Photography by Rosalie O’Connor. Text by Joseph Carman.
Fire Island Dance Festival, presented by and benefitting Dancers Responding to AIDS, is an annual display of pure artistry. The theater is the wide open shores of the Great South Bay, where performers dance amid love and nature.
“The earth and the sand support the feet that dance upon them. The salt water glistens in various shades of blue and green. The fire of the sun blazes in the afternoon and sets peacefully at dusk, while the fire of passion infects the performers and the audience that witnesses them. The sky acts as a décor of infinite variety as the dancers animate the landscape with their movements.” — Excerpt from Festival, text by Joseph Carman
Joseph Carman’s rich text paints a kaleidescope of colors, sounds, and beauty that radiates from the sands of Fire Island during the most spectaular moment of every summer, DRA’s Fire Island Dance Festival.
Festival, the book, captures the true essence of Fire Island Dance Festival through the lens of renowned photographer, Rosalie O’Connor. Take a journey through her photographs with the artists who have graced the stage over the years.
Since its inception in 1995, the Fire Island Dance Festival, produced by Dancers Responding to AIDS, has acquired a reputation as one of the most thrilling social events and dance performances of the year. As an annual rite of summer, the dancers and audience who gather near the Great South Bay pay homage to life while honoring those who have passed. When it started as a modest event, a dozen dancers participated and raised $6000. To date, the annual festivals have taken in nearly $1.5 million.
Through her exquisite photos, Rosalie O’Connor has captured the esthetic and the kinetic essence of the festival, set against the splendid outdoor scenery of Fire Island. The participating dancers include some of the greatest talent from companies such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Paul Taylor Dance Company, American Ballet Theatre, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Ballet Hispanico, Momix, Mark Morris Dance Group, Jennifer Muller/The Works, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Stephen Petronio Company, Parsons Dance, and many others. The festival also provides a glimpse at rising stars from lesser-known troupes, as well as world premiere pieces commissioned specifically for the festival.
This book elicits wonderful memories from past events and the genuine hope of continuity into the future. May the creativity of the choreographers, and the energy, light, and freedom of the performers at this special event serve as sublime inspiration. — Joseph Carman
Jennifer Muller/The Works
“Dancing with the sun above us, the Great South Bay behind us, and an enthusiastic audience of DRA supporters in front of us – what a spectacular experience in an unparalleled setting! We enjoyed ourselves so much!” — The company
Ballet Hispanico
“It was an incredible experience to dance outside on the water, feeling the sun and air on my body. At the same time, the sun was right in my eyes, and the wind was blowing my costume in my face and catching my arms at times. That’s what makes performing live so exciting for me.” — Rodney Hamilton
The Chase Brock Experience
“I remember feeling a sensation of giddy weightlessness while I soared over the edge of the stage, the expansive ocean stretching out in front of me, and the breeze sweeping under my feet. Absolute joy! There’s nothing like that Fire Island stage in the middle of a gorgeous day ... nothing.” — Anna Kaiser
