Times of celebration are like unto a gift to a city and what a better gift than Light during long and dark winter nights?
No wonder Light itself represents the main adornment in winter festivals anywhere in the world, whether it is with candles in the Northern European tradition or luminaries in the Italian and Southern (Euorpean) tradition.
The Show
Scene 1 – THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
In the magic atmosphere of the square, things unexpected and sensational will begin to happen. Four-meter-tall ladies entirely dressed in light will seem to be floating through the square while performing a soft, ancient dance choreography.
Scene 2 – THE GALA NIGHT
Along the passageway leading to the stage, will parade a group of mobile carts overarched by mirrors. On each cart, two young ballet dancers wearing Swarovski-embroidered, light-reflecting tutus will mimic each other’s moves as if in front of a mirror. Such parade will lead the audience to the stage where a crystal-like lady and a gentleman in his tuxedo will enchant both children and adults through a playful dance of courtship.
Scene 3 – CHILDREN GAMES
On stage, some ballerinas will be dancing playfully with light, colourful Christmas balls, when two giant spheres (6-m diameter) entirely covered in glitter will start rolling among them.
The glittery spheres will be escorting an even larger transparent one (9-m diameter) within which will be suspended, defiant of gravity, a young lady representing the Snow Fairy in a snow ball.
Fanno da scorta a una ancor più grande sfera trasparente (ben 9 m di diametro) all’interno della quale sta sospesa, una sfida alla forza di gravità, una fanciulla: la boule di neige che contiene la Fata della Neve.
Scene 4 – PRESENTS FOR A GOOD YEAR
A Year of Harmony
A young lady in a white long dress will be gradually lifted up to 20m from the ground through an invisible cable. Her ample skirt will be like a fan slowly opening up and projecting images of starred skies, moons, comets and intensely white ice crystals.
A Year of Happiness
Snow will be falling slowly and solemnly on the stage. Some children will be carrying paper houses illumined from within. They will then lay them on the ground and play ring-a-ring-o’-roses around them. They will be amusing themselves with falling snow and peeking in the lit houses through the windows on the preparation work for the celebrations. In them, they will feel the warmth of light and hear the sweet melodies of music. As if coming out from the fireplace, the Fairies of Northern European tales will appear into the scene and start taming the fire in the woods. Theirs will be final victory.
Scene 5– THE TOAST
And to finish with, there will be a big final toast.
Three big chalices full of water will be set on stage. An acrobatic dancer, almost like a tiny elf next to a real chalice, will perform gracefully on the edge of each chalice to then dip in its waters and then twirl and swirl and spray and dive to form a playful choreography.
The Final Ball
The main stage area will be converted into a Ball Room for the final Ball to be taking place after the magnificent show on New Years Eve.
Spectators will be central to this final celebration as opposed to the dancers having previously taken the leading role.
The event will be publicised through a local radio and/or TV station, a local newspaper and the internet.
On the 31 December, make-over points will be set up for people to dress up in traditional clothes for the Ball.
Among them, there will be a make-up and hairdressing stand for the ladies (payment required); a stall with accessories for sale (evening gloves, fans, gem-set clutch bags).
In the previous few days to the Ball, tailoring service stands for the resizing or renting of ball dresses (up to 80 costumes) will be set up. Shoes will not be for rent. Men will have to wear black tie attire.
Couples of professional dancers will lead off the dance and get the rest of the audience involved.
It’s midnight and confetti start falling from above the stage and at the tolling of bells the party ends.
Setting
The show, whose setting will be inspired by the typical luminaries and decorations of winter festivals, is to be taking place in a large Italian square. Three giant screens showing a winter landscape covered in snow and adorned with space-enveloping pine and holly trees will constitute its background. In its midst, a Christmas tree entirely made up of golden light luminaries will mark the centre of celebration.
Entry to the square will be through gateways of light, arch-shaped and bright, they will be attracting attention and separating the different areas and pathways of the vast outdoor venue.
Somewhere in the middle of the area, a swaying tree decorated with bells, as if gently wind-shaken, will produce harmonious sounds to mark the beginning of the show.
