Impulse Dance Company presents...
REIGN
Brown University ~ Alumnae Hall ~ March 2020
Lighting Designer and Master Electrician
This production consisted primarily of hip-hop based dance that required intricate, clever lighting to accentuate. My focus was to apply artfulness through colors and direction while also hyping-up the performance through quick changes and effects. With most of the numbers having many dancers, it was important to light the stage so everyone is seen without overexposure. I also ran the show live, having programmed in my lighting changes based on timestamps in the music. All in all, this production had a fast-paced tech rehearsal that challenged me to think on my feet and design quickly, but with intention.
The Design Process
- Analyzed rehearsal video recording and music to determine what lighting functions I would need for the production
- Rented equipment from the theater department, including $1000+ LED fixtures
- Utilized digital drafting drawings such as AutoCAD and VectorWorks to plan out where to hang lights
- Hung and wired lighting equipment in the grids above the stage
- Trained and led a small team to wire each lighting fixture; most of the people on the team had never done stage lighting before
- Focused lighting to various points on the stage to create back, side, top, and front illumination on the dancers
- Designed, often under immense time pressure, 15 different dance numbers over 2 days; this involves working with the choreographer, programming the lighting console, and adding in effects such as strobe or color cycles