LONDON — A 15-way Kinesys automation system was put into motion recently on the U.K. arena tour version of the TV hit, Strictly Come Dancing. For the tour, called Strictly Come Dancing Live, the Kinesys system was specified by production director Andy Gibbs with producer Phil McIntyre Productions. It followed in the footsteps of the six-way Kinesys system used for the previous year’s tour.
The equipment was once again supplied direct from Kinesys. Gibbs cited seamless operation for choosing to go with Kinesys once again. The system consisted of 15 half tonne Liftket motors and Kinesys Elevation 1+ controllers, plus a Vector control system that’s being operated by Barry Branford.
Six custom chandeliers, suspended from a box truss in the center of the dance floor, move individually. Eight small mirror balls on single points around the outside of the dance floor and a large 2.5 meter mirror ball right in the center of the dance floor are also automated. All elements move independently.
The chandeliers flew in once at the start of the second half for the Pro Dance, one of the show’s big production numbers. The mirror balls were used twice, first during the Moulin Rouge section two thirds of the way through the second half, when they glided into four different positions, and then again in the finale, just for a single move.
The large mirror ball also flew in and out for the Moulin Rouge and finale sections.
Branford, who gives the Kinesys system points for being flexible and user-friendly, has used the system on many previous occasions, including the 2008 Queen & Paul Rodgers tour.
For more information, please visit www.kinesys.co.uk.
