I’ll be honest and say I thought I was going to have to scrap this category when I saw it on the list of Top 10s. Performing Arts seems like a category that might be sparse… possibly unnecessary. I was wrong.

From Geishas, to belly dancers, to body-painted acrobats, to several stunning ballet photographs and portraits, it’s clear why the Performing Arts have earned their own category on 500px. Scroll down to see the Top 10 Performing Arts Photos of 2014… okay fine there are 11…

Photograph ???? Taiwan's culture by ?? ? on 500px

???? Taiwan's culture by ?? ? on 500px

Photograph Ballet Reflection by Gan-Ulzii Gonchig on 500px

Ballet Reflection by Gan-Ulzii Gonchig on 500px

Photograph A Geisha's Answering A Curtain Call by ?? ? on 500px

A Geisha's Answering A Curtain Call by ?? ? on 500px

Photograph Take a Break by Aniline Toxic on 500px

Take a Break by Aniline Toxic on 500px

Photograph Bellydancer by Carlos Esteban Solís Fallas on 500px

Bellydancer by Carlos Esteban Solís Fallas on 500px

Photograph Burn Crew Concept by Philippe Lejeanvre on 500px

Burn Crew Concept by Philippe Lejeanvre on 500px

Photograph Ballerina 2 by Tracie Taylor on 500px

Ballerina 2 by Tracie Taylor on 500px

Photograph Silat by agus rahiem on 500px

Silat by agus rahiem on 500px

Photograph Alize?e by Haze Kware on 500px

Alize?e by Haze Kware on 500px

Photograph Anne by Alexandre Legault on 500px

Anne by Alexandre Legault on 500px

Photograph ACTION by Sergey Sukhovey on 500px

ACTION by Sergey Sukhovey on 500px

To see more performing arts photography — including a person doing a handstand and shooting a bow and arrow with her feet! Too bad it was uploaded in 2013 — head over to the category’s Editors’ Choice page or check out the most popular photos uploaded so far under Performing Arts.