Dancers Among Us: Photographer takes pictures of the extraordinary motions of everyday life

posted Monday, November 12, 2012 at 11:03 AM EST

In his project titled "Dancers Among Us," NYC-based photographer Jordan Matter captures moments of elation, passion and emotion by taking pictures of professional dancers going through the motions -- albeit the extraordinary motions that only dancers can achieve -- of everyday life. Matter has shot scenes with dancers in cities across the country doing everything from running to catch a subway train to goofing off in class, and the images now fill 240 pages of a recently published book.

A former actor and a headshot photographer by trade, the project sprung to life when Matter witnessed his son, Hudson, demonstrating such outward physical joy while playing with a simple toy bus. "He jumped in place, mouth open and slapping his knees, joyously reacting to a world I couldn’t see, but one powerfully present for him," Matter said. "What happens to this enthusiasm, this ability to be wholly present in the moment? Why are these pure moments of passion so often replaced with cynicism, boredom, and indifference? As I played with my son, I thought about creating photographs that would show the world as if through his eyes. The people in the images would be alive and in the moment, celebrating all aspects and emotions of everyday life."

Soon following this moment of inspiration, Matter attended a dance performance and realized he had found his subjects. "Dancers are storytellers," Matter said. "They’re trained to capture passion with their bodies. They often create a fantasy world or offer us a deeper look into familiar settings. They bring to life what we feel but what most of us, lacking their artistry and athleticism, are unable to express physically."