Inside DEViATE’s 5-City Dance Tour: How Starlite Delivered Seamless Production Every Step of the Way

Inside DEViATE’s 5-City Dance Tour: How Starlite Delivered Seamless Production Every Step of the Way

Inside DEViATE’s 5-City Dance Tour: How Starlite Delivered Seamless Production Every Step of the Way

Five Cities, One Seamless Experience: How Starlite’s Jeff Bettencourt Elevated The Deviate Dance Competition Experience

 

From the very beginning, Deviate Dance Competition knew they wanted to take their dance tour on the road. But touring isn’t just about reproducing identical shows —it’s about creating a high-quality AV and lighting experience in each city, no matter the room, layout, or crew dynamics. That’s where Starlite shines.

In 2025, Deviate’s tour spanned five cities:

Dulles, VA

Atlantic City, NJ

Spartanburg, SC

King of Prussia, PA

Troy, MI

Each stop brought its own unique challenges—from ballrooms with low ceilings to convention halls with strict timelines. But Jeff and the Starlite team delivered a seamless setup every time. Whether it was the first show of the year or the final weekend of the tour, the lighting, stage, and energy were consistent—because the prep, planning, and partnership never wavered. Since 2022 the partnership between Starlite and Deviate has blossomed into something much deeper than logistics and lighting. That kind of collaboration doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from mutual trust, deep preparation, and a shared sense of purpose: to make events that matter.

“I’m not just some guy that shows up with the stage and lights. I’m part of their crew, their family. I’ve worked with some of them for over three years now, and they’ll jump in and help with anything—even if it’s not technically their job.”

Jeff Bettencourt

Laying the Groundwork for Flawless Execution

Every Deviate weekend begins well before the first dancer takes the stage. Jeff’s prep starts weeks in advance—reviewing floor plans, communicating with venues, specifying the AV and lighting equipment and accounting for every detail.

“The reason things go smoothly on-site is because we’ve put in the hours ahead of time,” Jeff explains. “From gear pulls to packing to coordinating with the venue staff—it’s all about prep. That’s what eliminates surprises.”

That level of diligence is essential when you’re touring five different cities, each with its own venue quirks. Whether it’s a hotel ballroom or a sprawling convention center, Jeff adapts the production plan to the room, the stage size, the dancer count—even the local prop dimensions. When things are seamlessly happening, it’s usually because people are working together and planning was done right-and that’s what Starlite’s Event Technology team prides itself on.

AV and Lighting Gear That Works As Hard As the Dancers

Starlite provides full production support: a 28’x48’ stage, performance lighting, and technical expertise throughout the weekend. Lighting design is clean and impactful—designed to make every dancer shine, whether in person or on the live stream.

Key gear includes:

  • ETC Ion XE console

  • Chauvet MK2 Spot fixtures with custom Deviate gobos

  • GLP X4 bars and Martin Mac Aura XBs
  • ETC Source4wrd Lekos and Chauvet Ovation Lekos
  • 100′ of 20×20 truss and 150′ of black velour drape

     

Interested in our equipment…check out our rental catalog!

 

The custom gobos add an immersive brand element, with Jeff able to project Deviate’s logo anywhere in the room, changing colors and positions dynamically throughout the day. The goal at the end of the day is to make the dancers feel confident on stage. Lighting is key to add the elements needed for the performers to feel their best and perform their best.

Leading With Experience—and Enthusiasm

Jeff’s role goes far beyond technical direction. He leads with trust, flexibility, and a calm, seasoned approach that sets the tone for everyone on site.

His crew is a hybrid: Starlite technicians and Deviate staff who double as AV and lighting production support. Over time, Jeff has built a system of clearly assigned roles that keep things moving efficiently and safely on this dance tour.

“One of the best lessons I’ve learned is not to judge a book by its cover,” he says. “The Deviate crew might be dancers by trade, but they work just as hard and effectively as any tech crew I’ve worked with.”

This shared commitment is what transforms a production into a partnership. And it’s why Starlite has become a trusted part of Deviate’s DNA.

Impact That Lasts Long After the Final Curtain

The Deviate Dance Competition draws over 1,000 dancers and more than 50 studios. It’s not just a competition—it’s a celebration of art, effort, and growth. Dancers compete one day, then spend two more days taking masterclasses with professionals from Broadway, cruise ships, and theme parks. It’s high-energy, high-impact, and high-stakes for the kids involved.

“Success to me is seeing those kids smiling on stage,” Jeff says. “Knowing that we helped create a moment they’ll remember forever—that’s what it’s all about.”

 

That heart—shared by Jeff, the Event Technology team, and everyone at Starlite—is what powers every production we’re a part of. From dance competitions to concerts to corporate meetings, we don’t lose sight of what these events mean to the people attending them.

We bring quality gear, yes. We bring skill, absolutely. But above all, we bring our niche enthusiasm and energy for the world of AV and lighting.

