Elizabeth Allen, a Greenville Ballet company dancer, sneaks a peek from stage right.
Inspiration is around every corner at Greenville's Nutcracker.
As a father of two dancers and as an artist, I look forward to it every year as a source of unlimited inspiration.
Like weddings, ballets are full of beauty. They take us far from our everyday and invite us into a world that a talented group of creatives have crafted for us - to inspire us. That, in my opinion, is what art is.
I'm continually mesmerized by ballerinas. I chose the word mesmerized, carefully. I try not to exaggerate in speech, so my words don't seem trivial to others, and I mean it when I say I am often mesmerized.
Years of dedicated and sustained artistic effort are required to join these young ladies on the stage. Couple that with theatrical lighting and beautiful music, and it is mesmerizing. It's an art form that inspires and uplifts us, and it surprises me that photographers aren't lining up to compete for the best spot to photograph it.
Congratulations, dancers, on such a wonderful artistic accomplishment.
I hope these images bring you joy.
* A genuine thank you to Andrew and Merry Kuharsky for the invitation, and to the Furman University Mcalister Auditorium Director, Danielle Hernandez and crew for their hospitality and support.
