performing.  Trouble was, when I arrived I found the studio walls to be covered with colorful posters destroying any notion of a simple backdrop.  I moseyed around and found a spot just outside and fortunately – in the shade.  We didn’t have a lot of time to work and there were several groups to photograph.  It was a bit like trying to herd cats as I attempted to pose the three-year-olds.  The instructor helped with the dance poses and I arranged  them the best I could and then made the images.  At one point I handed her the cable release (technically the electronic release) and told her to press the button when I said to.  I then went up and talked to the girls to get their attention.  I would slowly back up until I was out of the camera’s view and yell – “shoot.”  As it turned out I really like the images!  It’s not about the perfect posing of dancers – it is about them and them being themselves.  I supposed if I had been handing out Smarties – My favorite bribe – and had an hour to work with each group they would have been a bit better arranged.  But I didn’t and we didn’t so I went with the flow and as I said, I like the results.  It would be great fun to do them individually.  Dancers are very artistic by nature and lend themselves to good photography.  Perhaps I will have the opportunity in the near future.  In the meantime this Utah photographer hopes you will enjoy the images of these little – and not so little – dancers.  I like the way the instructors at my daughter’s studio work with the girls.  For more information you can go to their website at http://creativedgedance.com/CreativEdge_Dance_Studio/Home.html