Freefall
Dance Theatre

Platform Theatre, Central Saint Martins
London, UK
May 2025
Directed by: Yuke Chen & Congwu Bi

Produced by: Gesture Silhouette Lab (London) & Hooray Culture Ltd. (Hong Kong)
Lighting Design & Technician: Sheron Luo
Freefall is a contemporary dance theatre work adapted from the Yi folklore creation epic The Twelve Lineages of Snow. It explores cultural identity in the turbulence of globalization, where people respond with resistance, indifference, or transformation. The piece asked: in a shifting world with no ground beneath us, how do we become the so-called “new humans”?
Design Concept & Execution
I began with natural images from the folklore — snow, fire, forest, storm, rain — not to reproduce them literally, but to transform them symbolically through light. A blizzard became a single par can pulling all dancers into its force. A quiet hearth evolved into a golden, almost Baroque glow. A forest of shadows became a place of mystery and silence.
Rather than fixing everything, I built a rig that was structured but flexible — a framework where improvisation could stay. It felt like conducting an orchestra: giving freedom to the dancers while ensuring the performance stayed visually coherent.
Problem-Solving & Collaboration
The process was intense and fast-paced, with limited time in the theatre. Our choreographer often pushed us to the edge, but it also kept us sharp. We learned to adapt quickly, reshaping cues on the spot as choreography shifted.
With a minimal set, I relied on simple tricks — the glow of a white floor, controlled reflections, carefully tuned colour temperature — to create depth and shadow. It reminded me again that light and space alone can feel more powerful than any elaborate scenic design.
Outcome & Reflection
Theatre & Tonic described the lighting as “cinematic,” which felt like a real affirmation. But what stayed with me most was the rhythm we discovered between movement, sound, and light — a rhythm that wasn’t calculated, but lived.
Even under pressure, the company found warmth together: sharing food after long rehearsals, laughing in between tense moments. That balance of intensity and camaraderie made Freefall deeply meaningful for me.
In the end, this project reminded me that light can hold memory, tension, and transformation — it can mirror the fragility and resilience of people searching for who they might become.
