Fall Dance 24’
Lighting Designer
Cueing
200+ Incandescent Fixtures
8 Dance Pieces
4 VL 1000’s
150+ Cues
6 Hold Lamp Moving Fixtures
9 Chauvet 350 Zooms
4 Martian Encore Performance CLDs
Since this show toured, I had to reconfigure the cues when we traveled. This was a new experience for me, as I was used to having multiple days for cueing, tech, and dress runs. This experience taught me a lot about adapting to new environments, working with new people, managing massive time constraints, and adjusting to not having the space to myself. In the end, we all pulled off an amazing tour, and I gained invaluable skills from the challenge.
I created a digital magic sheet of our home theatre, which streamlined cueing and displayed all available lights. Having a magic sheet is invaluable for quick access to fixture information and making adjustments more efficient. This digital version allows me to click on fixtures for even faster control. When we toured, I updated the sheet to reflect the house setup at each venue, which proved especially helpful given the tight time constraints I was working with.
Performance Photos
For "Fyu-zhen", choreographed by Tommi Galaska, I designed a vibrant and colorful lighting scheme with dynamic changes to complement the upbeat jazz music. Tommi envisioned Fyu-zhen as a melting pot of diverse and distinct elements, blending jazz with modern and other dance styles. My lighting choices aimed to enhance this fusion, creating an energetic and visually engaging atmosphere.
"Becoming", choreographed by Timothy Lynch explores themes of sexual identity and the struggles that can come with it, telling a deeply personal story that Timothy sought to evoke and share. In this specific image, the dancer in red represents the central figure of the story, guided by two others through his journey. Designing the lighting for this piece was especially meaningful to me, as it allowed me to illustrate the light within him—how it can be lost, taken, and ultimately reclaimed. As a gay artist, being part of this storytelling experience was truly special.
"The Great American Pastime", choreographed by Dirk Lumbard is a tap piece that revolves around baseball and tells the story of Dirk and his father watching games together in the 1960s. In this specific moment, we are in a dream state, reminiscing about the "good old days." I created this feeling using purple and blue lighting on the cyc, contrasting with the bright sky blue of the other scenes. Additionally, I used warm front and boom lighting to create an ethereal glow, enhancing the nostalgic and heartfelt atmosphere of the piece.
"Fluidity", choreographed by Sayward Grindley with input from her dancers, explores femininity—what it truly means, who can and cannot be feminine, and how masculine and feminine traits interact and are perceived. This image is especially meaningful to me because of what we were able to accomplish with the fabrics. Though sheer, they hold color, and it was exciting to play with how the lighting interacted with them, enhancing their hues and reflections to create a dynamic, immersive visual effect.
"my sanity lies at the depth of this trench", choreographed by student dance major Channing Dayton, explores dissociation and the struggle of a person's psyche as they confront the deepest parts of themselves, and how this manifests within a group dynamic. I appreciate this image because it captures the dancers interacting in a chaotic moment, with their emotions reflecting off one another. I used only one side of booms to create the dramatic shadows seen here while incorporating front lighting to illuminate their faces, as their expressions were a pivotal part of the piece's storytelling.
Artistic Directors: Bryan Conger & Jessica Teague
Concert Coordinators: Timothy Lynch & Jessica Teague
Choreographers: Tommi Galasak, Timothy Lynch, John Dixon, Jessica Teague, Channing Dayton, Dirk Lumbard, and Sawyard Grindlry
Production Stage Manager: Courtney Rasor
Stage Manager: Amy Heartt
Lighting Design: Ben Lannak
Photography & Videography: John Dixon, B.J. Emerson, and Michael Shoaf
(Costumes Provided By Choreographers)