Stunning Portraits of Graceful Dancers Invading the Streets of Chile

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.

Omar Z. Robles travels the world, capturing local ballet dancers as they take over the streets of their cities.

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

Romina Contreras & Rodrigo Guzmá

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

Jocelyn Barrios

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

Romina Contreras & Rodrigo Guzmán

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

María Lovero

omar z robles dance photography

Carla Cepeda & Gonzalo Fernández

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

Melisa Briones

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

Constanza Sánchez

His newest photos see him on the streets of Santiago, Chile.

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

María Lovero

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

Katerine Rodríguez & Lucas Alarcón

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

Jocelyn Barrios

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

Amara Perez

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

Romina Contreras & Rodrigo Guzmán

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

Katerine Rodríguez & Lucas Alarcón

omar z robles dance photography

Monserrat López

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

Romina Contreras

Robles continues to push his creativity, including black and white and interior photography in the mix.

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

Natalia Berrios

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

José Manuel Ghiso

omar z robles dance photography santiago chile

Natalia Berrios & José Manuel Ghiso

omar z robles dance photography

Monserrat López

This video takes us behind the scenes as Robles starts his photo shoot in Chile.

Omar Robles: Website | Instagram | Blog | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Omar Z. Robles.

Related Articles:

Dynamic Photos of Ballet Dancers in Motion on the Streets of Puerto Rico

Dancers and Photographers Come Together for Incredible Spontaneous Photo Shoots

Ballerina Combines Intricate Beauty of Russian Ballet and Architecture

Stunning Photos Document Ballet Dancers Gracefully Exploring Their Cities

Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Staff Editor and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book "Street Art Stories Roma" and most recently contributed to "Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini." You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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