Little Mermaid Ballet Scenery | Using Digital Backdrops for Story Ballets
If you run a ballet company or dance school and the idea of projections feels exciting… but also a little intimidating… you’re in good company.
When Savannah Ballet first used projections in 2017 for a ballet version of The Little Mermaid (inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale), it wasn’t led by a tech department. It was led by an artistic vision — and a willingness to try something new.
Producer Abby McCuen says it best:
“I’m an artist, so I don’t do the technology piece very well.”
And yet, that production became the start of using digital backdrops and projection scenery to create immersive environments for story ballets.
This is what getting started with projection design for ballet really looks like.
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The Moment That Sparked It
Abby didn’t start with a technical plan. She started with inspiration.
After seeing projections used in another stage production of 'Beauty and the Beast', she saw the transformation and thought, “What was that?!” That moment opened the door to the idea that scenery didn’t have to be built physically to feel magical.
A simple search for projections led her to this world of digital scenery for dance, and soon after, the first collaboration began.
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“I’m Not a Tech Person” — And That’s Okay
One of the biggest myths around using projections in ballet is that you need to understand all the equipment yourself.
You don’t.
Abby’s approach was simple and practical:
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Find a local rental house that could provide high-lumen (brightness) projectors for theatre
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Bring in people who understood lighting and technical setup
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Focus on the artistic vision and storytelling
She didn’t try to become the projection expert. She built a team.
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It Takes a Village (Especially in Ballet)
This production worked because it wasn’t one person’s job.
It was:
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A projection designer creating the underwater worlds and environments
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A lighting designer shaping how the projections were perceived from the audience
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Rental partners providing the equipment
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Artistic leadership guiding the tone and story
That collaboration is key to successful ballet stage design with projections. Lighting alone can change the emotional feel of a projected scene without altering the image itself.
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Why Digital Backdrops Make Sense for Story Ballets
Story ballets like The Little Mermaid rely heavily on atmosphere. Underwater scenes, fantasy environments, shifting locations — these can be difficult and expensive to build physically.
Digital backdrops for ballet offer:
✔ Flexible environments without major set builds
✔ Quick visual changes between scenes
✔ Immersive storytelling worlds
✔ A way to support choreography without cluttering the stage
Instead of constructing and storing large scenic units, projections allow companies to focus time and energy on dancers and rehearsal.
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Your First Step Doesn’t Have to Be Big
You don’t have to redesign your entire production.
Many ballet companies begin by:
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Using projections for a key environment (ocean, sky, forest, palace)
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Supporting a magical or transformational moment
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Enhancing mood and tone in specific scenes
That’s how projections often enter dance productions — not as a full replacement for scenery, but as a powerful storytelling tool.
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A New Way to Think About Ballet Scenery
Projections aren’t about replacing artistry. They expand it.
For dance companies exploring projection design for dance productions, the real shift is mindset: you don’t need to be technical. You need vision, collaboration, and the willingness to try.
That’s how Savannah Ballet took their first step — and it opened a whole new visual language for their productions.
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Watch the Conversation
This story comes directly from a conversation between projection designer Mitch Stark and Savannah Ballet producer Abby McCuen about their first experience using digital backdrops for ballet.
If you’re a ballet director, producer, or dance educator curious about:
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ballet projections
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digital scenery for dance
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projection backdrops for story ballets
this is a great place to begin.
👉 Watch the full video at the top of this post
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Projections don’t have to start as a massive technical undertaking. Sometimes they begin with one inspired moment — and the right people at the table.
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