Matthew Brookes: Expression of Freedom

An homage to melliferous, unifying art of dance, as captured over the course of 10 years and across four continents

A follow-up to the photographer Matthew Brookes’ Les Danseurs, published in 2015, Expression of Freedom once again deep-dives into the melliferous world of dance, celebrating the togetherness and inclusivity found through the art form. In the last 10 years, Brookes traveled across four continents for this grand photographic project, capturing dancers in motion within their geographic contexts―Paris, Milan, London, South Africa, New York, Brazil and Los Angeles. The dancers showcased are representative of a diverse array of backgrounds and ages; acclaimed professionals share space with street performers.
Dancers include: Marie-Agnes Gillot, Aurelie Dupont, Roberto Bolle, Friedemann Vogel, Hugo Marchand, Germain Louvet, Guillaume Diop, Leroy Mokgatle, Matthew Ball, Megan Lecrone. They are representatives of the most prestigious dance companies in the world, such as the Paris Opera Ballet, the Royal Ballet in London, La Scala Ballet in Milan, Stuttgart Ballet and the NYC Ballet Company.
Matthew Brookes is a photographer known for his editorial projects and his natural and simplistic style. Born in England and raised in South Africa, Brookes’ photographs have been featured in major magazines such as Vanity Fair, Vogue, L'Uomo Vogue and GQ. In addition to his work with models and celebrities, Brookes is fascinated by the dynamism of the human form in motion and enjoys photographing athletes and dancers. In 2015, Brookes published his first monograph with Damiani, Les Danseurs, a portrait of the ballet dancers of the Paris Opera.