"Suspended in the PRESENT" is a photographic exhibit depicting dancers at their moment of performance by Joahnna Rivera.

The exhibition is a collection of two years of photographic work observing dancers and the transformative energy they emit on stage during their performances. All of the photographs were taken during the actual performance. The photographer is focused on what is happening in the present moment in each work . This exhibit forces us to ask,"What is it like to be suspended in the present?" The work is filled with energy, lines, color, chaos, suspense and yet the composition in each photograph stands its ground.

Joahnna Rivera has a dance background in Performance and Choreography. She has studied at Independence HS- IndepenDANCE Program San Jose,Ca Zohar School of Dance- STEPUP Program Palo Alto, CA, Foothill College Dance Program Los Altos, CA, New York University- Tisch School of Dance New York, NY and have taken photography courses at Foothill College Los Altos, Ca, Kingsbourough College Brooklyn, NY, and Santa Clara Adult Education Program Santa Clara, CA. She has been greatly influenced by Doug Yost- a local photographer in Palo Alto and a good friend. She currently owns BENTON STREET PHOTOGRAPHY in Santa Clara, CA www.bentonstreetphotography.com and has started a local photo group open to the public called Drawing with Light based in Santa Clara. (Search for Drawing with Light on FaceBook)

Many thanks to Nor Cal Dance Arts, Dance Spectrum, IndepenDance, Unify Dance 2010-2011 Dance Groups, Studio 10 and Shona Hemmady for participating in this project. A portion of the proceeds from the exhibit will go to these programs.