Powder dance portraits on June 23, 2025 at Dabour Photography.
Happy Birthday to our amazing new Dance Ambassador, Jordin (@jordincheyenne)! 🎉
While this is Jordin’s official first year joining us as a dance ambassador, she is certainly no stranger to our camera lens. I’ve had the absolute joy and privilege of photographing Jordin at Showbiz Kidz Dance for many years, watching her growth, dedication, and incredible talent shine year after year.
Capturing her senior portraits was such a highlight, and welcoming her to our ambassador team feels like the perfect next chapter. Jordin brings so much grace, athletic power, and joyful energy to every single shoot—whether she’s striking a flawless pose or leaping through mid-air color!
Jordin, thank you for being such a wonderful representative of our brand. We are so excited for all the incredible dance portrait sessions we have planned together this year!
Please join us in wishing Jordin the happiest of birthdays in the comments below! 🥳💃
Dabour Photography Dance Ambassadors trip to the State Theaatre in Easton, PA 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
Earlier this month, I had the joy of photographing 13 of my 19 dance ambassadors at the historic State Theatre in Easton, PA. With everyone’s packed schedules, I know getting all 19 of us together at once is nearly impossible — so having 13 in one place felt like a gift. And what a session it turned out to be.
This year’s visit gave us the chance to explore areas of the theatre we hadn’t photographed in before, and it added a fresh layer of creativity to the ambassador experience. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing individual posts featuring each ambassador who attended, but I wanted to start with a look at some of the standout moments that made this year’s session special.
A Glimpse Behind the Curtain — The Dressing Rooms
Dabour Photography Dance Ambassadors trip to the State Theaatre in Easton, PA 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
One of the biggest highlights was taking the ambassadors into the dressing rooms. These are the spaces where performers prepare before stepping onto the State Theatre stage — a place filled with signatures, memories, and the energy of countless shows. Watching the ambassadors take it all in, and then create portraits in that environment, was a moment of connection between their own artistic journeys and the legacy of the theatre.
The Ghost Light
Every theatre has a ghost light — a single lamp that stays lit when the stage is dark. It’s a tradition, a superstition, and a symbol all at once. This year, Elijah and Makenley weren’t able to stay for the next section (lobby), so we used the ghost light as their creative space. The results were dramatic, moody, and unlike anything we’ve done in past ambassador years.
The Lobby Assignment — Finding Their Own Space
Dabour Photography Dance Ambassadors trip to the State Theaatre in Easton, PA 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
We finished in the lobby, which is just as stunning as the main theater. I gave each ambassador who stayed until the end a simple assignment: Find a place — anywhere on either floor — that speaks to you.
From ornate mirrors to tucked‑away corners, from staircases to architectural details, each dancer chose a spot that matched their personality and style. The variety was incredible, and the portraits we created there are some of my favorites from the entire session.
A Dabour Photography Ambassador Exclusive
This annual visit to the State Theatre of the Arts is something only my dance ambassadors get to experience, and every year it becomes more meaningful. 2026 brought new spaces, new ideas, and new memories — and I can’t wait to share each ambassador’s story in the posts to come.
SPooky dance portraits for Vivi on October 8, 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
There is a distinct energy in the studio when spooky season rolls around. Our “Spooky Dance Portraits” sessions have quickly become a studio favorite—not just for me, but for the dancers who come ready to bring their most creative ideas to life. While classic dance portraiture is all about technical precision and clean lines, these seasonal sessions give dancers a chance to step outside the traditional box: they get to act, lean into theatrical character work, and simply have fun with their art form!
Recently, dance ambassador Vivi (@balletvivi), who dances with West Jersey Youth Ballet (@westjerseyyouthballet), stepped back in front of my lens for another incredible set of spooky portraits. Vivi has participated in this themed shoot multiple times over the years, though she had to miss last year’s session. Having her back in the studio reminded me why this annual tradition is so special—and why some of our dance ambassadors return year after year.
Never a Dull Moment Behind the Lens
Vivi’s mom jokingly worries that I’ll eventually get tired of photographing her since she’s in front of my camera so often. I can say with 100% certainty: that will never happen!
Even when we work through similar concepts or repeat a seasonal favorite, Vivi brings an entirely fresh energy to every single shoot. She approaches every concept with enthusiasm, versatility, and a fantastic dramatic flair that makes each frame unique.
