Meet Brendon 'Light Up Guy' Tiggs

From East Tennessee State University:

For Brendon Tiggs, dancing is an act of public expression and self-acceptance.

Hailing from New Orleans, the East Tennessee State University senior is slated to graduate in December 2021 with his bachelor’s degree in psychology and minors in sociology and social work. While he hopes to make positive changes in the lives of others with his degree, not quite having it yet has not stopped him from leaving his mark on the world. While in pursuit of his undergraduate degree, Tiggs has found himself in a special position.

“I came to ETSU for a fresh start,” said Tiggs. “I’ll never forget the second week of school, when I decided to go ahead and perform. I didn’t think it would get this far, but here I am today.”

Starting with only an iHome speaker and light-up shoes, Tiggs made a decision that put into motion something that he never anticipated would happen; he began to dance- every single day. Through this act of individualism and perseverance, he has inspired tens of thousands of people. Over time, he became an ETSU icon: Light Up Guy.

With his daily performances in high traffic areas around campus, one would be hard-pressed to find a student who isn’t familiar with the name ‘Light Up Guy.’ Known for his L.E.D.-adorned dance performances (and his resilience to fickle Appalachian weather), Tiggs has managed to leave a lasting impression on the ETSU community.

It all started with a childhood dream. Inspired by performers he saw in the media, Tiggs began to pursue dance as a method of self-expression.

“Since I was little, I would watch videos of people dancing. It started with American dance crew Jabbawockeez,” recalled Tiggs. “And then, I really started to get into the dancers Les Twins. They really inspired me.”

Since then, Tiggs has been working to improve his performances. All of his choreography is self-taught, and he designs his own light equipment. Despite being self-made, he isn’t in it all alone; Tiggs has created a community for himself not only on campus, but online. His Instagram account boasts nearly 16,000 followers, and there he flourishes in a community where he and other artists support one another. While he is known for creating his own tracks, he often boosts other artists up by incorporating their music into his performances. Tiggs says these communities have enabled him to grow.

His road to personal freedom was not always full of compassion and support. Tiggs often struggled with being ostracized by those who reacted poorly, sometimes maliciously, to his unique methods of self-expression.

“When I was in high school, people used to bully me for dancing, for just being myself,” admitted Tiggs. “I almost gave up on everything. But, a part of me kept saying, ‘No, don’t give up.’ A person only loses when they give in, so as long as I’m putting up a fight, I haven’t been beaten yet.”

While Tiggs said he initially came ETSU in 2016 feeling somewhat reserved and withdrawn, it was only a matter of time before the support of the campus community began to help him shape and re-build his confidence.

“I used to be very introverted, very shy, unconfident. I didn’t know anyone, especially after having moved here from Louisiana. No one really knew who I was; I didn’t have any family here,” said Tiggs. “When I started at ETSU, everything changed. Not only because of how friendly everyone was, but the fact that they supported me. That’s what got me to stay.”

After so much love and support from those on campus, Tiggs confessed that sometimes, it’s still hard to believe that he’s impacted others in the way that they’ve impacted him.

“Feeling that I’ve inspired everyone is still a big deal for me,” said Tiggs. “I am very happy with the fact that I’ve gotten to motivate people, from people who have graduated to people who are going through struggles today. When people come up to me and say, ‘Thank you for being you,’ or, ‘I wouldn’t have graduated if it weren’t for this,’ that’s what inspires me to move on. I’ll never forget, one time a little kid came up to me and said, ‘I want to be like you when I grow up.’ Ever since then, my life has changed.”

Looking back, Tiggs is in awe of how much his life has changed. Within a few short years, he has graduated from performing on the front steps of ETSU's Sherrod Library to hosting his own event with ETSU’s Fall 2021 Homecoming celebration, and he credits that to community support and an unyielding spirit.

“There’s no future except the one that you create. You have to be yourself,” said Tiggs. “Even if it’s a scary world. A lot of people don’t really expect change, but when you create, they can’t look away. They have to see, so I say, ‘Watch.’ This is who you are. This is your only life. Focus on what you want to do. Don’t do it to impress. Do it to express yourself.

“To my fellow students, to those who are graduating, and to those who have yet to start,” said Tiggs, “I leave the rest to you. Walk tall my friends.”

Students, faculty and staff who wish to see Tiggs’ final ETSU performance can join in on his Homecoming celebration “Glow Night with Light Up Guy” event on Thursday, Nov. 4 starting at 8:30 p.m. in the Cave, located in the D.P. Culp Student Center.

This press release was produced by East Tennessee State University. The views expressed are the author's own.