Today, we’d like to introduce you to Lydia Faith.
Hi Lydia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve loved to perform ever since I was five years old when my tap shoe flew off of my foot in the middle of class. As a child, I performed in local musical theater productions and danced an eclectic variety of styles through high school and college (including contra dance, swing, jazz, and even Irish step dance).
As an adult, the only dance classes I could find were for pole dancing, so I took those and was shocked to find out how difficult it was. From there, another dancer suggested I try aerial dance on silks (just like in Cirque de Soleil), which quickly became my favorite because of its difficult blend of grace, strength, and flexibility.
When I first came to Destin, Florida, there were no places to perform aerial dance, so I started a performance troupe in 2014 called Luminary Entertainment Company. We are the original aerial performance company of the Emerald Coast!
Since then, we have trained hard to be able to offer more services, including fire dancing, stilt walking, and LED dancing with high-quality light-up props that draw pictures in the air. Luminary performers add a unique and fun element to events.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Does anyone who’s started a business ever say it’s been a smooth road? Owning a company is hard work! Luminary became the company it is today through a lot of trial and even more error.
Although I did a lot of research, I had to learn some things the hard way and just try not to make the same mistakes repeatedly. To “fail smarter,” as they say. It’s funny to look back and realize all of those experiences are, in fact, the things that give me perspective and empathy today. To paraphrase Kahlil Gibran, “You can only feel as deeply as your sorrow has carved you.” Having faced challenges in the past, I can more fully appreciate the wonderful life I have now.
As far as specific struggles? Well, sometimes, I struggle to be taken seriously by event coordinators. They’re expecting a clown for kids and not elegant, upscale entertainment. Fortunately, I have amazing photos I can show them to help define our brand.
My largest challenge is pretty typical – talent recruitment and retention. Circus-style performing is very niche, so there’s a small pool of performers to choose from. Sometimes, I’ll come from the opposite direction – if I find a skilled dancer, I’ll train them to become an aerialist or fire performer. I am incredibly meticulous, and I hold extremely high standards because I want to give my clients the absolute best performance possible.
But it’s not enough for Luminary members to know the basics – we also have to be exceptional performers. We want to take an indifferent crowd and lure them from their conversations into our show. Our goal is to get you to step out of a humdrum everyday life mindset and give you something magical, something that makes you appreciate the wonder in the world around you more.
Once I find amazing performers, I really cherish them as part of the team! They become an extension of my family – we celebrate birthdays and holidays together. Sadly, Destin is a transient town, and people move away pretty frequently. I’ve had to say goodbye to some amazing company members. I’ve lost two to Vegas, three performers moved to Colorado, and one embarked on a world cruise!
We’ve been impressed with Luminary Entertainment, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our specialty is luxury entertainment services. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, preparedness, and attention to detail. Not only will our team dazzle and awe with our performances, but we will also remain flexible and adapt to any scheduling emergencies that may arise. We will do everything in our power to ensure a seamless, exciting event that guests can’t stop talking about. When you’re throwing an event and the entertainment absolutely must run smoothly, we’re the best company to call.
We also specialize in bespoke shows, combining a variety of performance elements to create a unique and thrilling production! We build the show based on the client’s exact theme, requests, and the performance space available. These shows can run from 15-30 minutes and are typically a mix of aerial, fire dancing, LED dancing, and unique props specific to the theme (for Christmas, we dance with giant candy canes, and for Halloween, we have a fabulously fiery parasol)!
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
Well, of course, you can hire us for your event! We would love to work with you! I’m currently in the planning stage and looking for collaborators for a community event for a local charity next year. If you’re in the panhandle, you can support Luminary by coming to our public shows!
You can catch us Thursday nights this summer performing our Tropical Luau Show at Al’s Beach Club and Burger Bar on Okaloosa Island. Wherever you are, you can support us by interacting with us on social media.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://luminaryec.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luminary.ec
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luminaryec1
- Twitter: https://x.com/luminaryec
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@luminaryec
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@luminary.ec
Image Credits
Davista Photography, Brian Douglas Photography, and Alexander Rea Photography
