Humans of Dance for All Bodies

In November of 2010, photographer Brandon Stanton started a photoblog titled “Humans of New York”. It is a collection of street portraits and interviews of the inhabitants of New York City. Visit Stanton’s work at: https://www.humansofnewyork.com/

“Humans of New York” started as a photography project. Stanton’s goal was to photograph 10,000 New Yorkers on the street in order to create a catalogue of the city’s inhabitants. He began interviewing the participants. Alongside their pictures, Stanton would include quotes and short stories to exemplify their lives. Each photograph portrays a glimpse into the lives of strangers on the streets of New York City.

Photo of the Humans of New York book cover

Stanton has since developed 5 additional series chronicling the lives of American veterans; pediatric cancer patients, doctors, nurses, families, and researchers; federal inmates; American Syrians; and Syrian refugees in Europe. These stories focus on specific populations, examining their experiences and the challenges they face.

Influenced by “Humans of New York,” hundreds of “Humans of” blogs have since been developed by people in different cities around the world. As Content Writer of Dance for All Bodies, I will be sharing a series mirroring the concept of “Humans of New York”, titled “Humans of Dance for All Bodies.” Each week within the series, I will highlight participants from our classes, each with a unique experience in relation to dance and a story to tell.

In the time of Coronavirus, a worldwide pandemic, working from home, schooling at home, and social distancing, connections are more important than ever. “Humans of Dance for All Bodies” is a means to provide deeper connections amongst ourselves by reading about the intimate stories and journeys of our fellow dancemates.

If you have been a participant in our classes and are interested in participating in this project, please email Content Writer, Jenny Herges, at jenny@danceforallbodies.org.