Prize(s) Winners in Theater Performance Lighting
Lighting Design/Product Company Netherland Dance Theater
Lead Designers Yuka Hisamatsu
Photo Credits Rahi Rezvani
Other Credits Choreographed by Jermaine Spivy
Completion Date November 2nd, 2023
Project Location Amare, Den Haag / tour 17 locations within Netherlands and Europe
Entry DescriptionIn this contemporary dance work, lighting transcends its conventional role. It is not decoration or direction, but the primary medium, sculpting the audience’s perception into the artwork itself.
The design has three core structures. First, a vast, gallery-like wash strips scenic noise, granting the audience agency of focus. Second, a "Duo-colour" passage uses complementary hues from high-sides; the floor mixes to white, while dancers are painted in two shifting colours, structuring movement, not mood. Finally, a large moving panel’s shadow absorbs performers, compressing individual outlines into a collective figure.
Over fifty subtle cues connect these moments, guiding attention subconsciously through breath-paced ramps and slow fades. Upstage, translucent curtains create repeating, non-narrative shadow events. This minimalism ensures the dancers’ extraordinary physicality is perceived directly, without theatrical artifice.
The design quietly shifts the audience’s scale: from relational field to intimate corporeal detail, then to a collective mass. This creates an art experience shaped by light, where perception and choice are the raw materials. The choreographic language remains powerfully legible and free from interference.
Sustainability ApproachThis project treats sustainability as a catalyst for innovation. With a 100% LED rig, we moved beyond the tungsten debate, proving that energy-efficient technology, skillfully wielded, unlocks new artistic possibilities. Through meticulous programming and deep colour knowledge, we crafted light with a richness and depth that rivals and surpasses traditional sources.
Our approach is holistic, extending beyond energy efficiency. The longevity of LEDs reduces material waste (Circular Economy). Their low heat emission cuts the venue's HVAC load, and their lighter weight minimizes the transport-related carbon footprint.
This design is a testament that sustainability in art is achieved through innovation, not sacrifice. It presents a new paradigm where environmental responsibility and powerful artistic expression are not just compatible, but become one.
