A ballerina stands lightly en pointe in a monochrome photograph, feet arched to perfection and a hand stretched toward the sky. Another dancer mid-arabesque raises her back leg gracefully. A third is frozen leaping through the air with legs stretched into a perfect straight line.
But scattered among the tutus, pink ballet shoes, and classical poses there are signs that these are not conventional ballet shots: Clues include a leather jacket, a silken cravat, a pair of black jeans and — perhaps the biggest giveaway — several striped jumpers.
A new photography exhibition showcases a collaboration between London's Royal Ballet and the quintessentially British fashion designer Paul Smith, who has shot a series of portrait photographs of the company's leading dancers.