Ballet is a breathtaking photographic collection, celebrating the precision, athleticism and artistry of classical and contemporary ballet.

Live performances allow us to admire ballet’s visual splendour from afar, but rarely are we given the opportunity to study dynamic poses, leaps and lifts in intimate, close-up detail. An inspirational companion for dance aficionados, performing arts enthusiasts and keen photographers, Ballet captures awe-inspiring moments performed by the art form’s most remarkable talents. Leo Mason’s arresting images provide a unique glimpse into the world of ballet and its superstars, featuring a cast of former and current principal dancers including Carlos Acosta, Tamara Rojo, Vadim Muntagirov, Daria Klimentova and Ivan Vasiliev.

With over 40 years’ experience as a sports and dance photographer, Leo recreates the beauty and seemingly effortless nature of the discipline – made even more remarkable by the gruelling training required to achieve perfection – and often uses exposure creatively to capture movement and compose striking images. Each photograph is accompanied by a detailed caption, providing information on the performers, work, location and date, along with technical specifications regarding camera equipment, exposure and aperture.

Includes images of: Carlos Acosta, Tamara Rojo, Vadim Muntagirov, Daria Klimentova and Ivan Vasiliev at the Royal Opera House, Sadler’s Wells and the London Coliseum.