Color is elemental to how we perceive the world around us. From the time we are small kids we are taught to identify and perceive colors as having deeper meaning. Small children easily, almost automatically associate red with anger and pink with happy and blue with sadness. As we get older that perception recedes into the background only summoned when we're shopping or when it comes time to paint our homes. We hardly ever think about how the color of the light around us effects the way we think and feel. 

Discover Color recently performed as part of the collaborations festival at Triskelion Arts in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The piece is an examination of how color effects our perception of the world. Set on a bare stage save one white curtain, two dancers perform identical choreography over the course of about seven minutes. During the piece one dancer is bathed in a cool palette while the other is enveloped in a warm palette of light. 

Over the course of the piece the audience is challenged to think about how the color of the lighting makes them think and feel about the piece. Are they drawn to the cool palette or the warm? Does the color of the lighting effect how they see the piece? What color schemes resonate for them emotionally? 

This experiment would not have been possible without the generous support of 4wall Entertainment. 4wall donated the rental of 30 Chroma-Q Color Force fixtures and a control console. The Chroma-Q instruments were perfect for creating rapid brilliant changes in color. They were installed easily and quickly. I was even able to take a couple home and tech the show from the comfort of my couch. 

Additional support was provided by AC Lighting, the US distributor of Chroma-Q lighting. Their support helped pay for rehearsal space and other production expenses. As an entirely self-produced piece AC's support was invaluable. 

Meet the Team

Becky Radway - Choreographer

Becky received her BA from Goucher College in Baltimore, MD. Since moving to NYC, she has had the pleasure of performing with the Kevin Wynn Collection, Heidi Latsky Dance, Ezra Caldwell, and Incidents Physical Theater. Shebegan presenting original dance works in 2003 and her new work, A strange set of attachments, will be presented by Triskelion Arts this November. Her recent work has been featured in Food For Thought at Danspace Project, the DUMBO and Cool New York Festivals, the Field’s Emerging Artist Residency Showcase at the Kitchen, Fridays at Noon at the 92nd Street Y, the Evon Arts’ Coming Together Performance Series (Alvin Ailey’s Citigroup Theater), the Uptown Arts Stroll, as well as self-producing at The Connelly Theater and the Merce Cunningham Studio. Other venues include the Grace Street theater in Richmond, VA, the Jack Guidone Theater in Washington, D.C., Towson University, and a site-specific work for the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ. Her company has been a recent guest artist with DragonFly Dance Experiment (Annapolis, MD) and Goucher College (Baltimore, MD), and held student residencies at Lock Haven University (Lock Haven, PA), Arundel High School (Anne Arundel, MD), and Oldfields School (Gambrillis, MD). Support includes: the Community Arts Fund from the Brooklyn Arts Council, artist grants through the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance, a space grant through the 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Center, and the Manhattan Community Arts Fund through the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. 

Becky’s favorite color is: Teal

Scott Radway is a songwriter and composer from Philadelphia, PA, and plays drums in Polkadot Cadaver and El Creepo. He has provided scores for film, videogames, advertisements, and live performance, and has played in bands such as Tub Ring, Now Soon Nowhere, and Divided Sky. His first solo album, FORMER GHOSTS, was just released this July 2012.

Scott’s favorite color: Arsenic (and yes, it is a color) 

Laura Henry (dancer) enjoys dancing, cooking and yoga. She has worked with the talented Becky Radway many times over the past few years and is excited to be working with her again. Laura loves color and coloring and is excited to see what the Bedell/Radway collaboration will create.

Laura’s favorite color is: Blue

Erica Moshman (dancer) graduated from Connecticut College in May of 2011 with a BA in Dance and Anthropology. She was a recipient of the 2011 Martha Myers Prize for exceptional artistry in Dance. Erica is on faculty at YDance in Tarrytown, NY, and is rehearsal director for the Evolve Dance Youth Ensemble. She has recently performed with Evolve Dance Inc, and is currently dancing with Heidi Latsky Dance, Rebecca Hite/Reject Dance Theatre, and Becky Radway Dance Projects. 

Erica’s favorite color is: Green