Zarah Cabañas
“Tune in and the rest will follow.”
Zarah at Space Acres!
Zarah Cabañas is a Creative Director, Communications Consultant, Video Artist, and Educator who loves bringing people together through meaningful experiences. Through Zarah’s 20+ year expertise in multimedia design, creative strategy, video direction, and education, she thrives at creating and leading effective communication strategies for diverse organizations. Partners have included New York University, Blue Man Group, The Roots, Dave Chappelle, and The Homestead School.
She is Co-Founder of Space Acres, a boutique studio nestled in the Catskill forests of New York. As video artist Lady Firefly, she specializes in live video performances, bringing her mood-expanding visuals to audiences of thousands in places like The Hollywood Bowl, Madison Square Garden, Caesar’s Superdome, America’s Got Talent, and Lincoln Center. Zarah is author of a widely circulated text by video artists around the world titled Respect Your VJ.
Zarah received her B.F.A. in Film and Television from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. At the heart of Zarah’s work is a love for spontaneity, musicality, and desire to keep learning. She is a published poet, a performing musician, and an avid traveler. Zarah has also spent much time refining her techniques as a World Champion Filipina eskrimador, and perfecting her formulas as a wildcrafting herbalist through her company Space Acres Botanicals.
When not adventuring with her lovely family, Zarah is hard at work on her first book and music projects.
@theladyfirefly
LinkedIn Profile
SELECT PROJECTS
A Decade with Blue Man Group as Director and Video Designer
The Homestead School Project
Hip Hop is the Love of My Life at The Hollywood Bowl
New York University University Relations and Public Affairs Initiatives
Making Video Art for Dave Chappelle’s 50th at Madison Square Garden
New York University Virtual Commencement
Additional Project Pages coming soon….
Creative Video Design and Live Visuals
A Decade with The Roots at The Roots Picnic
Dave Chappelle Radio City Music Hall Residencies
At the Superdome with Erykah Badu for Essence Festival
American Herbalists Guild Symposium
Communication Strategy
The Office for Creative Research Projects
OCR Friday Events
Space Acres Comedy Night
Experimental and Personal Projects
Experimental Television Center Residency
Time Capsules to Space
Dance Party TV
The Art adventures of vj Lady Firefly
Talks, Podcasts, Presentations, and Poetic Publications
A Look at Some of the Work Created Around the Projects I Mention Above

Credit: A Space Acres Production
Description: These forest baths were created especially for the virtual viewer in mind. Sit back and relax. Gathered over three seasons of 2022 in the southwest Catskills of New York, USA
World Premiere: 33rd American Herbalists Guild Symposium

Credit: Director and Producer
Client: Homestead Collaborative College High School
Description: An introduction to the Homestead School’s philosophy and curricula.

Credit: Digital Media Strategist, Producer
Client: New York University
Description: Virtual Commencement Celebration for Class of 2020 (in lieu of in person commencement ceremonies due to Covid-19)

Credit: A Film by Zarah Cabañas, Featuring Elizabeth Jones, Music by Zarah Cabañas, Music Mix by Matt Werden. A Firefly Lab / Space Acres Production
Description: Girl meets cake.
World Premiere: Callicoon Art Walk @ Callicoon Theater, NY
As part of Fantastical Films curated by Elizabeth Ennis

Credit: A Space Acres Production
Description: Video Poem // An anthem for ancient Souls
World Premiere: Primavera Barcelona Film Festival 2022
U.S. Premiere: Livingston Manor Film Festival 2022

Credit: Associate Creative Director, Shooter, Editor
Client: Blue Man Group
Description: Music video collaboration with DJ Tiesto and Blue Man Group to promote Elements of Life Tour.

Credit: A Space Acres Production
Description: A delectable one hour virtual forest bath! Shot in the Catskill region of New York, USA. Premiered at the Healthcare Businesswoman’s Association Conference 2021.


Credit: Video Editor
Client: Parade Day + Situation Interactive
Description: Care Can’t Wait is a multi-episode series highlighting the need for improved family and health care support in America.

Credit: Creative Producer, Videographer, Editor
Client: New York University
Description: Social Media and Digital piece as part of Meet NYU blog

Credit: Director, Producer, Editor
Client: Twitter + The Office for Creative Research
Description: Documentation of site-specific data visualization project at NYC Twitter office.

Credit: Producer, Digital Media Strategist
Client: New York University
Description: Documentary celebrating the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. Screened throughout NYU LGBTQi events in New York, Sydney, and Washington DC.

Credit: Field Producer, Digital Media Strategist
Client: New York University, Stern School of Business
Description: Commencement video for Stern’s annual Undergraduate Ceremony for event and digital presentation.

Credit: Associate Creative Director + Video EditorClient: Blue Man GroupDescription: Now More Wow ad campaign national spots

Credit: Associate Creative Director + Post Production Supervisor
Client: Blue Man Group
Description: PBS Special focusing on the creative process behind Blue Man Group.

