June 26, 2002 -- An international lighting company's Web page is highlighting a University
of Wyoming Theatre and Dance Department production.
SGM, an Italian lighting firm, shows photos and describes the hi-tech lighting system
used in "Carmina Burana," a multimedia, technological work of choreography and music,
performed last fall at UW. The complete feature can be seen at www.sgm usa.com/pictures/cb/cb.html
Patricia Tate, professor in the UW Department of Theatre and Dance, was the choreographer
on the original ballet that explored the collaboration of state-of the art 21st century
lighting and technology with classical/contemporary ballet. The work incorporated
more than $300,000 in loaned lighting and technical equipment for lighting, projection,
acoustic imaging, graphics and design.
"One of our goals was to experiment with high-end theatre technology, and see how
well it could be applied in a highly classical production," said Tate.
New Century Lighting, exclusive U.S. distributors of the SGM line of automated luminaries,
sponsored the production. The program was among the first to adapt for classical dance
the moving lighting fixtures used in rock and roll concert lighting and the theatre.
"Until now, moving fixtures have simply been too noisy to operate in such an intimate
setting," said Gary Shepherd, production lighting designer. "This gives us the opportunity
to use the extended capabilities of these fixtures to help achieve the full impact
of what dance brings to the audience."
Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002
