Blog #2

This is a picture taken during a thesis project I performed in last Spring. I chose to talk about this photo because I found the lighting to be quite intriguing. What I found particularly interesting about the lighting here is the intensity of the light coming from Stage Right compared to the darkness and lack of light coming from Stage Left. First of all, the light coming from Stage Right is a neutral, white light that is striking on the dancer. It creates a sense of openness and exposure. On the other hand, the lack of light on Stage Left reflects a sense of darkness and mystery. This contrast helps to emphasize the message of the dance. The piece is about going through something that put them in a dark place and trying to find their way out of it. I think the light coming directly from the side allowed the audience to view the dancer as only half a figure as opposed to having the light shine on the dancer from down below or up above. If the light was directed in either of those directions, the dancer would be more exposed and it would create a much different atmosphere. The half light and half no light perhaps reflect the idea of leaving darkness and entering light, or vice versa. 

Lighting: Nita Mendoza

Photo: Leon Damasco