Robe Lights Watan Al Ahlam Event

	Set of Watan Al Ahlam (Country of Dreams), a musical event staged by the UAE Ministry of Education using Robe luminaires.

UAE-based lighting designer Terry Miranda specified over 120 Robe fixtures to realize an eye-catching design for Watan Al Ahlam (Country of Dreams), a musical performance staged by the UAE Ministry of Education at the Dubai World Trade Center.

Students from schools across the UAE participated in the event directed by a team of Emirati professionals. This enabled them to showcase their talents in front of an invitation-only audience comprising high ranking government officials and locals.

The Robe lights -- along with the complete technical production -- were all supplied by Dubai-based Lighthouse Productions of which Miranda is also a founder / director. Lighthouse has a large rental stock of Robe, and Miranda is one of the leading lighting designers in the country, working on a diverse selection of productions.

The stage design was based on a futuristic theme, with video projection mapped to a large backdrop setting the scene with dramatic visuals. This set up was also Miranda's starting point for the lighting.

The trussing lines mirrored the wedged-shaped stage arranged in triplicate decreasing perspective, with each run of trussing a slightly different size all adding to the depth and perceived height of the performance space.

All the moving lights in the rig were Robe.

The fixture count included 12 Robin MMX WashBeams, 24 Robin 300 Beam Classics, six ColorSpot 2500E Ats, 12 ColorSpot 1200E Ats, 28 ColorWash 575E Ats, 18 ColorSpot 575E Ats, and 24 ColorMix 240s.

The lighting was split into five sections. The rear truss followed the curve of the backdrop and was rigged with 14 of the ColorWash 575E Ats, 12 ColorSpot 1200E Ats, and 16 of the Robin 300 Beams.

On the largest 18m triangular truss above the stage were four more ColorWash 575E Ats, six Robin 300 Beams, two of the MMX WashBeams, and another four ColorSpot 1200E Ats.

On the smaller 12m triangle were ColorWash 575s, the remaining Robin 300 Beams, a couple of ColorSpot 1200E Ats, and four Robin MMX WashBeams.

On the smallest six-meter triangle were four ColorWash 575E Ats and two ColorSpot 575E Ats.

The front truss featured six MMX WashBeams, the six ColorSpot 2500E Ats, and eight ColorWash 575E Ats.

All the trusses were toned by Satellite LED bricks which accentuated the architecture of the rig very effectively.

Miranda is said to especially likes the MMX WashBeams, a relatively new addition to Lighthouse's hire stock. He saw the WashBeam in action for the first time at the 2013 PALME Dubai exhibition, and placed an order.

Robe's Middle East office headed by ME regional sales manager Elie Battah then ensured that the new units were delivered to Lighthouse in time for this show.

They were used as beams and washes as well as shuttered down tightly for specific scenes. They were also used for spotting and gobo work. "It's the first time I have been able to achieve so much from one fixture," Miranda declares. "They are hugely versatile and I'm delighted with them," he enthused, adding "They are an absolute dream to work with -- so multi-functional and so light in weight!"

In fact, he could easily envision producing an entire lighting design with MMX WashBeams as the designer can effortlessly move between a spot, a wash, or a beam fixture and achieve so much more dynamics ... with fewer lights.

He was said to be impressed with the intensity, the beam shaping, and the shutter framing, which allowed artists to be pinpointed almost anywhere on the stage. His only regret was "Not having enough MMX WashBeams on the show!"

The lights were programmed by Adrian Guzmann using Jands Vista T2 and L5 consoles. The show's production and video content designers were Lighthouse's Mohammad Tameem and Rizwan Zafar.

The operetta was televised live on Dubai TV and Sama Dubai and attended by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Lighthouse subsequently received an Award from the Ministry of Education for their "outstanding work" on this event.

Miranda and Lighthouse's relationship with Robe dates back to 2003. He reckons that investing in the Robe brand has helped Lighthouse maintain its reputation for award winning lighting and production designs over that time by "Supporting us with outstanding products and service."

See Robe at PLASA Focus: Austin, September 10-11.