Original Article ISSN (Online): 2582-7472 ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts January-June 2023 4(1), 356–362 How to cite this article (APA): Basa, M. (2023). Lighting Design Schemes and Colours in Dance Performances: The Magical Illusion. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 4(1), 356–362. doi: 10.29121/shodhkosh.v4.i1.2023.289 356 LIGHTING DESIGN SCHEMES AND COLOURS IN DANCE PERFORMANCES: THE MAGICAL ILLUSION Dr. Murali Basa 1 1 Assistant Professor, Department of Performing Arts, Asaam University, Silchar, Assam, India ABSTRACT Dance is a creative expression of movements, patterns, and stories they perform. The lighting design contributes to a complete theatrical experience for the audience by highlighting and framing every movement in each dance piece at the right moment. In solos and duets, lighting can emphasize this intimacy by using different spotlights in a particular area and it can make the rest of the stage dark. Different lighting fixtures will help by adding texture to the dance performances. The ambient lighting helps to set the scene, often shadow lighting, and backlighting produces striking images to elevate the body lines and also emphasize the shapes and angles. Few dance groups perform with the integrity of new technologies and Body. This article aims to attempt a definitive and comprehensive illustration of how light design plays an important role in contemporary performances. The lighting design as an art form within the theater is certainly a creative process that illuminates the performer's body to create a visual bonanza experienced by the spectator. In contemporary dance performances, it became an essential illustrative medium rather than decorative elements like in some traditional dance performances. Lighting design is a scenic art in contemporary dance performances concerned with atmosphere and 'body form' in relation to the performance space. The lighting design for a performance with a style and colour on a performer's body creates the magical illusion that is being experienced by the audience. Combinations of lighting design styles and body pigment are crucial and Indian contemporary dance groups adopted such technologies and make some interesting performances. This study analyzes how lighting design influences dance works as a creative approach to performance-making. Blending of costume, makeup, set, interactive media, and lighting design is an added advantage that we can observe in these Indian contemporary Performances. This paper analyzes how lighting design and dance are an integral part of a colorful performance. Received 28 January 2023 Accepted 13 April 2023 Published 18 April 2023 Corresponding Author Dr. Murali Basa, muralibasa@gmail.com DOI 10.29121/shodhkosh.v4.i1.2023.289 Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. With the license CC-BY, authors retain the copyright, allowing anyone to download, reuse, re-print, modify, distribute, and/or copy their contribution. The work must be properly attributed to its author. Keywords: Lighting Design, Dance Performance, Contemporary Dance, Indian Dances, Performance Body 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. LIGHTING DESIGN AND THE DANCE The lighting design history is a variety of approaches to lighting ranging from each period. The lighting design was assumed as the domain of techno craft rather art form. The lighting design is treated as the controlling of light in theater, as in the early 1950s, in western countries, most of the designers emerged from the production house but these designers emerged from the industry that produces the equipment. The advanced improvement in the technology industry created a new