WATCH ABOVE: Global’s Doug Vaessen goes behind the scenes with one of the best fireworks teams in the world.
CALGARY – The GlobalFest 2015 fireworks competition starts in Calgary on Thursday, and organizers say it might be the most talented lineup to date.
“We use fireworks: sound, light and colour and shape patterns,” said Jason Deng from China’s Lidu Fireworks. “This time we will bring something special: special Chinese music, Chinese song, and Chinese culture. The title of this show is ‘Butterfly Lovers.’”
Lidu Fireworks debuts to open the festival on Thursday night, with lots of international experience.
“They did the Olympics in Beijing and they also did some demonstrations and shows all over the world,” said GlobalFest fireworks director Patrick Brault. “They are one of the biggest and one of the best, so we are really proud and happy to have them here in Calgary-it’s quite a treat!”
Butterfly Lovers is described as an “explosive” Romeo and Juliet.
“The fireworks are choreographed to music,” said Brault. “We build visual tableaus. It’s not just a one-bomb or one-shell thing, it’s combinations with movements and different colour combinations to try and make it correlate with the music, and the feeling the music evokes.”
Behind the scenes it’s Brault’s handpicked team that takes about three tonnes of explosives and sets up each country’s performance.
“The bomb inside weights 50 kilos, and goes up 300 metres – so just imagine the explosion at the bottom to throw a 50 kilo ball that high,” he said. “It’s major.”
Each country spends months preparing for a single show, with Canada’s team ensuring all regulations and safety measures are met.
“We double check what they do to make sure they didn’t miss anything,” said Brault. “Transportation is always a nightmare when you are dealing with dangerous goods.”
The Canadian team is putting on the finale Aug. 29, finishing with “Hells Bells” by AC/DC.
“So that’s going to be pretty awesome,” said Brault.
Click here for more information on GlobalFest, including fireworks shows featuring teams from China, the Philippines, Spain, the U.S. and Canada.
With files from Erika Tucker
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