Highlights From Vivi’s Spooky Session
During this shoot, Vivi seamlessly transitioned between playful witchy vibes, dramatic gothic elegance, and hauntingly beautiful ghostly storytelling:
Witchy Precision: Rocking a celestial outfit and a witch hat, Vivi delivered flawless technique en pointe against a dramatic red background—proving that high-level ballet technique and Halloween fun mix perfectly.
Gothic Drama: Dressed in all-black lace, a top hat, and a sweeping sheer skirt, Vivi brought incredible theatrical flair and dramatic motion to the set.
Ethereal & Haunting: Transforming into a ghostly apparition complete with delicate mesh draping, tombstone props, and backlighting, Vivi showcased her dramatic acting ability alongside her ballet training.
Join Us in the Studio!
Working with dedicated dancers like Vivi is what makes photography so rewarding. Every session is an opportunity to collaborate, experiment, and create dynamic art together.
Book Your Session: Interested in booking your own creative dance portrait session? Reach out through our contact page to discuss your concept and reserve your time!
Dabour Photography dance ambassadors at the State Theatre of the Arts on Sepember 23, 2025. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
Happy Birthday to one of our incredible Dance Ambassadors, Amelia (@ameliarosedancer)! 🎉
We are beyond thrilled to celebrate Amelia’s special day and mark her second year as a key part of our ambassador family. Having her represent our brand for another year has been such a joy, and her dedication, passion, and sheer energy for dance shine through in every single project.
Here’s a fun little backstory: my history with Amelia actually goes back way before her dancing days! Years ago, I had the pleasure of photographing Amelia and her family for a family portrait session. Even as a little girl before she ever stepped into a dance studio, she had an undeniable sparkle in front of the camera. Looking back at those photos and seeing where she is today, one thing hasn’t changed at all—she still lights up the lens every single time!
Amelia, thank you for bringing so much talent, positivity, and brightness to our ambassador team. We hope your birthday is as fabulous, fun, and memorable as you are!
Amelia dances at @westjerseyyouthballet.
Join us in wishing Amelia the happiest of birthdays in the comments below! 🥳💕
Finding balance in the unexpected. 📐✨ Amelia proves that dance is as much about the space you occupy as the movement itself. I love how the clean lines of the pedestal contrast with her fluid, athletic grace in this fine-art studio session.
Join us for Dance Dads for a Cure mini sessions on October 17 and 18, 2026, supporting breast cancer research.
Breast cancer struck pretty close in my family. My mom was a survivor. I always wanted to do something in support of that and my love of dance photography. Enter: Dance Dads for a Cure!
This will be a mini portrait session (15 minutes) for a dancer, and their dad. The session is complimentary as long as you make a donation to a charity that supports cancer. Any images with the dad wearing pink, would be included! If a dancer wants images of herself, I will donate my profit to cancer charity.
While I realize every dancer has a dad, not all of them are available or willing to do this. But cost isn’t a factor (other than the donation).
Dancers probably have many portraits of themselves captured on smartphones or by non-professional photographers, but probably very little or none with their dads while dancing!
One Weekend Only. Saturday October 17, 2026 and Sunday October 18th 2026. dancedads.dabourphoto.com
Bringing Swan Lake into the Elements: Odette & Odile at Solitude Falls
When classical artistry meets nature’s grandeur, the result is pure magic. What started as inspiration from recent river experience portraits quickly evolved into a full Swan Lake creative concept session starring two of our incredible Dabour Photography Dance Ambassadors: Rylea (@balletlifeofrylea) as the Black Swan (Odile) and Becky (@just_becky_vibes) as the White Swan (Odette).
The idea was originally proposed by Becky’s mom, and we were instantly hooked on the vision of placing classical tutus, tiaras, and feathered details against a rushing waterfall and peaceful lake backdrop.
Timing is Everything (Even Amazon Delays!)
We originally planned to shoot a week earlier, but our costume accessories from Amazon were slightly delayed—or as we like to say in our world, they weren’t quite “on pointe!”
As it turned out, that brief delay was a blessing in disguise. When I scouted the Solitude Falls location in advance, the water level was running quite high and deep. By the time our wardrobe arrived and the shoot officially took place, the water level had dropped into much safer, more workable territory.
Even though balancing on wet river rocks presents a serious technical challenge for any dancer, Rylea and Becky handled the terrain with absolute poise as summer slipped away.
Ethereal Drama: Waterfalls, Rocks, & Dock Lines
Throughout the session, both dancers brought incredible storytelling and focus to every set:
The Cascading Waterfall: Posing on the rocky riverbed directly below the rushing waterfall, Rylea and Becky created dramatic contrast between classical ballet lines and raw, powerful water.
