David Dawson presents his first work for The Royal Ballet

Similarly the previous collaborations with David Dawson, Eno Henze has designed the set for the new The Human Seasons performance that debuted at the Royal Opera House in November this year. Designed minimal to eliminate competition between set and dance, the custom build stage, 9.2m , 15m high, wide & 1 deep, consists of six separate gold and black-translucent panels, divided in golden ratio proportions. The stage has a backdrop for atmospheric and emotionally resonant choreography that draws on classical ballet idioms and produces a breathtaking spectacle that only Eno and David Dawson could craft. 

The live music is by composer Greg Haines and combines projection mapping with slide projection. The design includes 2 off BP6 PANI large format slide projectors for the side walls (6 for 6000-watts HMI bulb) that transform the stage. Even though these slide projectors are mostly out of use, because its so much easier to create content for video, their brightness is ‘unrivalled‘, around 80k ANSI for the BP6 and that specific lens. In addition, 2 x 12k video projectors are stacked for the back wall creating a slow paced transition from geometrically shaped construction to augmented shadows that split the monoliths. None of this happens all of a sudden, instead as you focus your attention on the dancers, the stage transforms creating places to hide, reveal and highlight.

Choreography: David Dawson
Music: Greg Haines
Set designs: Eno Henze
Costume designs: Yumiko Takeshima
Lighting design: Bert Dalhuysen