In Praise of Lighting Designers

A couple of weeks ago, I took part in CMU’s annual DanceLight performances. Prior to loading in the black box venue, the more than ten lighting designers in our course collaborated to create a single plot for almost thirty very different dance pieces. In three hours.

It looked like this:

As a lighting newbie, I only designed one dance. Performed and choreographed by Joell Weil to Sara Bareilles’ acoustic cover of Chandelier, the piece was about a woman in conflict- struggling to throw off the gazes and expectations of others that are always present, even when she is alone:

The show was a wonderful experience, and has taught me how rewarding the work of lighting designers can be- and also how challenging it is talk about, conceive, and create theatrical light. * bows down *