Anthony Crickmay

For over five decades, Anthony Crickmay was one of the most influential photographers of the performing arts, renowned for pictures that did more than document fleeting onstage moments. Through an extraordinary command of composition, lighting, and timing, Crickmay found ways to convey movement, emotion, and dramatic tension with remarkable immediacy. This volume showcases the distinctive style that made him a defining figure in dance and theater photography of the twentieth century. Drawing from the full breadth of Crickmay’s career, the book presents iconic works from ballet, contemporary dance, opera, and theater alongside portraits and archival material that illuminate his creative development. Among the highlights are celebrated photographs of Lynn Seymour improvising Kenneth MacMillan's Anastasia and his groundbreaking studies of Robert Solomon and Micha Bergese—works that transformed fleeting motion into lasting visual form. Also featured are memorable portrayals of performers such as Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Montgomery Clift, and Maria Callas, which reveal the individuality and expressive power that made each a legend in the field. Published in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum and written by curator Jane Pritchard, who knew Crickmay personally, this book offers a fresh appreciation of a singular talent whose work continues to influence the visual language of dance and theater to this day.