Deck Review: Dancing in the Dark Tarot

Gianfranco Pereno (art) and Lunaea Weatherstone (writer), Dancing in the Dark Tarot. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2021. ISBN: 9780738769592. 

Genre: Tarot decks

Subgenre: Tableaux vivant

Format: 78-card deck and little white book

Source: I own this one  

The High Priestess- II

 I first used this deck during February 2025. The deck comes in a tuck box with a little white book (LWB) and the 78-card deck. 

The LWB is written in four languages: English, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. The LWB has 64 pages, and 25 pages are in English. The LWB includes a description of the deck's concept, a brief look at Tarot structure, the card meanings starting with the Major Arcana followed by the suits. The Major Arcana entries include a sentence or two of interpretation and a short list of key meanings. The Minor Arcana entries include just a short interpretation. 

The deck's concept, according to the LWB, is based on tableaux vivants (living pictures) where actors silently pose to create a scene. These are brief scenes where stage lights come up, you see the scene, then the lights go out again. 

The cards do show the tableau vivant art well. You get an image in mostly black and white with a prominent color. For example, in the Queen of Swords, gold is prominent in her throne and sword and red in her hair. There is a small glow, as if the light hits the scene, surrounded by darkness. We get brief moments in time. I thought initially this would be a black and white deck, but it has a good amount of colors in selected areas. The result is that the dark makes the colors pop, making for a modestly colorful deck. The art has an overall realistic style. The art is well within Rider Waite Smith (RWS) tradition, so if you read in RWS, you'll be good to go. 

Two of Pentacles

I found the deck to be a straightforward, reliable deck. I found that it draws you in; you just want to spend some time looking at the scenes. I enjoyed using the deck over the month, and it is a deck I would use again. 

Note that some cards have artistic nudity. I think it is well done, but I mention it for those who may need to know. 

The cards measure about 4 3/4 inches by 2 1/2 inches. Cards have a very soft gloss, and they shuffle with ease. Art has a thin narrow brown border, like an art frame. The card back is a bit baroque in style, and it is not reversible. 

Overall, I really like the deck. As I wrote, I would use it again. It can work whether you use it privately or to read for others. I am glad to have it in my collection, and I would recommend it. 

4 out of 5 stars.