LINDSEY GERSON
COSTUME DESIGNER
Lindsey started dancing classical ballet at 13 and continued for 6 years under the direction of David Alejandro Duran. After high school, she traveled abroad in Germany and China during a Discipleship Training School where she experienced native forms of dance. Upon moving to Austin, she began choreography and improv classes with Darla Johnson, earned her Certificate in American Sign Language from Austin Community College, and began to explore sewing and costume making. After transferring to Texas State, she became a member of Merge Dance Company for the 2016-2017 season and performed with them in Trinidad for the Contemporary Choreographers’ Collective Dance Festival. She also joined Transient Dance Collective in 2016 and was the President from 2017-2018. Her dance films, Refine and Imprisoned, have both been selected for various film festivals. She graduated from Texas State in May 2018 with her BFA in Dance with an emphasis in Performance and Choreography. She continues her self- taught work as an amateur seamstress and teaches dance in the Austin area.
LIZZY ALLEN
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Lizzy Allen is originally from Portland, Oregon. She joined Blue Lapis Light as an intern in 2018 immediately after graduating from the University of Oregon with degrees in dance and arts management. In 2019, she took on the role of Production Manager for the In Light performance at the IBC Bank. Lizzy has since been involved as Production Manager for several Blue Lapis Light shows, and when she is not running around behind the scenes for BLL she can be found teaching yoga locally or working in the cultural department at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. In the beginning of 2021 Lizzy took over marketing for the company and is now the Communications Coordinator and Production Manager.
Scott Hathaway
VIDEOGRAPHER
Scott Hathaway is a freelance filmmaker with a passion for the arts. He graduated with an English degree from Appalachian State University in 2007, focusing on the experimental films of Jean-Luc Godard and Ladislaz Starewicz. He began working with Blue Lapis Light in 2009 by filming “Impermanence,” set atop the J.J. Jake Pickle Federal Building. Creating beautiful, engaging videos that faithfully recreate each site-specific performance has been Scott’s greatest challenge and pleasure. When not filming for Blue Lapis Light you will have to look hard to keep up with his travels. He is motorcycling to South America in 2017-2018.
Earl McGehee
PHOTOGRAPHER
Earl has more than 30 years experience with film and digital still photography. His work has appeared in numerous publications and web sites including Business Week, Rolling Stone, Wired and Spin.
MARISSA FARIS
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT
Marissa has a master’s degree in horticulture and brings her creativity and a wealth of diverse professional experience in higher education, environmental organizations and nonprofits to her new role. Marissa has been a student and teacher of yoga for nearly 20 years. Her curiosity and love of learning have allowed her to live all over the country and continue her mission to become a true jack of all trades. She loves being a mom, hiking, biking, exploring, reading, gardening, and trying to capture the perfect photo. She is excited to join the Blue Lapis Light team.
ALYSSA JOHNSON
MARKETING
Founder and artistic director of Paracosm Dance, Alyssa is a multimedia dance and performance artist, instructor, and visual creator. After training with Alonzo King LINES Ballet, BANDALOOP, and UC Berkeley, she danced as a soloist with Peninsula Ballet Theater under the artistic direction of David Fonnegra, and performed in works by Copious Dance Theater’s Kat Roman, BrickaBrack Theater’s Gabriel Grilli, and Scott Wells & Dancers. She danced as a guest artist with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for Judith Jamison’s retirement tour and choreographed works under the direction of Joe Goode. For her excellence in dance scholarship and performance, she received the Julia Payne Dance scholarship in 2015. In Austin, Alyssa has danced with ARCOS Dance, Shakti Moves Dance Company, and Ventana Ballet; she is currently an aerialist with Blue Lapis Light, partner with Nana Ballet, and longtime collaborator with Camera Clay.
She graduated from UC Berkeley with a double major in Dance & Performance Studies and Forensic Anthropology, using her pedagogical, anatomical, neurological, and osteological studies to further the integration of science and dance technique. With that, she has delved into the benefits of movement outside the dance world, working to get all humans moving for their physical and mental health.