DJ, music producer and international superstar Armin van Buuren launched his new
“Armin Only’ spectacular at Amsterdam Ziggo Dome – Armin Only Embrace – once
again uniting the hugely talented technical and creative team that delivered the
“Armin Only – Intense’ world tour in 2014.

Central to the energy, excitement and emotion of the 4 hour trance extravaganza in
Amsterdam were 162 Robe moving lights – a megamix of Pointes, LEDWash 600s
and LEDBeam 100s – among other fixtures crafted into the visual landscape.

Embrace is another truly unique and imaginative immersive musical, visual and
sonic experience from the “State of Trance’ originator. Based on the new album and
its multiplicity of sounds, he and special guests – including impresario jazz
trumpeter Eric Vloeimans, rock band Kensington, singers from other musical genres
and eight dancers – will stun and amaze fans worldwide. The world class production
values demanded by the show … will be supplied locally.

This was one of the practical starting points for the lighting department, comprising
LDs Marc Heinz and Andre Beekmans (The Art of Light) who created the design, and
Armin’s long term lighting director on-the-road, Michael Seeverens also from The
Art of Light. Heinz, well known for his work in the arts and theatre world – was
again asked on-board by the show concept / creative director Jos Thie and AO
producers ALDA to bring a theatrical vibe to the lighting.

The impressive LED video screen upstage of Armin’s DJ booth was based on the new
Armin logo – a “closed’ version of the famous A.

Heinz worked closely with Beekmans, who is founder and lead designer of
Eindhoven based creative lighting & programming practice, The Art of Light, and as
a design tour-de-force, they collaborated with video director Carlo Ruijgers,
ambient / playback video content producers Eyesupply and stage / set designer
Sander Reneman from 250K.

The 74 x Pointes were dotted around on the overhead trusses and on the stage
floor. Twenty-four were dedicated to highlighting scenic elements around the
performance space, while the other 50 were in the grid above the stage and on the
stage deck – utilized for all the super-bright, funky effects at which they excel.
There was also a run of Pointes above the catwalk encasing it in an A-shaped cage
at certain moments.

The 60 x LEDBeam 100s were rigged on six slanted vertical trusses that extended
the A-shape widthways across the stage and wings.

The LEDWash 600s lit the dancers, with eight on the trusses above the thrust / B-
stage and the rest along the edges of the runway below.

Lighting equipment for the two Ziggo Dome launch gigs and two “sneak previews’ at
Brabanthallen in Den Bosch – following an intense three week production rehearsal
period – was supplied by leading Dutch rental company, The Purple Group.

“As a DJ/producer I want to connect people to this world full of inspiring
combinations. An endless universe of possibilities is waiting to be embraced.
Everything is possible’* says Armin … and it seems all the ingredients are in place
for another crazy year of AO touring.