Dance lighting Video

This video features the artist Drake dancing to an array of lights. I like when around 1:25 the lights change to a green/yellow that really hightlights what he is wearing.

This dance opens with the female dancer spilling water out of her hands and onto the floor, which is complimented by the primary use of blue and the white wavy patters that are cast across the dance floor, further casting a water effect. I really like the way the warm tinted spotlight follows the female dancer throughout the song, emphasizing her role in the story, as it accompanies the music.

I love the way this design uses a single spotlight to create the moon. It begins in black, slowly drawing the shutter open to reveal the crouched dancer center stage. She performs in silhouette, making her shadow appear to be dancing on the moon.

Dance Lighting Video

This video is really cool because it is uses a lot of shadows. There is a good amount of down light and front light but then in certain scenes there is some side light. Over all I think the most consistent thing is the use of the shadows.

Dance Lighting Video

In this video, most of the lighting seems to be very playful and colorful. About 1 minute into the video, I like how a blue wash is used across the stage, and there are yellow lights that follow the dancers around once the dancers have transitioned. I like the contrast between the warm and cool tones. At around 3:12, it's also cool how the yellow and purple tone lights look like they are moving around the dancers too. I definitely think the lights succeeded in following the mood of the song, and it looked like the lights were dancing too.

The reason I liked the lighting in this video is because you can see how many lights are required to get a clean wash that leaves very little shadow. The spinning blue lights add atmosphere to the dance area, and the movement makes the dance look more crowded and chaotic, which is what the dance is definitely going for.

I'm a huge fan of the minimal lighting in this dance. I really love the contrast that is created by using the darkness as part of your lighting choice. It makes the dance much more dramatic and doesn't distract from the beautiful choreography. Color is also used really effectively in this, they use a more yellow warm color in the beginning which contrasts greatly to the more blue/white light in the middle. It demonstrates how different the mood can be from just the color.

Dance Lighting Video

This performance is from Momix Alchemy. I think that this performance toys a bit too much with limited light and while it fits with the idea, it isn't the best for the viewer. I think that for the most part the lighting at around 4:00 is the coolest lighting of this performance. I do think the textured effects on the lights (probably gobos) were a great choice for this performance, as it does add to the weirdness of the textures on the performers' clothing. Overall, I think that the lighting may not be the best, especially since there are times when the lighting is not supposed to be bright at all; however, I also think that by doing the lighting in this way, it adds to the mood and atmosphere of the performance. 

DANCE VIDEO

This is the dance video from the picture I posted the other day. Once again this is super interesting because the light is emanating from the dancers instead of being projected on to them. Its funny because most of the time the goal in lighting is too light their face but here the lighting is positioned in order to remove the physical human appearance from the dancers as much as possible.

Dance Lighting Video

This video is from an old YouTube dance competition I used to watch a few years ago. The lights in this aren't as dramatic as in other videos, but they play a large role in telling the story. I like how it started with a few lights over them. It created a dramatic start to go with the music's fade in. But the best start is how the color change was cued at the exact moment that the female dancer "bit" her partner. It helped to portray the magic and possessiveness underlying the dancers' relationship in their performance.

This video features some clips from Houston Ballet's April 2017 Germany Tour. Each of the dances previewed feature very interesting dance lighting--
In Tapestry, shadow is used in creating patterns on the dancers' bodies. Lighting is sparse and does not leak much past the body of the dancer, making them jump out into focus.
In Maninyas, warmer lighting is used, combined with the warm-toned costumes, to create a smooth, elegant look for all of the dancers.
In Velocity, harsh, bright, white lighting is used throughout, along with sharp lines and few shadows. This creates a very intense effect and highlights the angles and lines of the dancers' bodies.

Dance Lighting Video

In this video there are not very many lighting changes, but I think they were still successful. There is an emphasis on the dancers, so there are follow spot lights that follow the Caterpillar and Alice. I think the blue wash gives a mystical feeling to the dance. I think it is interesting because there is enough light to see the faces and expressions of the dancers which makes the dance more interesting and exciting. 

Lighting in Dance

Jeff Greenberg for Danceworks (2010), produced by the Queens College Department of Drama, Theatre & Dance

I particularly enjoy the use of shadow in this dance lighting. The designer employed some sort of patterned gobo to achieve this look that, to me, seems to be a series of broken windows that cast long shadows across the stage. The cyc gradates from a light, pale blue to a deep, saturated blue-violet. The lights across the stage appear more white in color than any of the cyc lights. There also seems to be multiple smaller lights at the bottom of the cyc, potentially lighting it from behind.

