Dancers Among Us: A Celebration of Joy in the Everyday [Paperback]

Jordan Matter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 23, 2012

The mystery of the body in motion. The surprise of seeing what seems impossible. And the pure, joyful optimism of it all. Dancers Among Us presents one thrilling photograph after another of dancers leaping, spinning, lifting, kicking—but in the midst of daily life: on the beach, at a construction site, in a library, a restaurant, a park. With each image the reader feels buoyed up, eager to see the next bit of magic.

Photographer Jordan Matter started his Dancers Among Us Project by asking a member of the Paul Taylor Dance Company to dance for him in a place where dance is unexpected. So, dressed in a commuter’s suit and tie, the dancer flew across a Times Square subway platform. And in that image Matter found what he’d been searching for: a way to express the feeling of being fully alive in the moment, unself-conscious, present.

Organized around themes of work, play, love, exploration, dreaming, and more, Dancers Among Us celebrates life in a way that’s fresh, surprising, original, universal. There’s no photoshopping here, no trampolines, no gimmicks, no tricks. Just a photographer, his vision, and the serendipity of what happens when the shutter clicks.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A Look Inside Dancers Among Us

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Review

"Breathtaking photos to free your imagination."

— Diane Sawyer, ABC World News

"Bodies of breathtaking grace and agility transform ordinary spaces, seemingly defying gravity as they plié and pirouette through busy streets, a record shop, along a heliport tarmac, and under the Santa Monica boardwalk."

—O, The Oprah Magazine

“In his shots of dancers in flight on sidewalks and city streets — excitable superheroes among us — Matter has produced a series of mini-musicals, frozen in time but full of energy.”

—The Washington Post

"It's a rare book that contains anything of interest on the copyright page, but this caught my eye: ‘No trampolines or other devices were used in the taking of the photographs in this book, and the dancers' poses have not been digitally enhanced or altered.’ It's not hard to see why the author felt that such a disclaimer was necessary; the photographs in this book are unbelievable."

—Smithsonian Magazine

“The pictures in Dancers Among Us of pro hoofers getting their jeté on in public is a call to find the joy in everyday life—and to give in to that urge to boogie no matter where or when it hits you."

—Redbook

“Honest and spontaneous, his pictures are sure to resonate with dancers and non-dancers alike.”

—Dance magazine

“This book is something you should pick up every time you have forgotten that there is wit and beauty in the world—literally all around us.”

—Alan Cumming, Tony Award-winning actor

“ ‘Exuberance is beauty,’ wrote William Blake, and seeing everyday situations made beautiful by these dancers’ joyful exuberance made me feel happier from its first pages. A wonderful book!”

—Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project

“It takes only a moment to be present, but it takes great artistry to capture that moment forever. [These] photographs make time stand still, and for that moment, you question whether the impermanence of life is indeed inevitable.”

—Jennifer Grey, actress, winner of Dancing with the Stars

“This book renders one speechless. But if forced to utter a few words: amazing, original, beautiful, and grand.”

—Amy Krouse Rosenthal, creator of The Beckoning Lovely

"This book is a fabulous expression of loving life (whether working or playing) and living fully (whether grieving or dreaming). The amazing photos wholly transform our view of everyday activities. I wonder, if we could see into peoples' souls, would we see them dancing just like this?"

—Sharon Salzberg, author of Real Happiness

“I can't stop gazing at the photographs in this remarkable book. They're visually stunning, but that's just the beginning. Jordan Matter's dancers show us what it means to dream and to grieve, to live and to love. In other words, what it means to be human.”

—Susan Cain, author of Quiet

“These images are exuberant, egalitarian, and warmly insouciant. One senses a true collaborative spirit between Jordan Matter and his extremely game subjects, and this spirit spills over onto the viewer. Every page invites us to practice the art of boundless imagination.”

—Leah Hager Cohen, author of The Grief of Others

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company; First Edition edition (October 23, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761171703
• ISBN-13: 978-0761171706
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 0.9 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,820 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts > Dance
  • #10 in Books > Arts & Photography > Individual Artists
  • #23 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Equipment, Techniques & Reference

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Beautiful November 1, 2012

By K. Yohe

Full Disclosure: I've known Jordan since 2005. I was happy to assist him on a few shoots for Dancers Among Us, brainstorming ideas, and trying to get every dancer I knew to work with him. If you believe that taints my ability to give a decent review, I suppose I understand. But I'd argue I'm the perfect person to give a review because I can promise you that these pictures are real. The sweat, passion, and commitment of each dancer is real. The sheer talent of the photographer is real. And the power of this book is real.

Even being close to this project, I was in no way prepared for how completely this book would consume me once I finally had it in my hands. I looked at the website dozens of times, I saw some of these shoots first hand, and there were still images that were new, that surprised me, made me laugh, and some that took my breath away. I stayed awake for several hours getting completely lost in each page, feeling my heart swell. Even if I spent some time thinking, "Oh, I wish I looked like that" (these bodies are amazing!), I spent more time thinking, "Oh, I've felt like that." The situations in the book are so recognizable and are divided into sections depicting things we all do: Dream, Love, Play, Explore, Grieve, Work, and above all, Live.

Jordan has included background stories for several pictures, and anecdotes from his own life so you can see how personal and heartfelt the creation of this book was. The pictures would be remarkable on their own, but it is so much more meaningful to know how much went into devising each shot - or how some of them seemingly created themselves. I can say it was a privilege to witness the enthusiasm, dedication, and courage of these dancers firsthand. I watched Carrie Nicastro jumping off the side of Buckingham Fountain over 200 times during the course of almost 2 hours (page 36). Marissa Horton didn't think twice before stripping down and jumping into Lake Michigan in October when we suggested a nighttime skinny-dip (page 78). Erin Clyne leaped across active train tracks with the Northbound Metra train speeding towards her (page 172). Kara Lozanovski rolled herself in oily, gritty asphalt (page 148). Over and over again dancers volunteered, saying, "Yes!" or "I'll try!" or "What if...?". Improvising, thinking on their feet, and all the time willing to give their all just to share their love for dance. This book is a testament to humankind's best potential for creativity, spontaneity, and collaborative spirit.

I remember a lecture from an art history class about the difference between photography and painting; the gist was that photography captures a moment as it is and painting captures a moment as it could be. With "Dancers Among Us" Jordan and his amazing team of dancers manages to do both. These images freeze a single moment in time - some of them as mundane as sitting on a park bench, crossing the street, or drinking a cup of coffee - but fill it with all of the life, emotion, and power that sits, too often unseen, inside each of us.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars So beautiful it made me cry. October 28, 2012

By Jon W. Dotter

Amazon Verified Purchase

I had preordered my book and it on Friday. I love it. It's so much bigger than I thought it would be. So. Many. Photos. Each one more beautiful and creative than the last. It makes me happy. Thank you, Jordan Matter, and the participating dancers. Jennifer Dotter

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING-BEAUTIFUL-INSPIRING November 1, 2012

By Amy E Walsh

Amazon Verified Purchase

The photos in this book are so true to inner joy. Every image is a reminder to recognize beauty in the ordinary - in our everyday lives. You don't have to be a dancer to LOVE THESE PHOTOS!!! I really can't say enough about this except that I absolutely love every page.