Omar Robles: Ballet Dancers Meet City Streets

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1981, Omar Robles began his photography career in his early 30s after training as a mime under Marcel Marceau. Now based in New York City, he gained recognition with his “Ballet in the Streets” series, launched around 2014, photographing dancers in urban settings across cities like New York, Puerto Rico, and Rio de Janeiro. His 15-year journey, as of April 2025, started with a Nikon D700 before he shifted to Fujifilm X-series cameras. Robles’ images are known for their striking contrast—ballet dancers’ graceful forms against gritty urban backdrops—and vibrant colours like reds and blues set against concrete greys.

Primary Genres: Dance Photography, Street Photography
Primary Photography Style: Straight Photography (dynamic, unposed urban scenes), Expressionism (bold, graceful movements with emotional depth)
Key Message: Robles showcases the elegance and resilience of ballet dancers, juxtaposing their movements with rough city landscapes to make art accessible and alive in everyday spaces.

Robles’ work centres on ballet dancers posed in urban environments—think cracked pavements, subway platforms, or weathered walls. His aesthetic hinges on contrast: dancers in bright reds or whites leap against muted greys and blues, with textures like rough concrete or steel adding grit.

He shoots handheld with digital cameras, mainly the Fujifilm X-T2, using prime lenses (e.g., 35mm) and fast shutter speeds (1/1000s) to freeze motion. Natural light is his cornerstone—harsh midday sun or soft golden dusk—timed to cast shadows that heighten drama. In Lightroom, he tweaks contrast and vibrancy, warming tones for a bold yet real look. His photos shine on Instagram, where he has over 400,000 followers, and in publications like Dance Magazine, with prints often sized up to 20×30 inches.

For intermediate learners, Robles’ style is approachable with a digital camera, offering flexibility over film’s slower process. His focus on natural light and timing—akin to the zone system’s tonal range—teaches how to balance exposure and composition for storytelling. His mime training shapes his eye for movement, making his work a lesson in capturing gesture and peak action.

Accolades:
- Shortlisted for Hasselblad Masters (2018)
- Winner, IPA Street Photography category (2016)
- Featured in Dance Magazine

Trivia:
- Trained in mime with Marcel Marceau, influencing his focus on motion
- Passionate about salsa music, adding rhythm to his shoots
- Frequently photographs in New York City subways for their raw edge
- Shifted from street photography to dance-focused work

Lessons from this Photographer:

Omar Robles blends dance and street photography to create stories through contrast—soft subjects in tough settings. His use of natural light and fast shutters shows how timing can lock in fleeting moments; try this to sharpen your action shots. Experiment with handheld shooting and bold edits to amplify impact. His approach inspires photographers to see urban spaces as creative stages, merging observation with imagination.