Photo: Ted Lieverman
Photo: Ted Lieverman

Photos of JUNK

Freelance photographer Ted Lieverman shares beyond-performance photos of Brian Sanders’ JUNK taken in rehearsals during the past three years. Working extensively with props and stagecraft, the members of JUNK concentrate on refining movement while mastering the technologies that make Sanders’ particular vision possible. 


Shelby Lynn Joyce takes a moment to focus before rehearsing her routine
on the metal snowflake in the old JUNK practice space.

Brian Sanders and Teddy Fatcher (foreground) and Connor Senning (background, right) watch 
Gunnar Clark practice in harness at the company’s small studio inside a converted home garage.


Brian Sanders in his practice space in Philadelphia in January 2012; the company has since moved to a converted church. Behind him is a decorated mannequin, a prop at the January 2012 Snowball fundraiser.


Connor Senning practices his work in harness in the old JUNK
practice space while Jerrica Blankenship prepares.


Gunnar Clark watches Jerrica Blankenship go through her routine in harness during practice
in preparation for the January 2012 Snowball performance.


Jerrica Blankenship sails above the floor of the atrium in Hamilton Hall
at the University of the Arts, practicing her leaps.


Jerrica Blankenship and Tommy Schimmel rehearse their routine as Brian Sanders watches.


Company members consult on how to structure a part of the routine. (L-R: Jerrica Blankenship
[facing away], Laura Jenkins, Tommy Schimmel, Dexter Carter, Chelsea Prunty, Teddy Fatcher.)


Miles Yeung, Billy Robinson, and Laura Jenkins prepare the set – which involved a large amount
of sand – for a dress rehearsal of Hush Now Sweet High Heels and Oak.


Laura Jenkins gets ready on set for a dress rehearsal of Hush Now Sweet High Heels and Oak.


Billy Robinson does a one-arm handstand during rehearsal of Snowball in December 2013.


Dancer Christine Morano stretches while waiting on set during rehearsal of Snowball
in December 2013.


Teddy Fatcher, Tommy Schimmel and Laura Jenkins rehearse
Hush Now Sweet High Heels and Oak.


Dress rehearsal of Hush Now Sweet High Heels and Oak.

By Ted Lieverman

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