Robe MMX Spots on Israeli Edition of Dancing with the Stars

The Israeli television lighting designer Ofer Jacobi specified ROBIN MMX Spots, together with LEDWash 1200 and 600s for the latest series of Israel's edition of Dancing With the Stars, now in its seventh series.

. Jacobi has lit all seven editions of the show to date, and each one has featured Robe moving lights, as it is currently his moving light brand of choice. However, this was the first time that any of his lighting designs have included MMX Spots and Robin 1200 LEDWashes -- all of which are supplied by Danor Rental.

Dancing With the Stars Is recorded in Studio 1 of the GG Studio Complex in Jerusalem, the country's largest TV production facility.

The set is designed by Avi Fahima, with the basic elements styled on the original classic BBC version (known as Strictly Come Dancing, with a new video theme added for the Israeli series, consisting of scenic LED panels running around all of the set and audience seating. There is also a large LED screen upstage of the band position at one end of the dance floor.

The 96-sq.-m. dance floor is the heart of the action, and is surrounded by a live audience of about 300.

This year, Jacobi wanted to completely reinvent the set lighting, and having the new MMX Spots on board was a key to his creative vision in terms of enabling him to produce complex and spectacular animations on the dance floor. This key aesthetic is used throughout each episode, which is divided into several segments, each of which has a unique feel.

He comments, "When everyone, including all on the production team, saw the MMXs in action, it was clear they surpassed all expectations both in impact and the variety they brought to the show." He admits that it even slightly surprised him just "how amazing and bright" the results are.

The dance floor looks are really noticeable on all the cameras shots, particularly the overheads, and using the MMX units in this very dynamic way means it becomes far more of a centrepiece than in the past. Each segment of the show can also have its own unique patterns and combinations.

There are also 12 LEDWash 1200s overhead, which are used to flood the dancefloor with multicolour washes together with four LEDWash 600s, plus some other beam moving lights and a selection of generics.

All the lighting is controlled by Yaron Shoosh, using a Compulite Vector Red console.

The show is broadcast live on Thursdays and Saturdays on Channel 2. It is directed by Benni Carmelay and produced by Gil Productions.