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Stunning Portraits of Graceful Dancers Invading the Streets of Chile

By Jessica Stewart on September 5, 2017

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

Melisa Briones

From New York City to Havana, Mexico City, and Hong Kong, we love traveling the world through the unique dance photography of Omar Z. Robles. And now the talented photographer is back with a new series of images featuring dancers on the streets of Santiago, Chile.

While in the capital city, as part of his work as a Fujifilm X-Photographer Ambassador, Robles found some time to put out a call for local dancers and get into the streets to do his best work—photographing them in action. One of the most well-known photographers to specialize in dance imagery over the past few years, Robles' work is unique for his ability to capture both the spirit of the city and that of his dancers.

“I photograph on the streets because that is where the history happens. Where the past, present, and future collide,” Robles writes. “Streets witness laughter, victories, defeats. They are the host of our collective memory. The streets are where we become one with the rest, with the world.”

His freedom to practice photography while in Chile is something he's grateful for, given the country's history. Photography was strictly censored during the Pinochet dictatorship, with newspapers and magazines leaving empty spaces where photographs would have been placed. Groups of brave photojournalists continued their work regardless, putting themselves at risk to document life during the dictatorship.

Now, free to express himself as an artist, Robles and his camera shot without restriction, as he pushed himself into new creative areas. Mixing up his classic, color street photography with black and white imagery and interior shots, Robles continues to grow. Each series remains fresh, as he creates a unique travelogue of dance around the world.