Credit: Creative Director + Video Artist
Client: 305 Fitness
Description: Site-specific video art piece and installation for 305 Fitness' east village NYC location.

Credit: Director, Editor, VJ
Client: Space Acres StudiosDescription: Part house party, part tv show, part time capsule --Dance Party TV is a Catskills dance event inspired by the TV show Soul Train.

Credit: Director, Producer, Editor
Client: Microsoft + The Office for Creative Research
Description: Visual Tour of custom tool to visualize organizational behavior at Microsoft.

Credit: Creative Producer, Digital Media Strategist
Client: NYU, Enrollment Management
Description: Social/Digital piece for Meet NYU blog

Credit: Creative Producer, Videographer, Editor
Client: New York University
Description: Social/Digital Piece created for the Meet NYU blog as part of campaign to highlight NYU Public Safety.

Credit: Associate Creative Director, Editor
Client: Blue Man Group
Description: What happens when you combine slow motion balloons, Blue Men, and 2001 Space Odyssey theme?

Credit: Video Designer
Client: Blue Man Group / Cirque Du Soleil
Description: Video Design for Blue Man Group Shanghai 2024

Credit: Video Designer
Client: Blue Man Group / Cirque Du Soleil
Description: Video Design for Blue Man Group World Tour 2022 featuring first female character/DJ in a Blue Man Group show

A video showing one of Zarah’s video art designs in context for Blue Man Group World Tour 2022. Through the use of rehearsal footage and full frame renderings of the work, the video shows the full effect of how video art designs for theater become part of the whole production.

Collaborators: Mary J Blige, The Roots
Credit: Video Designer + VJ
Description: Live visuals at The Roots Picnic 2022, Philadelphia PA
Collaborators: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Blackhouse NYC
Credit: Video Designer + VJ
Description: Private event in the Whale Rotunda of AMNH in NYC. Video design inspired by deep sea wildlife. Surprise performance with Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Collaborators: Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Anthony Hamilton, The Roots
Credit: VJ
Description: Essence Festival at the Superdome, New Orleans. Videos by Bridget Barkan.

Collaborator: Dave Chappelle
Credit: VJ
Description: VJ for Dave Chappelle's musical guests throughout month-long Radio City Music Hall Residency 2017 including Yasiin Bey and 4 nights with The Roots and guests Ice Cube, Lil Wayne, Common, Anderson Paak, De La, Big Boi, T.I., Vince Staples, Usher.

Collaborators: Cousin From Another Planet
Credit: VJ
Description: Lincoln Center Performance w/ Aaron Whitby’s funk/jazz/soul group. With guest performances by Martha Redbone and Rome Neal.

Collaborator: Blue Man Group
Credit: Associate Creative Director of Video + Video Production Director + Video Designer
Description: A joyful explosion in Blue Man Group's signature moment of ecstasy, Zygote Finale premiered in the North American Tour. It also appeared in all Blue Man sit down shows in Las Vegas, NYC, Boston, Chicago, live gigs and television appearances.

Collaborator: Space Acres Studios
Credit: Founder + Creative Director + VJ
Description: The first civilian space broadcast of its kind with custom-built antenna. Time Capsules to Space asked artists from all walks of life to prepare offerings to the cosmos.
Collaborator: The Roots
Credit: VJ
Description: Closing down the 2017 Roots Picnic in Philadelphia with headliners The Roots, Pharrell, and surprise guests SWV. Photo by John Duncan Jr. Lighting Design by Robert Bloom.
Collaborator: Summercamp
Credit: VJ, musician
Description: Annual music, multimedia art, and community festival in upstate New York centered around the extended 23 Windows community. A unique and special gathering of some of our nearest and dearest friends. Photo by Chris Jordan.

Collaborator: Space Acres Studios
Credit: Creative Director, VJ
Description: Part house party, part tv show, part time capsule --Dance Party TV is a Catskills dance event inspired by the TV show Soul Train. Created with Matt Werden.
Collaborator: Sanctuary Collective
Credit: VJ
Description: A merging of musical performances with live video art to crate an interactive artscape. With performances by Akeema Zane, Melanie Charles, Elsz, Liv(e), Bridget Barkan, DJs Alima Lee and Osagie, VJs Fuzzy Bastard, Sofy Yuditskaya, and M-rae. Photo by Matt Werden.

Collaborator: The Roots
Credit: VJ
Description: Visuals with Erykah Badu and The Roots at Club Nokia, Los Angeles celebrating the life of J Dilla.

Collaborator: Blue Man Group
Credit: Associate Creative Director of Video + Video Director/Editor
Description: Live performance for 2012 Season Finale of America's Got Talent, featuring an all-immersive set and video suits hidden within a break out LED screen.

Collaborator: Dave Chappelle + MosDef
Credit: VJ
Description: VJaying with surprise guest MosDef for Dave Chappelle's last evening of a ten night run at Radio City Music Hall, NYC. Lighting design by Robert Bloom.

Collaborator: Our Silent Canvas Records
Credit: VJ
Description: Live performance with drummer Blake Fleming at. St. Peters Church, NYC