On stage they seem to float and hang in mid-air, weightless and graceful. But behind every great ballet dancer is a gruelling physical routine and supreme spirit to push their body to the limit to create this seemingly effortless visage.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Sergei Polunin

Photographer Rick Guest has gone behind the curtain with long time collaborator Olivia Pomp to capture dancers from companies such as the English National Ballet, the Royal Ballet, Random Dance and the Richard Alston Dance Company behind the scenes.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Melissa Hamilton

He photographed them stripped of their costumes and make-up in items they wear for their daily practice, some of which have become talismanic and are still worn, despite having all but fallen apart.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Steven McRae

In the dancer bodies we can see the results of a life of dedication, resolve and sacrifice and appreciate what it takes to make it in this beautiful but brutal art form.

Rick says:“I wanted to make a series of portraits of the dancers themselves, as opposed to dancers dancing, to show the character that underpins their performance, to see the determination and sacrifice that it takes to succeed at such a high level. I

"n an art form that deliberately conceals the enormity of effort that goes into its creation, we are not meant to see behind the curtain, but I think that this does a great disservice to the dancers, and that having a sense of what lies beneath both enhances our experience of the performance and leads to a more profound appreciation of the dancer’s essential being.

"These portraits are at once beautiful and brutal.”

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Marianela Nuñez​

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Nehemiah Yuh

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Louis McMiller

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Tamara Rojo

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Eric Underwood

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Sarah Lamb

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Alban Lendorf

The portraits of stars such as Edward Watson, Tamara Rojo, Steven McRae, Marianela Nuñez, Alban Lendorf, Zenaida Yanowsky and Melissa Hamilton will be part of exhibition What Lies Beneath which opens in London this month.

The accompanying book features a foreword by Tamara Rojo, director and lead principal of the English National Ballet and an incisive essay by Sarah Crompton. It is available now via rg-books.com

The exhibtion will be open to the public at Hospital Club Gallery, Endell St, WC2H 9HQ from January 22 to 31. Details: thehospitalclub.com