Introduction

Introduction 

As part of my lighting design module I have to create a lighting design with a partner and write a blog that documents and records the lighting design process.  For the assessment we have to create a lighting design suitable for a public dance show in the Performance Academy's Studio Theatre . We had to make contact with the performers and choreographers to get information and any requirements for their pieces. We have one day to rig, focus and plot/ design the lighting for the show, which will be performed on the nighttime of the same day.

Part of the brief lists things that each group is responsible for during the design process. These include
- Going to the dancers rehearsals
- Building a relationship with the dancers (This will help the plotting and focussing sessions along)
- Building a portfolio that contains all the relevant and necessary paperwork. (E.G Lighting Plans and Evidence)

In order to get a feel for the pieces (six Level 5 Solos and two Level 4 Groups) me and my partner Kieren had to arrange a meeting with the dancers that are involved in this show. Unfortunately do to professional work I could not arrange or attend a meeting.


I had lots of ideas straight away, the main thing I wanted to focus on was angles. Dancing is unpredictable and every dance tells a story, so colour choice and light placement is very important. In order to help me improve my ideas I went and spoke to some Lighting Designers from around the local area.

I didn't get a chance to speak with the creatives for this project.  Due to being away from college during the planning and lead up. I did however make sure I asked questions about their pieces so I had at least an idea for a base state. I asked questions such as ..

• What is the name of your piece? 
• Does it have a theme? 
• Do you have any ideas of where you want the piece to go? 
• What mood are you looking to set? 
• Do you want the lights to change during the piece or stay the same throughout? 

1. I spoke to an ex pupil (Elliot Nelson) I explained my brief and told him my ideas. He very much liked the sound of them and was happy to share some production shots of his previous work both at the college and his workplace now. I found his work very powerful and it made me think about the use of gobos and where I should position them in my design.

2. I spoke to another ex pupil and work colleague (Hannah Crowe), I drew out my design with her and explained why I had chosen the rig I had.  We were discussing booms and Hannah suggested that I could use four bits of ladder truss, this would have benefitted me and Kieren in many ways. For example we could of had more "wing" space for the dancers to use as well as it looking more aesthetically pleasing to audience members.

3. The third person I spoke to was friend ( Mark Turner) who was working on Whistle Down the Wind in the Playhouse Whitley Bay at the time. He showed me around his rig and I showed him the rough draft myself and Kieren had made, he suggested more side light also as well as a gel colour that he uses in dance rigs he designs or lights.

4. As further research I watched videos online, find links below. These I watched for inspiration and to look at what genres of dance used what lights and colours. There are many genres to think about like ballet, contemporary, jazz, hiphop, modern, tap the list is endless and all are different from one another. Until we've had a meeting with the dancers it is not certain they will all do the same genre of dance. The other tricky thing to think about is that we have a mixture of performers the group pieces we have no set numbers for as of yet so we have to think of a rig that can work for solos but then also work for more than one person and create a wash that covers everyone.
-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eJ2Y7yh5MY
-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XKODWZrSIQ
-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AFl7pfLEKE
-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbszL6IM3P8
-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrKUUMn8YjA