Central to the energy, excitement and emotion of the four-hour trance extravaganza in Amsterdam were 162 Robe moving lights - a megamix of Pointes, LEDWash 600s and LEDBeam 100s - among other fixtures crafted into the visual landscape.
The world class production values demanded by the show were supplied locally.
This was one of the practical starting points for the lighting department, comprising LDs Marc Heinz and André Beekmans (The Art of Light) who created the design, and Armin's long term lighting director on-the-road, Michael Seeverens also from The Art of Light. Marc, well known for his work in the arts and theatre world - was again asked on-board by the show concept / creative director Jos Thie and AO producers ALDA to bring a theatrical vibe to the lighting.
The impressive LED video screen upstage of Armin's DJ booth was based on the new Armin logo - a 'closed' version of the famous A.
Marc worked closely with André, who is founder and lead designer of Eindhoven based creative lighting & programming practice, The Art of Light, and as a design tour-de-force, they collaborated with video director Carlo Ruijgers, ambient / playback video content producers Eyesupply and stage / set designer Sander Reneman from 250K.
The 74 x Pointes were dotted around on the overhead trusses and on the stage floor. Twenty-four were dedicated to highlighting scenic elements around the performance space, while the other 50 were in the grid above the stage and on the stage deck - utilized for all the super-bright, funky effects at which they excel. There was also a run of Pointes above the catwalk encasing it in an A-shaped cage at certain moments.
The 60 x LEDBeam 100s were rigged on six slanted vertical trusses that extended the A-shape widthways across the stage and wings.
The LEDWash 600s lit the dancers, with eight on the trusses above the thrust / B-stage and the rest along the edges of the runway below.
The results of all these collective imaginations and the innovative mixed-media approach enthralled 34,000 fans at the Ziggo Dome over two nights, and will go on to do the same internationally as Armin and AO Embrace/s the world.
Unlike Intense that was 95% indoors, around 50% of the Embrace shows will be staged outside, so the lighting design and specification needed to address this too. "We chose only the most reliable fixtures in our experience" stated Andre, "and this included the Robes."
Just as the show reveals multiple layers and depths as it unfolds, with the dancers, singers and musicians each adding new dynamic twists to the action, it was important that different areas of the stage were lit as individual spaces with their own definition. The audience is connected further by being lit and drawn into the action.
Lighting equipment for the two Ziggo Dome launch gigs and two 'sneak previews' at Brabanthallen in Den Bosch - following an intense three-week production rehearsal period - was supplied by leading Dutch rental company, The Purple Group.
(Jim Evans)
