Lighting Design — Kevin B. Held Theatrical Design

Dancers live in light as fish live in water. The stage space in which they move is their aquarium, their portion of the sea. Within translucent walls and above the stage floor, the lighting supports their flashing buoyancy or their arrested sculptural bodies.

The Magic of Light, Jean Rosenthal

I have designed the lighting for plays, and musicals (see Scenic Design), but there is something special about working with light on dancers. I have enjoyed working closely with choreographers and, over time, I have developed the skills to design lights for dance concerts and dance productions. Choosing side-lighting colors can enhance the mood of the dance piece and the lighting has more impact in dance than it does in plays and musicals. There are no universal rules to guide dance lighting, but the guidelines provided by Jean Rosenthal offer a map. New lighting technologies and innovations have a chance to shine in dance. I love using moving lights and gel scrollers to quickly change the scene.