How to Be Dance Lighting Designer - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

May 13, 2021 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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FAQ

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A Dance Lighting Designer is responsible for creating the atmosphere and ambience at a live dance performance. By using a variety of lights, color and movement, the designer can create a powerful effect on the audience. This in turn can help to enhance the performance, making it more engaging and enjoyable for everyone involved.

The light designer also helps to bring out the emotion of a piece, as well as helping to create an overall narrative. By using these techniques, the lights can bring out the best in the dancers, and help to make the performance stand out from the rest.

Steps How to Become

Obtain a degree in dance or related field. Obtaining a degree in dance or related field such as theatre, music, or art is the first step to becoming a dance lighting designer. Students should take classes in lighting design, theatre production, and stage technology.
Gain experience in the field. It is important for aspiring lighting designers to gain experience in the field. Getting involved with a local theatre or dance company can provide valuable experience working with lights and understanding how to design for a show.
Develop your portfolio. Aspiring lighting designers should create a portfolio of their work to show to potential employers. This should include photos and videos of lighting designs they have done, as well as any written documents they have created such as lighting plots and cue sheets.
Network. Networking is an important part of any job search, and it is particularly important for those looking to become a dance lighting designer. Attending events in the industry, such as conferences, conventions, and workshops, can help aspiring lighting designers make contacts and find job opportunities.
Get certified. While certification is not required to become a dance lighting designer, it can be beneficial. Professional societies such as the USITT and ESTA offer certifications for lighting designers that can help demonstrate competence and professionalism.

Choosing the right dance lighting designer is key to creating an atmosphere that enhances the performance, and it can have a significant impact on the overall success of the event. To ensure that your event is ideal and qualified, it is important to consider the experience, skill level, and reputation of the lighting designer. Experience in the industry can help ensure that the designer understands the complexities of setting up and running a successful show, while skill level will speak to their ability to create the desired effects and atmosphere.

it is important to research the reputation of any potential designer, as this will provide insight into their professionalism, customer service, and overall skill level. With these factors taken into consideration, you can be sure that youve chosen a qualified and experienced dance lighting designer for your event.

You may want to check Dance Studio Manager, Dance Company Production Manager, and Dance Music Arranger for alternative.

Job Description

Program Lighting: Responsible for programming lighting cues and effects for live dance performances.
Design Lighting: Responsible for designing the overall lighting systems for a dance performance.
Operate Lighting: Responsible for operating the lighting system during a live dance performance.
Maintain Lighting: Responsible for maintaining the equipment used for dance lighting.
Monitor Lighting: Responsible for monitoring and adjusting the lighting system during a live performance.
Troubleshoot Lighting: Responsible for troubleshooting any issues with the lighting system during a live performance.
Program & Design Special Effects: Responsible for programming and designing special effects for a live dance performance.
Create Atmosphere: Responsible for creating the atmosphere of a live dance performance through the use of light.
Collaborate with Choreographers & Directors: Responsible for collaborating with choreographers and directors to create the desired lighting effects for a live performance.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of electrical systems, including wiring, troubleshooting, and safety.
Understanding of light fixtures, dimming systems, and color mixing.
Ability to interpret musical and theatrical cues to create appropriate lighting effects.
Expertise in software used to control lighting systems, such as ETC, Avolites, and GrandMA.
Experience in creating lighting plots, including stage diagrams and patching diagrams.
Knowledge of light rigging and hoisting systems.
Strong communication and collaboration skills to work with directors, choreographers, and other production personnel.
Ability to manage multiple projects with tight deadlines.
Creative problem-solving skills.
Knowledge of theatrical scenery, props, and costumes to create a unified visual experience.

A Dance Lighting Designer is a highly skilled professional who is responsible for creating the atmosphere and visual setting of any performance. They are the ones who must take into account the mood, atmosphere and emotion of the dance piece and then use lighting to enhance that feeling. Lighting Designers must have a strong eye for detail, be aware of the latest technology in lighting design, and have excellent communication skills in order to work effectively with directors and choreographers.

