Pyro Dance
4th of July 1977-79, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI
For many years the City of Providence's annual 4th of July celebration was held in Roger Williams Park. I was part of a group of local artists (Philip Palombo, Carol Ranson Palombo, Dennis Hlynsky) commissioned to work with a father and son Pyro team (Ralph & Richard Valente ) to create artwork utilizing old- style ground pieces. Our goal, to entertain the crowds (upwards of 50,000 people) before the aerial fireworks display started. With the Temple to Music as a ready-made set we combined stage lighting, pyrotechnics and music to create some pretty spectacular evenings. In the case of DUD, a funny one.
4th of July 1977-79, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI
For many years the City of Providence's annual 4th of July celebration was held in Roger Williams Park. I was part of a group of local artists (Philip Palombo, Carol Ranson Palombo, Dennis Hlynsky) commissioned to work with a father and son Pyro team (Ralph & Richard Valente ) to create artwork utilizing old- style ground pieces. Our goal, to entertain the crowds (upwards of 50,000 people) before the aerial fireworks display started. With the Temple to Music as a ready-made set we combined stage lighting, pyrotechnics and music to create some pretty spectacular evenings. In the case of DUD, a funny one.
In 1979, I collaborated with choreographer Nancy Whitten and a group of local dancers along with trumpet player & composer Buzz Buzzerio to create a dance piece that lead up to the display. Titled "Dance for the Fourth, performance for six dancers, pyrotechnics and improvisational music in 7/8 time.
![Dancers carrying banners that would create a performance space](../../resources/3a5d64a0.jpg)
![Entrance Dance](../../resources/img20230430_13160918.jpg)
![Entrance Dance](../../resources/img20230430_13121503.jpg)
![Opening Dance performance](../../resources/img20230430_13111282.jpg)
![Opening Dance performance](../../resources/img20230430_13115215.jpg)
![Ground Display - Fanfare](../../resources/3a34df60.jpg)
![Fanfare- Ground Display](../../resources/36b1cc40.jpg)
![Ground display-Rocket](../../resources/36d43bc0.jpg)
![Ground Display "DUD"](../../resources/36ff5bc0.jpg)
![Temple to Music Illumination](../../resources/3737dfa0.jpg)
![Temple to Music Illumination](../../resources/3a4cc2e0.jpg)
![Temple to Music Illumination](../../resources/375610c0.jpg)
![Temple to Music Illumination](../../resources/3778b0a0.jpg)
![Temple to Music Illumination](../../resources/37955270.jpg)
![Temple to Music Illumination](../../resources/37b95270.jpg)
![Temple to Music Illumination](../../resources/37c026a0.jpg)