I've had your postcard on my desk waiting for a project. I might finally have one."

A few months ago I had the pleasure of being on set with viral tap sensations, Syncopated Ladies , to capture behind the scenes imagery of their latest video release, Like A Boy , for the February issue of Dance Magazine.

Dance Magazine is one of my "dream clients" and I had been wanting to shoot for them for many years. I had been sending out quarterly email blasts and promo cards to the Creative Director every year for the past several years, and was thrilled when I finally received an email:

"Hi Cassandra,

I've had your postcard on my desk waiting for a project. I might finally have one."

We hammered out the details over the next couple of weeks.

I was to "be a fly on the wall, and work in camera only."

"I can do that," I said.

When I arrived on set, I was immediately greeted by Chloe Arnold, the group's Emmy nominated creator and choreographer; not with a handshake, but with a genuinely warm look-you-in-the-eye and give-you-the-biggest-hug greeting. I knew this was going to be a good day. (I come from the east coast. South Jersey to be exact. We hug when we meet you. It's a thing.) One after another, the other members of the group appeared, each time greeting me with a hug. I then met the rest of the video and production team, and began looking for my fly on the wall place. Prior to commencing the shoot, Chloe stood front and center on set, welcomed every single person involved with the shoot that day by name, and thanked everyone for being there. She then discussed goals for the day and gave clear direction on what we were there to accomplish. It was very motivating. Then the music started...

I was transformed ! I left my fly on the wall place and began to move around, steering clear of the video equipment while performing various feats of photographer "acrobatics." I didn't want to miss a thing. I wanted to capture capture every syncopated step, every facial expression, every bead of sweat. Talk about energy. Those girls can move ! They did take after take, each time with the same fierceness and veracity as the previous take. Not once did their energy or enthusiasm wane. I cannot tell you how impressed I was. I could have stayed there forever. I did not want to leave. It was an incredible day. It was amazing and empowering experience. They have definitely carved out their place in what has traditionally been a male dominated genre. I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for them.

Images were shot with the Nikon D5. You can see the entire spread by visiting my website. Learn more about Syncopated Ladies by visiting their website or Instagram.