Matt Miller for Through the Fracture of Light (2016), produced by the Yin Yue Dance Company

This lighting blows my mind because the space created by the lighting design looks as if the performers are dancing in a void. The lights used are hard and focused with incredible precision because no light bleeds outside of the designated space. The dancers are lit well, so I think that the designer used front and side lights for the dancers. The colors chosen for the lights complement the dancers' costumes and add continuity to the overall look of the performance.

Dancing

This picture is interesting in that it is visible that the lights are coming down in the same direction. There are also gobo patterns seen onstage. What I admire the most is the fact that the light really compliments the outfits by having a cool yet pale color.


The show seen in this picture looks like it can be created using the Stieren using cyc lights and down lights and other relevant lights. The person in the center is not properly lit, and it is hard to know if it is because she is standing in the wrong spot or if the designer did not focus the light properly. I also admire that the light on the dancers isn't super fancy, yet the bright red on the cyc adds to the mood without messing with the costumes.

Dance Lighting Video

I think the lighting in this video is very interesting as it starts out with the dancers in lighting boxes and the lighting gradually changes the mood of the room as the music changes. I also think the large amounts of side lighting adds another layer of depth to the dancer itself. When the dancers come all the way upstage, they are no longer illuminated other than the outline of their bodies.

Dance Lighting

I thought this lighting was very interesting for dancers because the back lighting solely outlines the dancers' bodies. The viewer can still see  the depth of the dancers based on how large or small the dancers are. With this type of lighting the colors are what changes the mood because you can't see the dancer's faces.

I liked how the dancers are each put into their own boxes using shutters. This type of boxed lighting is interesting to me because you can see the shadow of the dancers on the ground and while they are all on the same stage, they are separated by lighting.

Dance Lighting

I really like the gobo used in this lighting scene. The gobo creates a repeating texture of triangles on the dance floor. I think it is more interesting having all of the triangles be randomly oriented rather than ordered in the same direction. It would be a really cool if the triangles all rotated during the show.



I thought the lighting of each dancer with an individual spotlight was very effective at contrasting the dancer and rest of the dance floor. The hazy red background contrasts well with the yellow/white illuminated dancers. It would be interesting if the spotlights followed each dancer.

Dance Lighting

It is really nice that they used side lighting for this dance. It makes the dancers seem very long and elegant, as well as creating interesting shadows. The color is also really beautiful in contrast to the bare stage they are performing on. It gives me the mental image of dancing like the flame of a candle.


The use of gobos makes this very mystical and texturally interesting. This dance seems to also use some side light as we can see from the girl in the far right corner. The use of cool colors make it appear as if they may be underwater.

Dance Lighting

This design uses red and blue light, creating both warm and cool tones onstage. The stage floor appears to be lit in blue down light, which reflects upwards onto the dancers' bodies. The red front light it angled higher than the blue, making sure the two are skillfully separated, which casts a warm glow on the stage left side of each dancer. Together, the design seems to have two dueling components, which is supported by the separation of the foreground/background dancers.

I really enjoy how this design accentuates the dancers legs, reflecting a bright industrial white light off of them, coming from stage left. Their faces are mostly in shadow, which adds to the focus on their legs and makes the space feel smaller and more intimate. The emphasis is really on the physical form rather than any individual performer.

DANCE LIGHTING

 I really like the lighting in this photo because the lighting is emanating from the dancers rather than
the theater. These dancers look really cool in action because the lights can turn off and the dancers can change position to make it look like theres a lot more dancers than there actually is.

 

This is great because the lighting in Drake's Hotline Bling music video is simple but its simplicity plays well by amplifying Drake's dance. It also is good because the lighting is cued in to the music, creating a rhythm with the lights to match his dance moves.

Dance Lighting

In the first photo, the lighting is able to establish a general mood for the scene. I feel like the cool blue light makes it seem like it is a calmer, but possibly mysterious scene. The lighting is also able to  draw the viewer's eye, this is mainly done by the warmer orange light accented the actors on the stage. 

In this photo, I really like how the lighting is able to accomplish a few different things. For one, it draws the viewer's eye to only the locations that are being lit by the spotlights. When the lighting is primarily done via spotlighting, I feel as though it is a way to emphasize certain aspects of a moment (e.g. ending a scene with spotlights, then fading to black). I also think that lack of lighting is an interesting way to provoke certain emotions from the viewer.  

