Dancers can make anything around them look beautiful.

Photographer Omar Robles, 34, has made that the theme of his work. Based in New York City, he takes stunning photographs of dancers set against gritty urban backdrops. Subway cars, alleyways and the streets of the city all serve as a playground for the dancers he captures.

"I'm in love with how you can express and create all these beautiful lines and movements with just the human body," he tells Mashable.

Robles got his start in the art world studying mime theater, later discovering photography as a college student. About 42,000 Instagram followers later, Robles is a bonafide photographer with an eye for striking dance portraits, and a dedicated social media following.

Here are just a few examples of his dance-centric work.