What do they use for snow?

[BillGill]

I realize this new group is just about dead, but I thought somebody
might be looking who could answer my question.

In a lot of Nutcracker performances they use snow on the stage during
the dance of the snowflakes. What do they use for snow? What is there
that they can spread all over the stage and then dance on it without
slipping?

Bill

[Trog Woolley]

Post by BillGill
I realize this new group is just about dead, but I thought somebody
might be looking who could answer my question.
In a lot of Nutcracker performances they use snow on the stage during
the dance of the snowflakes. What do they use for snow? What is there
that they can spread all over the stage and then dance on it without
slipping?
Bill

The Birmingham Royal Ballet use shredded paper for the falling snow,
which is dropped by the stage crew in a narrow band maybe 20cm wide.
This is *supposed* to keep it in one place, but the choreography has
the dancers run through it and it does get spread all over the stage.
I've never seen any of the dancers slip, even when on pointe and
I've seen the prodution a lot of times. It comes at the end of the
first act, so it can be swept up during the interval but there are
always a few wayward bits which flutter down during the land of sweets.

Dancers are very skillful. I saw the Kirov doing Chopiniana and one
of the leading lady's ribbon came undone and she was treading on it
as she bourreed along. She didn't trip herself up, which I think
was quite amazing, especially as I often trip up when my shoe lace
comes undone.

[Bobo]

Post by BillGill
I realize this new group is just about dead, but I thought somebody
might be looking who could answer my question.
In a lot of Nutcracker performances they use snow on the stage during
the dance of the snowflakes. What do they use for snow? What is there
that they can spread all over the stage and then dance on it without
slipping?
Bill

I've pulled the rope to make it snow many times. Every time the snow
has been bought from a supply house and it's some kind of plastic,
probably shredded polyethelene. The most basic device for using it is
a perforated muslin border tied to to adjacent pipes. One pipe is
still while the other is moved up and down to make the snow come out.
Sometimes the dancers do slip in it and it's certainly unpleasant to
inhale.

[BillGill]

Post by BillGill
I realize this new group is just about dead, but I thought somebody
might be looking who could answer my question.
In a lot of Nutcracker performances they use snow on the stage during
the dance of the snowflakes. What do they use for snow? What is there
that they can spread all over the stage and then dance on it without
slipping?
Bill

Thanks for the responses. I have been wondering about that for some
time now.

Bill

[Crash Gordon]

We use the shredded plastic stuff.

On our last show, one of the union stage people said something about using
mashed potato flakes...dunno about that!...could get messy if your fog
machine explodes like ours did 2 years ago!
--
**Crash Gordon**

Post by BillGill

Post by BillGill
I realize this new group is just about dead, but I thought somebody
might be looking who could answer my question.
In a lot of Nutcracker performances they use snow on the stage during
the dance of the snowflakes. What do they use for snow? What is there
that they can spread all over the stage and then dance on it without
slipping?
Bill

Thanks for the responses. I have been wondering about that for some
time now.
Bill

[Wexford]

Post by BillGill
I realize this new group is just about dead, but I thought somebody
might be looking who could answer my question.
In a lot of Nutcracker performances they use snow on the stage during
the dance of the snowflakes.  What do they use for snow?  What is there
that they can spread all over the stage and then dance on it without
slipping?
Bill

Thanks for the responses.  I have been wondering about that for some
time now.
Bill

Atlanta Ballet has used a couple of different methods. One way to
simulate snow is to tear paper into bits. The Ballet asked volunteers
to do the shredding, since -- according to the folks who know -- only
hand-torn paper bits actually look and fall like real snow. Several
years ago they started leasing a "snow" machine to produce the effect.
It works very well. Whatever the machine is dropping on the stage,
it's quite realistic. They do a fine Nutcracker, by the way.

Wexford