Mexico. Daring acrobatic performers are as much a part of a circus as jugglers and clowns. This is especially true at Gran Circo Bardu, which, having no animals on its track, relies heavily on the amazing feats of physical prowess of its acrobats to thrill the audience.
These agile artists are not the only ones performing delicate balancing acts at Gran Circo Bardu. As a lighting designer at the popular circus, Abraham De La Cruz Mérida must also walk a kind of tightrope. With no backdrop or stage within the circular track, you have to create texture with lighting alone; but at the same time, you also need to be very careful not to distract the performers while performing their carefully choreographed routines.
A collection of four Rogue R3 Spot and four Rogue R2X Wash from the circus-owned Chauvet Professional help you thread the needle between these demands and create stunning visual effects that support the stars during a one-hour acrobatic demo.
The eight attachments are arranged discreetly around the circular track, which has a circumference of 14 meters (just under 46 feet). From these positions, the luminaires, grouped into pairs of dots and washes, create a vivid tapestry of patterns and colors that enhance the impact of the representations.
"Our Rogue R3 Spots make use of crisp, pleasing gobos that help define the area of action," Abraham said. "In a circus, gobos are important for design, because you don't have the stage pieces that you have in most shows. Gobo patterns help define space."
In addition to projecting attractive gobo patterns, Rogue R3 Spot devices join Rogue R2X Wash units to create a variety of environments on the track with color. Mastering the color scheme and giving an extra intense air to circus shows, you will find ingenious mixtures of striking primary colors.
"I love the combination of red and yellow because of the contrast and because in theory it means energy and joy," Abraham said. "To me, this is something that makes a statement; the timing of the show is perfect."
When creating these attractive looks, Abraham must be careful that their lighting does not distract the artists. "The biggest challenge is to make artists feel comfortable," he said. "Artists perform very precise movements under pressure, so we don't want to do anything that interferes with their vision. My mentor Ernesto De la Cruz has been a very good teacher in showing me how to succeed in this balancing act."
The "balancing act" Abraham learned to perform may not be as dramatic as the acrobatic feats displayed on the tarmac, but by skillfully navigating different demands with such skill and style, it helps make a day in this high-flying circus that is much more memorable.
