How (and why) does light impact on performance?

[Natalie Rowland]

I am a technician and lighting designer based in the UK currently studying for a masters degree in Dance. I am looking in particular at the relationships between light and the dancer.
As part of my current research project, I am looking at how light impacts on performance. Where light is used in performance it invariably impacts strongly on how the performance is viewed, but also how it is felt (both on stage and off).
I was wondering if anybody would be willing to share their own experiences of working in light (perhaps having come from a studio rehearsal into a technical rehearsal) and how you feel light affected your performance.

[jess humphrey]

I performed in Idaho this past summer in a yoga studio that was converted (with chairs, risers, and two light stands/trees) into a makeshift theater. Since the days are so long in Idaho, it was still light out when we performed. Totally different experience for me. I felt totally exposed in the daylight, but I also felt closer to the audience since I was able to see them so clearly. I enjoyed this face to face, more "real life" interaction while I was moving in such odd ways. Also, I used some other very theatrical elements, which made the absence of theatrical lighting even more apparent. I now really wonder what the piece would be like if it had proper lighting.
There is some video of performance on vimeo. The piece is called Nodes of Ranvier. Here's the link:
http://vimeo.com/8311015

[Natalie Rowland]

Thank you so much for this. Your comments are really useful.
Do you feel the two light stands made any impact on your performance at all or did the natural light completely take over? How do you feel the performance may have changed if it were completely in theatrical lighting?
I recently conducted an experiment where trained dancers and non dancers performed a set dance sequence in different lighting states. Interestingly the non-dancer was most comfortable in a lighting state closest to natural light and felt pressured when in a spotlight. Your experience as a trained dancer and experienced performer seems to provide the complete opposite where the natural lighting makes you feel vulnerable. I find that so interesting! I think the motivation or purpose of the light together with the perceived relationship of the performer with that light is key to your comfort or discomfort in light. These motivations and relationships to light are what I'm currently exploring. It seems to me that natural light is uncontrolled, it 'invades' every inch of that space which would set you, the performer, 'off balance', you are not in complete control of the performance. The controllable theatrical lighting appears to give the performer more a sense that they are in control. What can be seen and how it is seen is decided and programmed within the lighting.
I hope to post some results of my research very soon. Thank you again for your respose.
Happy New Year to you!

[jess humphrey]

One thing I'd love to add to your 'light invading every inch/control' theory is that I was able to see the audience as clearly as they saw me (not all sides of them, but in terms of light). I was not blinded by the light and they couldn't hide behind it. I would say their gaze could not possibly become objectifying because I had the ability to gaze back. So I felt very exposed, but I'm not sure I would say that made me feel more vulnerable....tricky line there. But I think my ability to see them while they saw me made it so that the exposure wasn't as big of a deal.

Re: the two lightstands. A little...like when my mom used to put a little blush on my cheeks for picture day in elementary school. Not fully 'made up', but special. It seemed to warm the existing light a bit.

Interesting research! Have fun in your studies.

[John Giskes]

We are performing in 'normal' light conditions and in theatrical light. In theatrical light condition the audiance is leaded to what the director wants them to see. For the dancer it is a safe envirement because its all controlled. In 'normal' light conditions the dancer has to draw the attention from the public to himself the performer. At the same time the audiance can be distracted by the other thing he can see. Its more difficult to get the public in a certain mood for the performance. We are organising natural light performances more in a confrontative way with the public, there is something going on with them!

Maybe this is usefull to you in spite of my bad English.

[Natalie Rowland]

Thank you John. That is useful - it supports observations that I have made. It's a really interesting area and I would love to hear more about how you decide what movement works best in natural light.
Best wishes!