ANIMAN, the platform dedicated to art photography and philanthropic initiatives with a compassionate eye toward the animal and natural world, announces Dancing with Nature. The exhibition runs from October 10 to December 6, 2025 at Fabbrica Eos in Milan. The project, conceived and realized by photographer Ruggero Rosfer and curated by Maria Vittoria Baravelli, features twenty-one breathtaking black-and-white images that pair a herd of six elephants with two classical ballet dancers in a pristine South African landscape, north of Johannesburg.
Dancing with Nature marks ANIMAN’s inaugural project. The foundation was established by patron Narghes Sorgato, whose name embodies its core principles: Anima, Animal, Man, Woman. Fueled by a shared passion for art and Africa, ANIMAN aims to use photography to inspire awareness and action, marrying creativity with a commitment to preserving the beauty and future of natural habitats.
Renowned fashion photographer Ruggero Rosfer has long dreamt of a work that symbolically unites human and animal through dance, an art form he also loves deeply. “Dance is, to me, a universal expression of beauty, grace, and strength—qualities that belong to both humans and animals,” Rosfer explains. “Thus, Dancing with Nature features a herd of elephants—led by the magnificent bull Chova—and a pair of South African classical dancers of different ethnic backgrounds. The central theme is the exchange between the animal’s physical power and human artistry, exploring friendship and love.”
The collaboration began in the summer of 2024, when Narghes Sorgato and Ruggero Rosfer, with executive producer Chicco Tatriele of Mandala Creative Productions, traveled from Italy to Johannesburg. Working with Bang Bang Films, a Cape Town production house that handled organizational logistics, the team connected with Sean Hensman, owner and manager of Adventure with Elephants reserve in Bela Bela, Limpopo. The reserve’s mission extends beyond visitor interaction with six elephants to promoting peaceful coexistence between humans and elephants through research and technological innovation, creating win-win solutions for both parties.
The pristine reserve—home to a six-elephant herd living freely—provided the setting for Dancing with Nature’s autumn 2024 photo shoot. Two premier South African ballet dancers and the elephants from the reserve conveyed universal themes of friendship and love by juxtaposing the animal’s formidable power with human grace.
ANIMAN’s mission includes supporting Sean Hensman and his team, who, through the Rory Hensman Conservation and Research Unit (RHCRU) Foundation, raise funds for innovative scientific projects. Rosfer also focused on a pressing conservation topic for the Foundation: combating poaching in South Africa. Using a natural red mineral pigment applied symbolically to the environment and to some elephants, Rosfer created additional images that serve as a stark reminder to respect the animal and natural worlds with which humans share the planet.
To accompany the exhibition, a self-titled volume Dancing with Nature will be published. Curated by Maria Vittoria Baravelli with creative direction by Laura Decaminada, the book is produced by ANIMAN.
In support of the mission, the Garzanti-Michail ETS Foundation will contribute to the production of the Dancing with Nature volume, endorsing the humanitarian cause “Ellie Cares” championed by Sean Hensman. Ellie Cares benefits South African children afflicted by oncological conditions who require medical treatment.
This project stands as a compelling fusion of art, conservation, and humanitarian outreach, inviting audiences to reflect on the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and the environments they share.
Photo credits: Dancing with nature, © Ruggero Rosfer
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