The production lighting designer is Manfred Ollie Olma, one of Germany's best known LDs.
His company, mo2 design GmbH, is also based in Köln, and has executive lighting designer & director of photography David Kreileman taking care of the week-to-week running of the show's lighting. He's working alongside mo2 project managers Sebastian Kirsch and Matthias Allhoff.
They are using 40 x Robe ColorSpot 2500E AT fixtures and 70 x ColorWash 2500E ATs, together with a large generic and white light rig including some 270 x 1K fresnels hung around the side walls for a special tungsten 'starlight' effect.
An important aspect of the lighting is to make the couples appear dynamic on screen without using too many potentially distracting lighting or video effects, at the same time highlighting their faces and accentuating the drama, tension and emotion of their performance.
The Robes are positioned above the dancefloor allowing them to easily reach all the various points of action, including the entrance steps that sweep around an eye-catching abstract diamond shaped video centrepiece at one end of the studio.
"It's a fine balance," says Allhoff. "This is a ballroom not a stage, so it requires a very specific approach and style". This combines elements from several different lighting disciplines - including theatre, cabaret and dance."
Lighting is controlled by three grandMA2 full size consoles - a main and backup for show lighting plus one for key lighting, with another completely separate one running video.
Lighting equipment is supplied by Cologne based Magic Sound & Light, the set and video design was created by Florian Wieder of Wieder Designs, and the series is directed by Marc Achterberg and broadcast live on Friday nights on RTL Television.
(Jim Evans)
