Dance lighting

[dfinn]

Hi,

 

my school is having a dance show and one dance section needs to be UV lighted.

 

Basically in our school hall we are going to have a section of the hall floor for the dancers to use. We currently have 2 t-bars with 4 colour changers on each and we may be able to get 2 mac 250's to hang on a bar on the ceiling to the left of the area. we also need to uv light the area, we think that it would be a problem because we dont really want the audience to see the light and we want to only have the white masks and the shirts of the dancers to light up, noting else.

 

We also have 4 ITM lights that I think have a uv colour in but I dont think these are accesable to get down, would they be useful.

 

I thought If I got 2 more t-bars then we could have 2 colour changers on each bar on the 4 corners of the dance area.

 

sorry if this is a little vague but it is all the info I have at the monent,

 

P.S. WE HAVE VERY LITTLE FUNDING AND I THINK WE WILL ONLY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO HIRE 2 MAC 250'S AND THE UV'S

 

what kind of uv would we need, the area is about 10m square.

 

Daniel

[Brian]

Hi Daniel

 

for proper UV work you ideally need proper UV light sources. These normally come in two flavours; florescent tubes or a special lamp. The tubes will fit into normal fittings, the lamps need a special holder. Have a word with your local theatrical lighing company or disco hire company. For the area you describe I'd go with a 400W UV cannon, they have quite wide coverage so one should do.

[misterbassman]

I have a 400 watt UV cannon that I regularly use to light areas of this size, it is very effective. Its a griven UV wood 400 I think.

These require a hot feed

[Andrew C]

Two choices really.

 

1) UV strip light tubes in standard fittings. 4', can be hired (£12), or bought for about £20. Get reflectors for them if you don't want the tubes to be visible, but NOT diffusers. Wiring by someone competent. DON'T dim them, it doesn't work.

 

2) UV guns. Woods Glass bulb, VERY HOT. 400W, don't think these dim either. Hire for about £30/wk.

 

Edit

Blimey, two replies while I typed mine B-)

[vinny baby]

yeah, but ive had the problem before with UV cannons that they need time to strike and get to full brightness. Ive always found it better to use the strips!!

 

you can hire proper housings

 

as seen here

 

you could lay these on the floor around the performance area, the UV light will only be projected forward, so only the performers will be lit.

 

also B&Q have started selling UV tubes, it could be worth your while to invest in a couple of tubes, and a couple of floresent lamp holders, (£40 total ish)

 

vince

[Jon T]

Hey, just out of interest, is there any reason why you have chosen 2 go with the 250's? Not saying they are a bad choice, just interested.

 

cheers

jon

[dfinn]

Well, the drame teacher recomended them and she can get em cheap on hire I think

 

Daniel

[Just Some Bloke]

ive had the problem before with UV cannons that they need time to strike and get to full brightness.

 

 

... so strike them during the previous number - if it's bright enough no-one will notice!

 

Personally I find the cannons seem to have more poke, but I can see a good reason for just buying two 4' flourescent fittings from your local electrical wholesaler (much cheaper than B&Q) plus two u.v. tubes to go in them because then you'll have them for next time.

 

By the way, don't forget that for drama we look at faces so we bring the light in from above and in front, but for dance we look at body shapes so we bring the light in at body height and coming from the sides. Your scroller lanters would be best off doing this.

 

Have fun!