They must be able to use their technical knowledge to quickly adapt to changes in the environment and be organized and efficient when creating the lighting design of a production. In addition, Dance Lighting Designers must be creative, have a good understanding of color, and have the ability to understand how light can be used to create the desired effect. Without the skill set and creativity from a Dance Lighting Designer, dance performances would lack the atmosphere and emotion necessary to make them successful.

Dance Company Touring Videographer, Dance Company Touring Artist, and Dance Production Manager are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have in Dance Lighting Design?
How do you typically go about designing a lighting scheme for a dance performance?
What techniques do you use to ensure that your designs are aesthetically pleasing?
Are you familiar with the latest lighting technologies and equipment used in Dance Lighting Design?
How do you collaborate with other creative team members on a project?
Do you have any experience working with automated lighting systems or other computer-controlled solutions?
What challenges have you faced in the past when designing Dance Lighting?
How do you stay up-to-date on new trends and techniques related to Dance Lighting Design?
How do you handle working under tight deadlines and budget constraints?
Describe a successful lighting design project you have completed in the past.

Common Tools in Industry

Lighting Console. A lighting console is a device used to control the intensity, color, and position of stage lighting. (eg: GrandMA2)
Dimmer Packs. A dimmer pack is a device used to control the intensity of electrical lights. (eg: Strand 500D)
Light Fixtures. Light fixtures are devices used to project light onto a stage. (eg: Color Kinetics iColor Accent)
Moving Lights. Moving lights are devices used to create dynamic lighting effects on stage. (eg: Martin Mac Viper)
Gobo Projectors. Gobo projectors are used to shape and project light onto a stage. (eg: Panasonic PT-DZ21KU)
Follow Spots. Follow spots are used to focus a beam of light onto a specific individual or object. (eg: Robert Juliat Aramis)
Gels & Diffusion. Gels and diffusion are used to add color and texture to a light beam. (eg: Lee Filters Color Effects)
Effects Machines. Effects machines are used to create special lighting effects like fog, haze, or bubbles. (eg: Antari Z-1200II)

Professional Organizations to Know

United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT)
Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA)
Association of Lighting Designers (ALD)
The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT)
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)
The League of Professional Theatre Lighting Designers (LPTLD)
The Moving Light Technicians Association (MLTA)
American Society of Cinematographers (ASC)
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE)
International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD)

We also have Dance Company Wardrobe Supervisor, Dance Company Tour Manager, and Dance Company Touring Merchandiser jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Lighting Plot. A detailed diagram of the lighting system and its associated lighting fixtures, cabling, and control systems.
DMX. Digital Multiplex, a kind of protocol used to control lighting fixtures and other devices.
Color Mixing. The process of combining different colors of light in order to create a desired effect.
Gobo Patterns. Small metal plates, with cutouts of various shapes and sizes, used to project patterns of light onto a stage.
Wash Lights. Lighting fixtures that emit a broad, even wash of colored light.
Follow Spot. A focused, manually operated light used to track performers on stage.
Intelligent Lights. Lighting fixtures that are capable of automatic programming and movement.
Special Effects Lighting. Lighting effects that are used to enhance the atmosphere or mood of a performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What qualifications do Dance Lighting Designers need? A1: Dance Lighting Designers typically need to have knowledge and experience in technical theatre and lighting design, as well as an understanding of the principles of dance and choreography. Q2: How does a Dance Lighting Designer enhance a performance? A2: A Dance Lighting Designer can create atmosphere and emphasize certain movements within a performance, helping to bring out the story or emotion of the piece. Q3: How many channels of control does a typical Dance Lighting system have? A3: Most Dance Lighting systems will have between 12 and 24 channels of control, allowing for a wide range of lighting effects. Q4: What is the most common type of fixture used in Dance Lighting? A4: Par cans (parabolic aluminized reflector cans) are the most common type of lighting fixtures used in Dance Lighting, due to their flexibility and affordability. Q5: What is gelling? A5: Gelling is the process of using colored filters (or gels) over lighting fixtures to achieve a specific color effect. Dance Lighting Designers use gels to help create atmosphere and emphasize movement.

Web Resources

Lighting Designer | Department of Theatre and Dance theatreanddance.appstate.edu
Lighting | Programs & Degrees | School of Theatre arts.ufl.edu
Lighting Design - Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama www.drama.cmu.edu