Client: Fusion Dance Troupe at Boston University
Event: Elements XVI
Date: April 2nd, 2016 7PM
Location: Metcalf Ballroom, George Sherman Union
Lighting Equipment:
- 8x Robe BMFL Spot
- 8x ETC Colorsource PAR
- 12x ETC PARNel 575W
- Pre-programming visualization on Capture Argo Solo Edition
- Timecode support via MagicQ Media Centre and Winamp
- 1 universe of control via Chamsys MagicQ and PC Wing Compact
This year, Fusion requested we change up the lighting design that has traditionally been used for Fusion Elements. In the past, the lighting system was composed of a simple color-mixed back wash of ETC Source 4 PARs with three-color side lighting and a basic front wash, which often resulted in odd color mixing results.
In deciding to completely overhaul the lighting setup, we started by replacing the inefficient back and front washes with Robe BMFL Spots from Audio Spectrum. Five BMFLs were used for the back wash while an additional three units made up the front wash. These enabled us to provide a truly even, full-stage wash from both the front and the back, while also allowing for brighter, more intense color mixing than the Source 4 PARs previously used. The vast number of additional features, such as dual rotating pattern wheels, prisms, and dual animation wheels allowed us to design complex yet unique looks for each of the 23 different performances.
8 ETC Colorsource PARs were used as improvised shin busters, lighting the dancers from the rear. Their high intensity LED chips and impressive color mixing pulled triple-duty as eye-candy, shinbusters, and improvised strobes. In addition, 12 ETC Source 4 PARNels were used for a simple white/blue side light.
As each group received up to 22 lighting cues, we were faced with the prospect of creating more than 500 unique looks in total. To speed up programming we used Capture Argo to efficiently and accurately program lighting cues before the event; furthermore, we were able to record and send videos of the visualization to performance groups for feedback, further reducing the amount of tech time required on the day of the event.