My shoot with Roxane Carmen Petra Henrici.
Kansas City Photographer Kimberly Pimentel
Flamenco
Former Ballerina and Flamenco dancer poses on a Sunday afternoon
Roxane Petra Carmen Henrici is the daughter of German born parents, Bernd and Inge. She has lived and loved dance her whole life. She tells me, as a child her first experience in the arts was a class in gymnastics and she excelled in this.
But, it was Ballet that captured her soul. When you read her dance resume you wonder what can drive a young person to be so captured, so driven by an art form. She danced in The Houston Opera for a season. Telling me that the stage was always a place of safety and expressionism for her.
On this quiet Sunday afternoon her only audience was her rescue dog Uma. Roxane has a stage presence that can give you chills. She is so fluid and expressive in her movements.
Her dance schooling continued at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. Her parents' hard blue collar ethics enabled her to attend this arts High School. They knew that their daughter was an Artist and needed to be in this type of environment to develop her skills.
Roxane has told me being so young and away from family was hard, but a growth experience. While attending arts school she missed out on family trips back to Europe and many occasions and celebrations.
After highschool Roxane studied dance at the University of New Mexico earning a scholarship in Flamenco.
"A Dame and her dog"- image by http://kimberlypimentel.com
On this Sunday afternoon I captured this portrait of Roxane ballerina flamenco dancer and artist. Always a dancer always a performer. Life is her stage and we are all her audience. Bravo Roxane bravo!
Images by Kimberly Pimentel a Kansas City Photography
http://kimberlypimentel.com
Roxane and Una
Dance Day KC 2016 by http://kimberlypimentel.com/
Dance Day was held at KC Ballet on August 27, 2016. This is a annual event that celebrates a multitude of dances from around the world. From early morning through late afternoon, free dance classes are offered in a variety of styles for the young and the mature. Also available throughout the day, are free dance performances that inspire and ease the creative palette.
Dance is a great way to develop a mind-body connection, while having fun and getting fit. Honing ones artistry and exuding self expression, regardless of experience or dance know-how, are some of the benefits.
The Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity is a spectacularly renovated architectural phenom that inspires creativity itself. It houses the amateur and professional dancers of Kansas City's premiere dance company.
All images taken by Kimberly Pimentel a Kansas City Photographer.
All images by
Flamenco Class was instructed by Tamara Carson.
A Schedule of classes was handed out that enabled the participants, young and old, experienced, or just having fun, to dance all day. Classes were 45 minutes long and all were encouraged to let thier inner dancer shine.
An outside tent was set up with a lunch from Two Guys and a Grill. The social hour provided a much needed refueling, while dancers of all experience munched and chatted about goals, dance, and issues that the Arts in general face. At one table a Dance Instructor from England sat next to a Collegiate Dancer and a trio of pre-high school enthusiasts and all talked about thier dance and love of the arts, and how limited funding is for this mind growing endeavor.
Dancers were instructed to look at themselves and be powerful!
Dance has been shown to improve cognitive function, balance, creativity, and fitness. As dancers, young and old, gathered at studio doors, ideas and greetings were exchanged. The Arts were alive and generating kinships of creation at the Todd Bolender Center.
All images shot by Kimberly Pimentel a Kansas City Photographer.