The tapestrylike first act, dramatically lighted by Craig Miller, is in a garden of Renaissance ruins.

"We have no plans for new period rooms because they are so expensive to build and eat up space," said its decorative arts curator, Craig Miller.

And the lighting designer, Craig Miller, sets the scene from those first moments with a path of hard white light across the dark stage.

"Rappers need to combat the negative portrayal of black people on television," said Kam, whose real name is Craig Miller.

Shifts in the lighting design, by Craig Miller, help to emphasize and reveal the dance's slightly darker tones.

Craig Miller, the lighting designer, created a separate glowing place for each of them in which they could assert themselves without turning belligerent.

They face front and sway, illuminated by Craig Miller, a lighting designer who varies intensity of hue to striking dramatic effect.

The season is dedicated to Craig Miller, the company's former lighting designer, who died last year.

Craig Miller, whose lighting transforms the mood of each work, follows the eight performers as they they come forward out of the shadows.

Craig Miller was hired as chief information officer for Sonic in January 2010.