Dance Lighting

I really like how the more intense lights appear to be coming from the sides rather than the front. I think this helps create more shadows on the dancers' bodies and to make them appear more defined. I also like that there is a mix of light intensity. It definitely helps in making the dancers' movements look more dramatic.

In this photo, I like how the light almost reflects of the costumes of the dancers. The skirts all look purple, but it's possible that they could be white. The mix of the cool and warm colors is interesting too because I think it helps create different shadows and different combinations of the lights. The lights are not creating harsh shadows, which I think goes along with the graceful movement shown.

Dance lighting

I like the use of gobos and lighting in this dance recital. The use of warm orange and red colors and the tree gobo reminds me of a scene out of the lion king. I wonder what song this dance recital used and if it complimented the choice of lighting in any way. Also, I like the use of silhouettes and shadows that add a cool effect to the dancers.

Like my first photo, this dance recital also uses shadows to show the silhouettes of the dancers only. I like the choice of gobos on the floor to give the dance a spaceish galaxyish vibe which goes along with the rest of the photo. 

In this image, the dancers are incredibly angular in their movements. Their arms, legs, and bodies all form angles and lines, all very sharp and pronounced. The lighting very clearly matches this--the spotlights are shaped to squares, each one individually lighting the dancer. The shadows are also very angular, and there are not other sources of light on the stage.

This dance lighting puts all emphasis on the dancer's body. Instead of lighting any part of the dancer, everyone on stage is cast in shadow, creating full silhouettes. The only light on stage is some colored cyc lights, resembling a sunset. This brings attention to every movement of the body, making the dancer stand out.

Dance Lighting

I thought this photo was really interesting because the dancers' features cannot be seen by the audience. I think this allows for the audience to focus more on the movement and the bodies of the dancers. The blue background or blue light does give some color, so the dancers can be seen. I think it also gives the audience a feeling of suspense, if the dancers are only silhouettes for a short period.
I think the lighting plays a big part in this dance. The man appears to be going to away from everyone, but they do not want him to leave, so they try to keep him there. I think the way it is so dark and the dancers are wearing black helps the audience focus on the limbs and movement of the dancers. The way the light shines on the people holding the man back allows the audience to focus on them and body parts they are holding. This then allows them to see how the man being held moves while being held.

Dancing + Lighting = Art

This photo comes from the Sydney Dance Company Website. It looks like each dancer has their own spotlight, so I love how they make a full line. Also, using a light from above creates a more dramatic photo compared to front lighting.

This photo comes from an online news story from the Miami Herald. This photo also uses lights placed right above the dancers. The square it creates on the floor visually isolates them on stage. I also like how the light shows up more on the dancers behind the one in the front, so it looks like a visual illusion.

Lust and Murder in the Attic: Directors Cut

This is a picture from Kinky Boots where there is a big dramatic slow motion fight scene. You can tell there is tension in the air because of the harsh white light and the stark contrast to the orange/yellow light in the set. 

This photo is from The Phantom of the Opera when the phantom leads Christine to his lair. It is clearly very spooky and mysterious and the phantom is in darker light because he is seen as bad where Christine is seen as good. 

Mood lighting

This image from Alice, Through the Looking Glass, has very effective mood lighting. The blue makes it seem very cold and alone. The angle of the light and the shadows it creates as a result, also help with this idea of alone.


This image has a happier, more dreamy mood. It is from a production of Much Ado About Nothing. The lighting is warm and gives a welcoming feeling. The lights hanging above head make it seem more of a romantic atmosphere.

 I think this picture conveys a dark, mysterious mood through the use of shadows and gobos. I like the way the gobos on the walls blend with the actual color of the wall to create a nice wash that is very subtle and aesthetically pleasing. Also, the silhouettes of the people create a very mysterious mood.

I think this pictures conveys a very sad and longing mood. The fact that the only black and white are used in this scene help reinforce the mood.  Also, the use of side lights and shadows add another layer of texture to the scene to convey a mood. 

Mood via Lighting

This first photo I feel does a pretty decent job of showing off how lighting has the ability to help convey the mood to the audience. This photo was taken from a 12 Angry Men stage performance, and I think that this lighting does help push the greater mood of the entire performance. I feel like this lighting does a good job of creating initial tension, while also not being too gaudy. This seems like the way the lighting would likely be for the beginning of the play.    

