Le Mondial SAQ 2004
Montréal International Fireworks Competition Report

China Saturday July 17^th, 2004 Dragons and Butterflies

Sunny International Co. Ltd. [Gold Jupiter 1992] Designed by Jim Shih, choreographed by Eric Tucker, Pyrodigital firing; Show Director choreography; 2873 cues

Sunny International is a family firm with more than 15 years of experience in the art of pyrotechnics. At previous appearances at the Montréal International Fireworks Competition in 1992 and 1993, it won a Gold Jupiter and Silver Jupiter. For its fifth visit to Montréal, Sunny International will present "Dragons and Butterflies", a flamboyant Chinese-style pyromusical extravaganza that combines tradition and innovation, and allows Montréal audiences to get a better understanding of Chinese culture.

A late afternoon thunderstorm did nothing to dampen enthusiasm for this highly anticipated display. The weather behaved itself and we were treated to a perfect summer's evening as the Chinese Embassy's Minister gave a speach dreaming of the day when the only gun fire and smoke comes from celebrations with fireworks.

Part 1 to the music Ballad of Picking Tea Leaves. The display began with a front of huge mines and caused gasps of amazement from the audience. Then shells of pink stars above followed by shells of bees at a lower level. Next shells of electric crackling comets with shells of bees below these. This theme continued and was followed by long burning shells of large red stars and then shells of stars with crackling pistils. Fans of stars in the centre with shells of crackling comets above were followed by more of the long burning red shells and then shells and mines of bees. Next huge comet shells and then shells of go-getter comets which appeared to be like a kind of tourbillon. More shells of electric crackling comets and shells with stars and crackling pistils and then a return to the slow burn red shells and then shells of bees below. This theme continued and was followed by mines of bright high comets with meteor headed comet shells above. Then shells of crackling electric comets and a fan of stars in the centre, the segment coming to a close with a barrage of large comet shells.

Part 2 to the music Pupils. Three overlapping fans of comets opened up with shells of strobes above. Then shots of charcoal comets with fireflies and strobe bombettes. Above these, shells of clusters of green falling stars. This theme continued and then a return to the three overlapping fans of comets as shells of comets with strobe pistils fired above. Next, fans of green go-getters with shells of the tourbillon-like go-getters above. This theme continued and then a return to the three fans of comets with strobe shells above. These were followed by shells of gently bursting silver clusters of comets which trailed over like kamuros. Then shells of strobes and shells with comets and strobing pistils followed by a return to the silver kamuro cluster shells. These were followed by shells of crossette comets with cakes of crossettes and strobes below, the segment coming to a close with shells of crossettes and a front of mines of strobes.

Part 3 to the music Orchis Grass. This section began with shells with a blue ring and gold comet pistils which turned into gold niagara falls. Below these, fans of steel-blue headed comets and more niagara falls shells above. Then more of the blue ring and gold comet-to-niagara falls shells with fans of comets below and then shells of gold comets turning to steel blue. Below these, shells of charcoal comets with fireflies and more pale gold niagara falls shells above. This theme continued with more broccade comet to blue shells above and then shells of broccade comets with blue pistils, the segment coming to a close with very high and bright pale gold niagara falls shells trailing to the lake to cheers from the audience.

Part 4 to the music Improvisation Drums. Colour mines fired left and right, then centre, then left and right moving in to the centre getting faster and faster in perfect synchronization with the drums of the soundtrack. Then shells of tourbillons and serpents and barrages of ring shells. Next fans of mines below and then shells of rings of comets with alternating colours between the stars. More shells of serpents and then criss-crossing mine bursts below and a return to barrages of ring shells above. Very tightly synchronized burst of mines in Vs and then the promised pattern shells of three-dimensional cubes above! More fans of mines below and a return to barrages of ring shells and shells of rings of comets above. This theme continued and then shells of multiple intersection rings, the segment coming to a close with a front of mines.

Part 5 to the music Butterfly Lovers. A line of strobes lit up at the back of the display area and then another line of strobes on ramp three. Crossed meteor headed comets were augmented by large silver shells above with pistils turning to strobes. Then shells of go-getters and meteor comet shots angled to the left and then angled to the right. Comet shots on the notes moving from left to right and then increasing in pace to exactly match the fast note runs in the music. Next shells of charcoal firefly comets turning to gold glitter and strobes. These were followed by a sequence of shells of crackling comets trailing to the lake and shells of go-getters and then angled comet shots left and right. More shells of charcoal comet fireflies turning to gold strobes and bursts of comets left and right below. Note sequenced comets with fans of comets in the centre and then shells of gold strobes above. These were followed by huge shells of electric crackling comets trailing to the lake, then the same with pistils and then shells shaped like butterrflies with gold glitter comets and pistils.

