Sarah Stone's "Broken Mirrors"

If there’s one thing with which ballet students can all identify, it’s the constant struggle to accept things that are out of their control. What happens, though, when this quest for perfection gets in the way of the love for dance? That’s what Sarah Stone, a student in the Joffrey Academy of Dance’s pre-professional division, set out to understand with her photography project, “Broken Mirrors.”

(Photo by Sarah Stone)

Sarah explains her intentions for the project: “I started by asking each dancer to play their favorite music, and I captured they joy they felt on film.  Then we talked about how things were going for them at this stage in their training.  I searched for that moment when they spoke from raw emotion, tapping into their pain about issues ranging from dysmorphic representation of their bodies, to emotional detachment, to old injuries never given time to properly heal. Then I directed them through natural motions at the barre, trying to find the glimpse of struggle I saw while watching them in class. Once I found that delicate moment, the result was breathtaking.”

(Photo by Sarah Stone)

Sarah says, “The ballet world can be ruthless—we are trained to compete directly with our friends and repress any issues from day one. My goal is to start a discussion so dancers can find support in the studio, at home or in their communities.” It’s safe to say that with this project, she’s doing just that. Check out the rest of the lovely images below.

(Photo by Sarah Stone)

(Photo by Sarah Stone)

(Photo by Sarah Stone)