This photo also does a really good job of conveying the overall mood of the scene as well. This seems to be a scene where there has likely been a natural disaster or some other type of destructive mishap. The cold blue light, which is washing the stage and the majority of the actors, is then accentuated by the highlights of the warmer amber light onto the "living" actors. It creates this weird mixed feeling of hope that these characters will be able to stay alive, but at the same time knowing that death is an immediate possibility for any of them.

Moody Lighting

This picture gives a very creepy mood by utilizing the backlight to outline the characters and shadows.

This picture gives a very romantic mood again utilizing backlight of the bed. The low lighting and soft blue lighting also give it a feeling of warmth even though these are cool toned lights.

Mood Lighting

The lighting in this picture is a classic example of how color can be used to set a mood. Red and Green are associated with Christmas, so the holiday spirit is quickly conveyed. The vibrancy of the lights also adds to the magical feeling, with the intense colors bringing feelings of excitements.

I really enjoy the way this design conveys so much with so little. The stark white coloring already sets a mood of isolation, sterility. At this angle the light catches the matter in the air, creating an eerie sense of reflection, as if possibly signifying a memory.

Moody Lighting

This is for a scene from a play called Dead Man's Cell Phone. I think the lighting really helps establishes a looming mood because of the shadow "standing" over the woman. I think how small all of the other shadows are help make it more daunting. The use of a lot of darkness helps add to the scariness of the scene. I also think the only light that lights the stage is the light going over the woman who is otherwise surrounded by darkness aside from the back wall.

This photo is from the Bacchae and I think it captures the power and the mysteriousness of Dionysus (the character in the photo).  The way there is some light on the actor and a more defined light on the flowers focuses the audience's attention towards the flowers. The way there is not very much light, makes the use of the light more effective, as well as emphasize the mysteriousness of Dionysus.

Mood in Lighting

This set is from the rock musical next to normal, which is about a mother struggling with bipolar disorder. The lighting for this set gives off a gloomy, ominous feeling, and I would believe it if I was told that that is the intent.

This picture I took at my church in Houston. There is a lot of purple used here, which is usually a color of royalty and regality. Here it gives off a pleasant mood. This is during the singing portion of service where the band and the music are very lively but with controlled excitement.

Moody Lighting

This photo is from the Carriage House Theatre's production of The Garden. What has me obsessed with this photos is how the photo establishes a gloomy mood as well as nighttime in the garden. I like how the center of the stage is brighter than where the characters are. It makes me that there is some sort of tension or drama at this moment of the show.  

What is so interesting to me about this photo is that you can already depict a sad mood just from the woman's face. But the lighting design and the background makes the mood a little more complex by creating a look of solitude. The lights going across the woman's body is similar to lights traveling through jail bars, which can immediately invoke isolation.

Moody Lighting

This photo is from a movie called The Missing Person. I think it is a good example of moody lighting because of how the man isn't directly lit. He is being lit on one side of his face with a pinkish-red light so your attention is drawn to that part of his face while the rest of the lighting is really dim. It makes you wonder what is happening that is causing this bright light and it contrasts from the look on his face.

This picture is from the movie I Am Henry. I think the moody lighting in this setting gives off a very creepy and mysterious vibe. The audience isn't able to see much from the candlelight, and the figure in the center is mostly lit from the sides. At first glance, you aren't sure whether or not the figure is an actual person. While candlelight could be seen as romantic in some cases, it definitely isn't in this one.

Moody Lighting

The low red lighting sets an intimate mood in this scene. With the main light source as the lamp, the shadows cast under the table help focus the scene on the table and the champagne. I also really enjoy how the red light illuminates the walls, as if they were painted red.



This image is part of the ending act of Bo Burnham's Make Happy stand up comedy act. The use of fake smoke combined with the low angle spot lights create the effect of light being emitted by Bo. This creates a star effect. I really light the symmetry of each light peak and the light color.

This image, from Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton, features low lighting, a blue-wash, and swirling gobos. The scene features Eliza singing about her husband's betrayal, burning the letters he wrote her. The scene is passionate and sad, with Eliza crushed over Hamilton's cheating. The lighting here exemplifies that well--it is easy for the audience to understand the hurt and despair Eliza is feeling at this point in the show.

This image is from Jonathan Larson's RENT, featuring very harsh, isolating lighting around each character on stage. This is a moment in the show where various cast members, portraying AIDS/HIV patients, sing out, wondering if they are alone in the world--and if anyone will care if they die. This lighting shows this literally--each cast member is alone in their own square of light. Along with this, there is no other lighting on the stage. No other wash, just blackness. This is a simple, powerful example of mood lighting.