Part 6 to the music The Dance Music of Yao. Cakes of comets opened on ramp five with mines of bees on ramp three and above in shells. Then shells of gold comets above with shells of bees below as the music became serene fans of comets on ramp five. Cakes of comets fired behind these and then shells of gold meteor comets and salutes. Cakes of silver crossettes were followed by shells of lemon stars and shells of comets with pistils. These were followed by large shells of crossettes and front of mines brining the segment to a close.

Part 7 to the music Chinese Folk Music. Shells of crossing stars fired with mines below and then shells of the tourbillon-like go-getters. This theme continued and then was followed by large shells with pistils. Shells bursting to titanium salutes were followed by shells of lemon stars and then shells of with pistils and charcoal comets turning to silver. A return to the shells of crossing-stars with mines below and then more shells of go-getter comets above followed by more of the shells of charcoal comets turning to silver with pistils. This sequencing continued, the segment coming to an end with a front of mines.

Part 8 to the music Fung-Yang Drum Dance. Shells of crackle and shells of rings with crackle and blue were followed by shells of blue headed charcoal comets. Next, shells of electric crackling comets with strobe pistils as thick comet fans fired below. Then more shells of electric comets and strobes above and hugh shells of stars with starfish comets. Next, kaleidoscope shells in blue stars and gold comets and then more shells of crackling comets with the same in bombettes below. This theme continued and then shells of gold strobes and fireflies with more shells of blue and crackling comets. Huge shells with strobing pistils were followed by shells of crossette electric comets and strobes, filling the sky. This theme continued with more shells of blue stars and crackling comets and huge shells with pistils and strobes and crossettes, brining the segment to a close.

Part 9 to the music Guangdong Festival Music. A lines of fountains on ramp five lit up, first one, then three, then five and then seven. Comet mine fans in the centre with shells of strobes above and then shells of crossettes above and shots of tourbillons below. Huge shells of stars and firefly comets were augmented by large nautic star shells and then farfalle shells. Next shells with tourbillons and pistils and shells of glitter comets. More nautic shells burst in the lake as shells of comets turning to crossette stars fired above. The pace increased with barrages of huge shells with serpent fans below, causing me to write WOW in my notes.

Part 10 to the music A Life Long Love. Nautic strobes lit up in the lake and were augmented by a fan of trailing charcoal comets in the centre. Then fast fans in twos of charcoal comets and shells of slow falling comets above. The fast fans continued as shells of kamuro like comets trailed above. The fast fans increased in number as the kamuros fired above. More fast fans overlapping in alternating directions as gold kamuros trailed above and then shells of butterfly-shaped gold kamuros, bringing the segment to a close.

Part 11 to the music Army folk song. Shells of blue with pistils and fans of meteor comets below. Then shells of blue turning to gold strobes with pistils. This theme continued and then large shells of orange stars turning to crossettes and the same with steel blue stars. Above these enormous shells of white comets with huge double pistils in orange and blue. The orange and blue theme continued and then a more serene moment with shells of slow falling strobes. The pace then increased with large shells of blue and gold crossettes silver comets and crossettes. Titanium salutes started to fire at a low level as massive barrages of bright shells fired above getting large and higher with dazzling colours as more and more salutes burst. The audience started to cheer as the barrage increased in intensity and I stopped taking notes and wrote WOW in big letters as a final barrage of salutes fired bringing the display to a close.

A fantastic display both in terms of the choreography and the beautiful product used. There were many beautiful shells, especially the fabulous niagara falls shells and the shells of comets turning to different coloured star crossettes (not always noted above due to the complexity of the display). Also memorable were the great colours used. I personally enjoyed the music even though I didn't know any of it and liked the range of rhythm and tempo used from quiet moments to intense ones. The sequenced comets on the note runs in some of the music were very well done and were tastefully executed. The audience gave an enthusiastic standing ovation and could be heard chanting "Eric, Eric, Eric!". An excellent display which was very complex and I fear my report doesn't do justice to. I suspect some will say the finale was just a tad short compared to the Spanish and Italian displays, but that is not a criticism I would make.

Thanks to the public relations people of La Ronde for the official press release material, shown in white.