Content

The piece will tell a story in an abstract way. Through lighting and staging, you will observe the process of collecting loved ones, but it will not be overt or over-dramatized. The lighting and set will work together to create a separation between life and death in which the lead dancer will navigate.

Separation vs. Collection

 Separation

Lighting and set design will portray a separation between life and death. There will be scrim backdrops along the stage left, upstage, and stage right walls, leaving space in the center and an unobstructed view for the audience. This serves to create a blur upon viewing, as some of the above photos achieve through editing. I picture the lighting vibrant and in a “color-blocked” style to further separate the life (middle of stage) from death (behind scrims).

Collection.

Lighting and shadow will change to show a gradual collection of loved ones. These loved ones will be seen behind the scrims, but will appear as shadows once they are collected by the living person. Collecting these loved ones has an eternal impact on the living dancer, which will be shown through tactile and internal movement.

Costume

The costuming will contradict the traditional ideas of living vs. ethereal. The soloist would wear the above skirt and a pastel, satin top. The ensemble behind the scrims would wear oversized button downs and pants in dark, neutral tones. The costuming adds to the pieces own world in that it differs from traditional preconceptions of ghosts or living people.