A Tribute to Michael Slobodian

For over 20 years, Michael Slobodian joined us in Montreal for our annual summer project. An extraordinary artist behind the lens, Michael immortalized countless dancers and choreographers both in the creative process and on stage throughout their careers. 

Michael was a unique photographer with the sensitivity and skills to capture an ephemeral art form. The moments that stir an audience's heart often flash by, a millisecond that reflects deep tenderness, passion, rage, exhaustion, love, and connection. 

Michael captured these moments of humanity with grace and artistry. Each year, he shared his work with us, leaving behind hundreds of beautiful images. Many of these will now be featured on a new website page created to honor Michael and his contributions.

He led with a generous heart and a commitment to excellence- it was a privilege to know him and collaborate with him for so many years. We are eternally grateful and join the dance communities in Canada and across the world in sending our condolences and love to Gioconda Barbuto, his family, colleagues, and friends.

Montreal-born Michael Slobodian graduated from Concordia University with a BA in Communication Studies and shortly after became a studio assistant and manager for a commercial photographer. He has been a professional photographer shooting fashion, commercial, portrait, and dance work in Montreal since 1984. His love of dance has led him to work with many dancers and companies in Canada and abroad, including Nederlands Dans Theatre, Ballet British Columbia, Northwest Dance Project, Arts Umbrella, Kidd Pivot, Mascall Dance, Springboard Danse Montreal, Nacho Duato, RUBBERBANDance Group, Marie Chouinard, and TU Dance, to name a few.

His work has been published in Canada and abroad in commercial brochures, magazines, posters, books, and websites. He has exhibited his dance images at various venues in Canada and abroad, and his work has been described by colleagues as having a romantic, poetic quality. 

For Slobodian, the ideal dance image articulates the explosive quality of the motion and the physical intensity of the dancer, but above all else, it documents with conviction the fierce commitment of these artists. Equally at ease in the studio or on the set, he prefers the excitement of live performance in which compositional questions must be resolved quickly, under less than perfect conditions.