Jan 5, 2021
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Damani Pompey, an NYC-based lighting designer, movement artist, and choreographer. Additionally, Damani has been involved in a great deal of TV and film work, and his credits include notable festivals like Sundance. Pompey is also the architect of Magnus Works — a continuous archive of his own creative and choreographic projects, which ultimately seeks to investigate the many different languages of movement and expression, from generation to generation.
Pompey is a renaissance man and deep thinker, and, on the podcast, he discusses the origin stories of some of his most renown works. He also spends some time explaining how his fascination with lighting was born out of an innate curiosity and a willingness to seize an opportunity while in school. Damani also highlights some of his work in film and sheds some interesting light on the differences between dancing on film versus dancing in a studio.
Moving Quotes:
“Lighting for me is all about the sensation and the mood… But it’s important to listen to what the work is calling for and what the music is doing. You can’t have beautiful, fancy, cool lights if the person is standing on stage not doing anything."
“What I’m focused on right now for the future is world health and happiness. And more authenticity in my work. Anything that comes out of that, I will feel I’ve deserved because I’ve truly put in the time."
“We all have the power to critically think. We all have the power to make. That’s how we’ve existed this long as humans. We know how to build, but we sometimes lack the tools. I just want to remind everyone that we all have the same types of memories, just in a different way."
Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:
2:55: Damani kicks off the conversation by discussing the scope of his catalog of creative work, Magnus Works.
5:52: Damani explains how the work that comprises Magnus Works came to be.
9:10: Pompey drives a fascinating discussion around the differences between dancing for film and dancing in the studio.
13:04: Pompey shares some advice for dancers who may be looking to get involved in dancing for the big screen.
16:19: Damani retells how his fascination with lighting came to be and shares some thoughts on the importance of good lighting in dance.
22:31: Pompey shines some light on three short films that he recently worked on, including one in partnership with BMW.
24:52: Damani looks at the future and, though he is unsure of exact plans, he discusses some themes he is currently focusing on in his work and life.
Bullet List of Resources –
Damani Pompey
Magnus Works