As we come around the weekend towards our opening night, The Juilliard School’s Wilson Theater has been full with third and fourth year dancers. The Wilson Theater has been transforming into Senior Production 2016’s platform and stage as the third years design the lighting for each of the new works and become the technical crew behinds the scenes. Even though it is our fourth year and we have been working on this production since September, there is a lot of labor and creativity that goes into the production that may be unseen.
Starting in September, the third year dancers, Class of 2017, have been taking a “Stagecraft” course, led be Susan Hamburger, which has a curriculum that culminates in aiding Senior Production. In the course, there are sections devoted to costumes, lighting, stage-managing, safety backstage and onstage, and any combination of these with others.
Being a performer and in the production crew, as third years are every year, I was personally excited by the lighting aspects of the production team. The way various colors and designs can alter how the audience views the work. There is quite a responsibility that goes into lighting that at times goes unseen. Now when I go see productions, not only do I notice the performance but I’m also aware of, and appreciate, the work that goes behind the scenes.
I talked with a few dancers, of the third year class, about their experiences in this process and I’m glad that there are aspects that they found beneficial from this process as I did:
“I really enjoyed hanging lights and being on the other side of the rehearsal process for a show … I think the biggest thing I took from it is that I now have more tools to express my artistic vision to lighting designer and other tech crew involved and communicate more clearly what it is I see for lighting in my piece.” – Alex Larson
“…part of our stage craft class requires us to learn about preparing, hanging, focusing, and setting lights for senior production. This experience has made me greatly appreciate the tedious work that stagehands put into every show. Before having to do it myself, I took it for granted that every performance I have danced in here at Juilliard has required above and beyond such stagehand preparation … Lighting also is highly collaborative, and requires each member on a lighting crew to communicate clearly and honestly with each other to do their best to bring the choreographers vision to life. Overall, this experience has nurtured in my a great appreciation for the word done to successfully and efficiently light a dance piece on both a technical and artistic level.” – Caitlin Javech
“I definitely went into it mildly terrified, but as soon as we started, the nerves went away and it just turned into a really fun experience … It’s also a great sense of responsibility that you feel when you are running one of the pieces because you
understand how much it means to everyone involved so you want to live up to what they want the piece to be.” – Evan Fisk
As a fourth year, who has gone through the process as well, I am extremely thankful for all of their hard work and dedication to our production. Thank you!
Written by: Jesse Obremski
Starting in September, the third year dancers, Class of 2017, have been taking a “Stagecraft” course, led be Susan Hamburger, which has a curriculum that culminates in aiding Senior Production. In the course, there are sections devoted to costumes, lighting, stage-managing, safety backstage and onstage, and any combination of these with others.
Being a performer and in the production crew, as third years are every year, I was personally excited by the lighting aspects of the production team. The way various colors and designs can alter how the audience views the work. There is quite a responsibility that goes into lighting that at times goes unseen. Now when I go see productions, not only do I notice the performance but I’m also aware of, and appreciate, the work that goes behind the scenes.
I talked with a few dancers, of the third year class, about their experiences in this process and I’m glad that there are aspects that they found beneficial from this process as I did:
“I really enjoyed hanging lights and being on the other side of the rehearsal process for a show … I think the biggest thing I took from it is that I now have more tools to express my artistic vision to lighting designer and other tech crew involved and communicate more clearly what it is I see for lighting in my piece.” – Alex Larson
“…part of our stage craft class requires us to learn about preparing, hanging, focusing, and setting lights for senior production. This experience has made me greatly appreciate the tedious work that stagehands put into every show. Before having to do it myself, I took it for granted that every performance I have danced in here at Juilliard has required above and beyond such stagehand preparation … Lighting also is highly collaborative, and requires each member on a lighting crew to communicate clearly and honestly with each other to do their best to bring the choreographers vision to life. Overall, this experience has nurtured in my a great appreciation for the word done to successfully and efficiently light a dance piece on both a technical and artistic level.” – Caitlin Javech
“I definitely went into it mildly terrified, but as soon as we started, the nerves went away and it just turned into a really fun experience … It’s also a great sense of responsibility that you feel when you are running one of the pieces because you
understand how much it means to everyone involved so you want to live up to what they want the piece to be.” – Evan Fisk
As a fourth year, who has gone through the process as well, I am extremely thankful for all of their hard work and dedication to our production. Thank you!
Written by: Jesse Obremski