The Stone Steps: Perched along the rustic stone walls, their contrasting black and white tutus popped against the deep tones of the stone and rushing water behind them.
The Serene Dock: As the skies turned moody, we moved down to the dock over the quiet water for mirrored arabesques, holding hands under dramatic cloud-filled skies.
Their willingness to step out of the studio and brave the elements resulted in some of the most striking fine-art dance portraits we have ever created. Having experienced ambassadors like Rylea and Becky who trust the process makes these specialty creative sessions an unforgettable experience!
Ready to Bring Your Dream Creative Concept to Life?
Whether you envision a story-driven concept, dramatic outdoor backdrops, or fine-art dance portraits, let’s make it happen!
When launching an ambitious new concept like our NYC Photo Walk, having experienced dancers who can roll with the punches is everything. Dance Ambassador Lily (@lilyana.en_pointe), who dances out of West Jersey Youth Ballet (@westjerseyyouthballet), proved to be the ultimate pro during our pilot run!
Before we even took our first photo, Lily handled an unexpectedly LONG drive into the city like a champ. Once she arrived, she stepped right onto the bustling streets of Manhattan without missing a beat, bringing effortless grace, poise, and focus to every location.
From Radio City to Central Park Arches
Throughout our 2+ hour walking route, Lily brought a soft, serene elegance to her classical technique:
Midtown Hustle: Posing en pointe right on the busy sidewalk of 6th Avenue with Radio City Music Hall looming in the background, surrounded by yellow cabs and city commuters.
Central Park Bench & Mall: Floating into an extension while standing en pointe on a park bench, and spinning through a delicate turn under the tree canopy of The Mall.
Bethesda Terrace & Mosaics: Striking regal poses inside the arcade under Bethesda Terrace, where the soft ambient light illuminated the intricate tiled backdrop.
Crosswalk Drama: Executing a striking arabesque extension en pointe right in the middle of a city crosswalk with an iconic yellow school bus framing the background.
The Magic of Ambassador Friendships
One of my favorite parts of spending extended time on location with our ambassadors is watching their bond shine through. Lily and her fellow ambassador Vivi (@balletvivi) are so comfortable with each other that it makes directing a total breeze.
It constantly amazes me how quickly these dancers can switch gears—one second they are holding a pristine, high-level technical extension, and the very next second they break into warm, goofy hugs and belly laughs!
Ah, to be young again! Having that blend of serious artistic dedication and genuine fun is what makes our Dabour Photography Ambassador family so special.
Ready for Your Own NYC Stage?
Experience the energy of Manhattan and Central Park with a custom portrait walk built around your style.
I have wanted to offer an authentic NYC Photo Walk for dancers for quite a long time! The vision was simple yet ambitious: curate a streamlined, 2-hour walking route through Manhattan that hits some of the most iconic, postcard-worthy backdrops New York City has to offer.
After carefully mapping out three distinct route options, it was all about aligning busy calendars with ideal weather. To test out the concept, I invited two of my most experienced, seasoned Dance Ambassadors: Vivi (@balletvivi) and Lily (@lilyana.en_pointe).
Because of the fast-paced nature of navigating Manhattan streets on foot while holding high-level technique, this exclusive session experience is designed specifically for older, advanced dancers who thrive on location.
Route Highlights: From Radio City to Central Park
For our inaugural pilot session, we chose our Central Park-focused route, starting in the heart of Midtown and weaving our way into the peaceful greenery of the park.
Radio City Music Hall: We kicked off the walk right under the vibrant marquee lights of Radio City on 50th Street. Vivi executed crisp, classical poses on pointe right in the crosswalk, bringing timeless ballet elegance to Midtown Manhattan.
Gapstow Bridge & The Pond: Stepping into Central Park, the stone arch of Gapstow Bridge provided a serene, fairytale backdrop reflecting over the water.
Bethesda Terrace & Fountain: The grand sandstone arches of Bethesda Terrace offered dramatic light and shadow play, framing dynamic turns and extensions.
The Mall & Lake Views: Walking under the canopy of American elms and along the lakefront, both dancers showcased breathtaking skirt work and synchronized extensions against the skyline.
Experienced Technique on the Move
Working with experienced ambassadors like Vivi and Lily made this pilot run a complete success. Moving between bustling city streets and public park pathways requires speed, adaptability, and poise under pressure—and both girls delivered flawless technique at every single stop!