Looking Ahead

As Deviate continues to grow, Jeff and the Starlite team are already planning ways to streamline load-ins, evolve the lighting design, and add subtle but meaningful upgrades that keep the event fresh year after year. With another city added to the tour in 2026 and thousands more dancers to inspire, this is more than just a show. It’s a shared journey. And Starlite is proud to be along for the ride.

Want to partner with Starlite on your next event?

National Bible Bee Competition

National Bible Bee Competition

National Bible Bee Competition

About the National Bible Bee:


The National Bible Bee Competition is an annual event that combines faith, education, and community through religious study. With participants from across the nation, the event highlights the dedication and talent of young contestants competing for top prizes and scholarships. 

Project Overview:


Starlite has proudly partnered with the National Bible Bee Competition for the past two years, delivering professional AV and lighting support to ensure the event’s success. In 2024, our team faced unique challenges when the originally planned venue in North Carolina was rendered inaccessible due to devastating damage from hurricane Helene. Starlite pivoted as per the new requirements to a new venue in Florida, showcasing our adaptability and commitment to excellence.

Challenges:

Venue Change: With the original location unavailable, the event’s logistics had to be reimagined in a compressed timeline.

High Stakes: Since contestants are pursuing large prizes, the stakes are high and the event’s AV and lighting should be seamless so as to not interfere with the goal of the competition. The National Bible Bee’s programming includes speakers, contestants, and audience engagement, requiring exceptional sound clarity, lighting precision, and visual support.

Our Solutions:

Preliminary Planning and Coordination: Despite the challenges, our event team quickly reorganized plans and worked closely with all stakeholders to accommodate the venue shift. We ensured clear communication and a seamless setup in Florida.

Professional AV Equipment: Starlite provided video projection, full audio support, IMAG, and scenic integration.

Dynamic Lighting and Visual Support: Lighting plays a vital role in setting the tone for each session of the event. Starlite’s team implemented the lighting designer and programmer, Paul Turner’s,  brilliant vision and plan that enhanced the ambiance, creating an engaging environment akin to a gameshow style of lighting.

Results:

Seamless Transition:


The event successfully took place at the new venue without compromising quality or schedule.

Positive Feedback:


Contestants, speakers, and attendees praised the technical quality and production value of the event.

Strengthened Partnership:


This project further solidified Starlite’s relationship with the National Bible Bee, demonstrating our reliability and commitment.

 Stage and Controls

Why Starlite? With over 40 years of experience in AV and lighting, Starlite is equipped to handle events of any size and complexity. Our team’s dedication to client satisfaction, professionalism, and adaptability makes us a trusted partner for large-scale productions nationwide.

Whether it’s navigating unforeseen challenges or enhancing the experience of every guest and participant, Starlite ensures exceptional results every time. We’re proud to support meaningful events like the National Bible Bee and look forward to continuing our partnership for years to come.

Want to partner with Starlite on your next event?

Democratic National Convention

Democratic National Convention

Democratic National Convention

To welcome the Democratic National Convention hosted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from July 25th to 28th, 2016, the city commissioned a special lighting project to vividly illuminate Philly’s two historic landmarks: 30th Street Station and City Hall.

To welcome the Democratic National Convention hosted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from July 25th to 28th, 2016, the city commissioned a special lighting project to vividly illuminate Philly’s two historic landmarks: 30th Street Station and City Hall.

Starlite and The Lighting Practice of Philadelphia had the honor of collaborating on this fun project. The lighting design for each landmark dictated a combination of powerful LED wash lights and long-throw profile units to project of various patriotic patterns and elements. Being both impactful and weatherproof were critical when specifying the equipment for the month-long project. After careful consideration, Starlite’s VP of Event Technology: Jason Danowitz, chose SGM‘s P5 high-performance outdoor LED wash units, and Clay Paky’s Mythos fixtures housed in Igloo enclosures as the real workhorses of the design.

Supplying power to 30th Street Station’s glowing display was no easy feat. It required boring multiple 48″ deep holes into the roadway to reach the power source. The 30th Street Station design also featured an interior lighting package to illuminate the east and west windows using dozens of Elation‘s Color Chorus linear RGBA fixtures and an ETC Ion console.

For City Hall and the Avenue of the Arts’ architectural system, MA Lighting International GmbH’s full-size grandMA2 with an NPU processor was the console of choice. City Hall had its own challenges — the wireless DMX transceivers were almost a half-mile from the control room to the receiving point at City Hall. Starlite was able to take control of the existing architectural LED lighting system which runs along the Avenue of the Arts to coordinate the lighting looks and sequences with City Hall. The interconnected lighting systems created a beautiful radiant sight of red, white and blue down South Broad Street.

The lighting displays were widely praised by the media and captivated DNC attendees, visitors, and natives alike.