INTERVIEW: ‘iLuminate’ lights up Manhattan once again
iLuminate, the company that combines creative technology and skillful dance, has returned to New York City for a special holiday engagement at New World Stages. The theatrical spectacle, which wowed audiences on America’s Got Talent in 2011, combines cutting-edge choreography with dancers who wear glow-in-the-dark suits. Think of the creativity of Blue Man Group, the energy of STOMP and the choreographic precision of dancers overflowing with talent.
At its heart, iLuminate is a show performed in the dark, and that experience of watching dance showcased in such an unusual environment makes for a special night at the theater.
“I felt like the holidays are always a great time of year for us because it’s a show with light, and it’s just such a happy show,” said Miral Kotb, founder and director/choreographer of iLuminate. “New World Stages is a beautiful complex, so when they had a theater open, I thought, wow, what a great opportunity for us to come back just for a limited engagement.”
Kotb said she’s proud that iLuminate, which features contemporary, hip-hop, Latin and breaking dance styles, is one of the most accessible shows available in New York City. Its theatrical language is made up of choreography and expertly placed lights, so no language barriers will prevent audiences from enjoying the performance.
“I think it’s fantastic because I want theater to be more accessible to people not just for the language barrier but also for the ages,” she said. “It works for dates. It works for techy people. It works for even grandparents love it. Parents love it. Children, of course, love that we have a live game that the children can play, which has really boosted our, I guess, attraction to kids. I mean before kids loved it, but now they even more love it because they get the opportunity to possibly play a game on stage with the cast.”
Kotb said iLuminate often receives repeat customers who love the performance the first time around and decide to bring friends for another trip in the dark. The young audience members also come back, hoping they can chosen for the on-stage game.
“Autistic kids even enjoy it because it’s very visual, so one thing I found that makes me really happy is parents who have children in the spectrum say they come to the show quite a bit because their children love it so much,” she said. “That’s just something that really has resonated with me.”
Kotb had the idea for the iLuminate technology approximately six years ago. The software engineer had a love for dance and technology, and decided to combine those passions. She worked for Bloomberg, LP, for six years and decided to take a break. During that hiatus, she created the technology that would propel iLuminate into popularity.
Today, the dance sequences have been seen on a variety of shows, including America’s Got Talent. In fact, iLuminate competed vigorously on the reality competition show and finished among the top finalists. In addition to touring the world, the company even performed in Saudi Arabia.
The dancers who bring the show to life every evening must not only know their dance steps but also be ready for a strenuous performance. “Well, they first learn the choreography, and while learning the choreography, they’re also shadowing the show to make sure they can do the choreography in the dark,” Kotb said. “There’s a lot of stuff that happens behind the scenes, so it’s actually a very long process to learn the show. It doesn’t happy as quickly as you put in for other shows, but that’s also the fun of it because it’s challenging.”
The weight of the lights also require the dancers to be in top shape physically. It may look easy and effortless, but these glow-in-the-dark creations are complex, gravity-respecting suits.
Kotb’s role is less hands on today. She is tasked with driving the company toward the future and finding new ideas, new technologies and new ways to push the show. “I feel like every day I’m blessed because I’m doing exactly what I love,” Kotb said. “I’m doing everything that I love to do.”
She added: “I think that the longevity will be because we don’t ever stop creating. That’s something that I’m very adamant about. There’s always something we can do different better. Technology changes every day.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
iLuminate is playing New World Stages in Midtown Manhattan through Jan. 8. Click here for more information and tickets.
