
Teargas Anthem
Lighting Designer
University of Texas at El Paso-
Department of Theatre and Dance
Wise Family Theatre
(February 2022)
By: Tawanda Chabikwa
Costume Design: Nicole Read
Sound Design: Rubysella Erickson
Concept Statement
Teargas Anthem is centered around the rhythm established through a monotonous beat as the dancers tell a narrative of discrimination. The piece uses puppets to personify these almost supernatural elements that control the dancers and influence their movements. The overarching theme of this piece is the idea of group vs the individual. How mob mentality affects those who are just trying to struggle against the hand that they are dealt.
The lighting in this piece was very much a part of telling this extraordinary world filled with puppet masters and star children. Using color to both ground the dancers in earth tones as well as set them apart from each other. A common motif in the movement is this separation between the dancers who are in a group and the ones who are being individuals. Color follows those who separate from the group while the earth tones (oranges and ochres) outline the mob. These colors are used to suffocate the creativity and individualism or burst into a display of resilience.
The first sequence follows a duet between a "puppet" and her companion "star child". After a small duet of movement, a crowd joins in at the beckon of the "puppet master". The crowd begins to move in unison and try to separate the "star child" and her "puppet" and ultimately succeeding.
The second sequence follows an artist who smears paint all over himself and begins to rebel against the crowd. He violently struggles and gets dragged across the stage as he rebels violently against the system that his holding his creativity hostage.
In the final sequences, the mob succeeds. The group joins into a synchronized dance that has them marching into the sunset, marked by their silhouettes, ultimately losing the battle but continuing the struggle.








