The Harsh Beauty of Ballet School Dancers in Rick Guest's Photo Project (16 photos)

In his project "What Lies Beneath," photographer Rick Guest reveals the labor that dancers put into achieving their mastery. These photographs reveal a side of these renowned ballet artists that is unexpected to the viewer—instead of ease and grace, we see their natural, strong-willed beauty.

Rick Guest:

"Dance deliberately conceals from the observer the effort that went into its creation. But I think that's unfair to the dancers." A look behind the scenes can enhance your enjoyment of dance and build respect for the artists."



"The more I photographed dancers, the more I became immersed in their grace and sense of balance. Over the years, I've come to respect them more and more—as athletes, as artists, and simply as people. Because I've come to understand the willpower it takes to achieve such success."