213. ILUMINATE
Although I rarely watch TV's “America’s Got Talent,” I did happen to view a program on which a group called iLuminate (also sometimes spelled entirely in lower case) performed with the lights off against a black background while wearing black suits decorated with luminous, computer controlled designs that kept changing as they danced. The group eventually became finalists and the concept evolved into a successful Off-Broadway show called ARTIST OF LIGHT as well as into a world-wide phenomenon used by other artists and in other contexts. The artist behind the idea is Miral Kotb, who created a software technology that allows the wired designs on the dancers’ costumes, which cover their entire bodies, including their heads, to be preprogrammed and controlled from an offstage source.
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| Photo: Charles Sykes. |
A company of 11 dancers performs what its authors, Ms. Kotb and Athena Sunga, call a “play,” but is actually a 50-minute, wordless scenario with a slim plot that allows the light-suited performers to perform vividly choreographed numbers using a variety of dance styles, from Latin to hip-hop and break dancing. All of the dancing—choreographed by Ms. Kotb, John “JRock” Nelson, Dario Mejia, Marcus Allan Cobb, and Robert Vail, three of whom are in the show itself—is designed to show off the awesome technology.
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| Photo: Charles Sykes. |
I’ll let the press release explain the plot, which concerns “the fantastical journey of Jacob, a talented young artist who struggles to connect with the real world. He takes comfort in his magical paintbrush, which grants him the power to turn the characters of his imagination into living, breathing creatures. When a jealous townsperson steals the paintbrush and turns his endearing creations into horrifying monsters, Jacob must face this danger without the help of his miraculous instrument. He fights to save his town and friends, even as he knows that the paintbrush which brought him so much joy is now a weapon in the hands of a malevolent villain bent on destruction.” This description doesn’t mention the kidnapping of Jacob’s girlfriend; his romantic involvement and attempt to save her is also part of the action.
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| Photo: Charles Sykes. |
I doubt most the audience, which included lots of youngsters (this being a family friendly concoction) when I attended, were much aware of the specifics of the story, since the visuals are so inventive that you have all you can do just to marvel at them and wonder how they’re being created. Bodies fly apart and reunite, heads are removed, people and props fly through the air, multiple performers create various artful designs, characters appear and disappear in an eye blink, and you only rarely catch the slightest glimpse of performers moving other actors about when they themselves are momentarily unlit. A battle with a giant serpent manipulated, by multiple invisible dancers, is a standout moment. (The fights are the work of Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet). Loud music (too loud at times), credited to Justin “Kannoby” Keitt and Christopher Tignor, thumps away throughout (there’s even a DJ scene with two large speakers outlined in light), and the energy never flags.
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| Photo: Charles Sykes. |
Even the scenic background (including a street scene with a storefront window and a shop sign bearing Ms. Kobt's first name) and props are technologically created. It’s mindboggling to consider the amount of rehearsal and polishing needed to carry out these results without complications, including moments when the performers come up to you in the auditorium.
The characters, including a couple of robots, are essentially exaggerated caricatures, who resemble humans only in outline. Their unusual costumes, designed by John “JRock” Nelson (who is also one of the performers), Grace Eddy, and Marcus Allan Cobb (another performer), vaguely resemble those of the computer characters in the movie TRON. Ms. Kotb and Jordon Monson are listed as the lighting designers, but with the lights out throughout it’s hard to know what their design contributions are, other than lights off, lights on.
If you have time, you’re allowed to wait for the performers to come out after the show ends and take photos with them. I was tempted, but the line of parents and kids that formed as I was leaving was too long and I made my departure without benefit of a photo. However, I feel certain that the images of the show that remain in my mind will remain there for a long time to come.