Seeing this concept come to life confirmed that the NYC Photo Walk is going to be one of the most exciting offerings for our advanced dancers. I already have two other custom NYC routes mapped out and ready to go, and I can’t wait to test those out next!
Are You Ready for an NYC Photo Walk?
Designed for advanced dancers looking for a dynamic, multi-location urban portfolio experience.
As a dance photographer, there is nothing more rewarding—or thrilling—than pushing out of my comfort zone to create something entirely new. Launching our premiere NYC Skyline Sessions was one of those big leaps, and I could not have asked for a better team to take that leap with me than our phenomenal Dabour Photography Dance Ambassadors!
Every single dancer who attended—all from West Jersey Youth Ballet (@westjerseyyouthballet)—brought their absolute best energy, technique, and enthusiasm to set. Together, we turned the iconic New York City skyline and the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal (CNJRR) into our personal stage.
A Magical Moment in the Terminal
While the grand skyline views were incredible, the true highlight of the day was an unexpected moment that reminded us why we create art in the first place.
While we were shooting inside the historic CNJRR train terminal, a young girl from nearby Princeton, NJ was standing nearby with her mom, watching our dancers with wide, spellbound eyes. She was completely mesmerized by every pose, turn, and extension.
Once we finished shooting individual portraits at that spot, I asked her if she’d like to join in for a group photo. Her face lit up like Christmas morning! Her mom happily said yes, and senior ambassador Zoey gently took her hand, walked her into position, and showed her how to pose. The rest of our ambassadors gathered around her with huge smiles.
I handed her my business card so her mom could reach out to get a copy of the photo. Standing there, watching these young dancers inspire the next generation, was priceless. Who knows—maybe we changed a life that day! Doing this event certainly changed mine.
NYC Skyline dance portraits for some of my dance ambassadors on September 12, 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
Teamwork & Dynamic Group Sets
Beyond individual spotlights, one of the best parts of our ambassador shoots is letting the dancers collaborate on their own group concepts!
The Full Premiere Team: All of our ambassadors lining up on the green overlook with One World Trade Center rising behind them.
Sister Power: The sister trio (Zoey, Sydney, and Kayley) striking a high-fashion pose at the terminal iron gates.
Trio & Duo Sets: Friends breaking off for playful waterfront poses, dramatic rail shots, and synchronized extensions along the riverwalk.
Seeing their bond grow and watching them cheer each other on throughout the day made this session a massive success. A huge thank you to all our ambassadors and their supportive parents for making our debut NYC Skyline Session unforgettable!
Ready to Create Your Own City Magic?
Whether you’re looking for individual portraits or a memorable shoot with your dance besties, our NYC Skyline Sessions offer an unforgettable experience.
I am so thrilled to feature Becky (@just_becky_vibes), who dances out of West Jersey Youth Ballet (@westjerseyyouthballet), in her first official season as a Dabour Photography Dance Ambassador!
Becky’s journey with us actually started with headshots and dance audition photos. During those early shoots, I shared all the exciting perks, group concepts, and unique locations our Dance Ambassadors get to experience throughout the year. She decided to jump on board—and I am so glad she did! We’ve already collaborated on several sessions, but our debut NYC Skyline Session was something truly special.
Finding That Photographer-Dancer “Click”
There is a unique threshold every photographer strives to reach with a dancer: that magical point where you read each other’s minds without saying a word.
During this shoot in the city, Becky and I officially hit that groove! I knew exactly how to direct her to maximize her lines, and she instantly anticipated the movement, energy, and angles I was looking for. Everything clicked into place faster than ever, allowing us to capture effortless, breathtaking frames across every location.
Gradient Blues & Skyline Views
Becky brought incredible style and versatility to her portrait sets:
Waterfront & Skyline: Dressed in a bold crimson leotard against the Manhattan skyline, she executed clean, back-bending extensions and striking side profiles with One World Trade Center soaring in the background.
The Empty Sky Memorial: Pairing her red leotard with a dramatic blue-and-white ombre skirt, Becky let the fabric fan out in a stunning circular motion framed between the tall metallic memorial walls.
Historic Train Terminal: Inside the terminal, she effortlessly pulled up into an extension pose, letting that gradient skirt flow around her like a wave against the vintage brick and glass.
Watching Becky grow from her first audition headshots into a confident, artistic ambassador who intuitively collaborates on camera has been an absolute joy. I can’t wait for our next session together!
Ready to Find Your Stage in the City?
Capture your hard work, technique, and personal style against the iconic New York City skyline.
