Denmark’s Peter Schaufuss Ballet Adds Martin Power and Flexibility to Touring Rig

One of Scandinavia’s premiere ballet companies, The Peter Schaufuss Ballet based in Holstebro, Denmark is a top-class touring troupe that was established 10 years ago by renowned ballet dancer, choreographer and director Peter Schaufuss. Peter was the artistic director of the English National Ballet, Deutsche Oper and the Royal Danish Teatre before creating his own ballet company in 1997. The company tours nationally and internationally with new productions staged every year.

Since 2005 lighting design for the Ballet has been handled by Technical Manager and Chief of Lighting, Bo Kudsk Kristensen. Bo, who has traditionally had a large conventional lighting rig at his disposal, welcomed the addition last year of a Martin automated lighting package consisting of 17 MAC 2000 Performance and 17 MAC 2000 Wash fixtures.

In 2006 Peter Schaufuss initiated collaboration with the famous British cartoonist Gerald Scarfe who created part of the scenography for SATISFACTION, Peter Schaufuss’ dance concert based on the music of the Rolling Stones. SATISFACTION is an energetic show of dance, music, light, colors and exciting costumes that has been described as ‘a nostalgic rush’ with Scarfe's scenography intermixing with light from the Martin luminaires to produce a look that reflects the same stage lighting The Rolling Stones use on their world tours.

“I try to fit Peter Schaufuss’ wishes and choreography,” explains Bo Kudsk Kristensen. “For SATISFACTION we chose the MAC 2000 series because of the high light output, and the color mixing is the same in both the Wash and Performance which makes for more uniform color looks.

“The MAC 2000 Performance is exceptional because of all the possibilities it offers. The beam shaper is a great effect in designs with dancers on stage and the animation wheel works very fine on Harlequin dance floors. The barndoors are a great help too.”

Supplied locally by Martin Scandinavia, in 2007 the Martin gear will also be used in Dansens Teater, the company’s new venue in Holstebro.