Hudson River Museum Presents Dancers Among Us: Jordan Matter

YONKERS, NY, September 5, 2015 — Jordan Matter’s stunning photographs appear at Hudson River Museum Fall 2015 in the exhibition Dancers Among Us.

The first solo museum exhibition for Matter in the United States, it contains over 30 images — photographs from his acclaimed book Dancers Among Us: A Celebration of Joy in the Everyday; new images from his upcoming book Tiny Dancers Among Us, and new photographs of dancers in our region.

The exhibition, which fills three galleries, contains videos shot during Matter’s photo shoots. First is a video montage of the dancers’ leaping; in another gallery, a video shows his dynamic working process; and, finally the 12-minute video Finding Serendipity, which chronicles the search by Matter and the dancers for the perfect place for the perfect pose.

Matter photographs dancers off stage and in unexpected places — no computer manipulation allowed. The world is his studio — its streets, libraries, playing fields, coffee shops, and highways. For Matter, the heart of dance is best captured outside in bustling city streets or juxtaposed with rural nature.

Starting his career as a portrait photographer, Matter soon turned his interest to dance as he watched his children’s joy at play — an exuberance he wanted to carry over in photographs of adults. As he wrote in his book, Dancers Among Us: “Dancers are…. trained to capture passion with their bodies. They often create a fantasy world or offer us a deeper look into familiar stetting.” Some of his most mind-boggling images, which Diane Sawyer (ABC World News) called “breathtaking photos to free your imagination.

Matter’s photographs fall into three themes: Soaring, Stretching and Serendipity. In Soaring, from the Hudson River to city park fountains, Matter uses the visual and close proximate link of the leaping dancer and moving water. In Stretching, the dancers’ dramatic poses of strength and stillness evoke a more contemplative mood. It occurred to Matter early on that the heart of dance might best be captured outside of performance. The last section highlights his locations—from bustling city streets to more serene riverbanks and park fountains, where the dancers revel in the beauties of nature and which enable Matter to take advantage of the special qualities of light and motion.

Programs, Dance and Movement: October – December 2015

Thursday, 2–3pm: Ballroom Dancing: For adults, directed by a dance instructor who inspires participants to physically respond to the energy celebrated in Jordan Matter’s images.

Saturday Dance Workshops 1, 2, and 3 pm: Instructors teach in African, Latin dance traditions.

Gallery Stage Dance 1 and 3 pm: Public rehearsals at 12 noon, choreographed by dancer, LeAnn Yannelli for serious dance students from high school and college programs as well as acclaimed New York City dance companies.

Family Day October 18: Performance by Teresa Fellion Dance.

Dancers Among Us: Jordan Matter is organized by the Hudson River Museum.