We recently connected with Lydia Faith and have shared our conversation below.
Lydia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?
The first time I was paid for an aerial performance… picture it. It’s 2014. I’m at a gorgeous Rio-themed Christmas party. I’m feeling a little imposter syndrome (not that I know that term yet).
I’m wearing a black blazer with my logo on it, and it makes me feel so professional. I walk into a gorgeous venue with colorful decorations and glittery ostrich feather centerpieces. The event looks so well put together, and I want to do my absolute best to meet the expectations set by the décor. The pressure is on!
For my performance, I’m dancing with aerial silks. I’m standing next to the stage waiting to hear my music. I run to the silks and begin my routine in a frenzy. The adrenaline is giving me extra strength and I feel superhuman, twenty feet up and upside down. The energy from the audience is electric, and I am filled with absolute joy as I dance in the air, doing what I love. It truly feels like I am flying.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hi, I’m Lydia Faith! I’ve loved to dance ever since I was five years old and my tap shoe flew off of my foot in the middle of class. Since then, I’ve tried every type of dance I can find! In 2010, I was introduced to aerial dance, which quickly became my favorite because of its challenging blend of grace, strength, and flexibility. In 2014 my love of aerial performance inspired me to found Luminary Entertainment Company, which offers traditional circus entertainment like aerial dancing, stilt walking, and fire dancing. Luminary is composed of a talented and supportive group of women whose mission is to build one another up and to challenge one another without competing. We provide elegant performance entertainment on the Emerald Coast and all over the southeast US, with customized performances to add a unique element to events and create an unforgettable experience for guests.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Invest in artists and creatives. Compensate them for their time and effort to show you value them. Give them financial freedom to invest deeper in their artistry and community. We can’t do it just for the love of art. If you’re paying for a venue/DJ/florist/emcee then you should budget to be able to pay your entertainers, too.
Oh and if you’re in a restaurant or at an event with an entertainer – show your appreciation for them! Dance and sing along with the musician, cheer for the performer, clap, make eye contact; whatever you can to acknowledge their effort. It’s so disheartening to be doing your best when the crowd acts indifferent, and it means the world to us when guests have great energy and interact with us!
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
It’s actual work! As a circus performer, I sweat, bleed, and burn for your entertainment. I train almost every day, honing and improving my skills so I can provide quality performances. I regularly practice on six different aerial apparatus and nine different fire/LED props. I also stretch and take dance classes to improve my base quality of movement. My body is an instrument and I demand a lot from it!
In addition to the physical aspects, I spend a lot of time organizing and planning to ensure gigs run smoothly. I have meetings with clients and venues, staff meetings with my team, and rehearsals for upcoming shows. I respond to inquiries, update my website, post on social media, choreograph new acts, research new costumes and equipment – the list never ends!
So when you see me perform a four-minute aerial act, now you know that hundreds of hours of work went into making that performance look effortless!
Contact Info:
- Website: luminaryec.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/luminaryentertainmentco/
- Facebook: facebook.com/luminaryentertainmentco
- Youtube: youtube.com/@luminaryec
Image Credits
Davista Photography, Dianna Berggren Photography, Lisa Marie Gee, Meredith Pritchard