Choreographing a fireworks display "is just like a ballet or a Broadway show, You think of the fireworks as the dancers. If you can dance to it you can shoot it.”
Once all of the music is finalized, I have the 10-minute display time and work on determining which shells will accompany each musical selection. A detailed rundown, indicating the number of seconds each burst of firepower will last. Everything is logged into a computer program that synchronizes the split-second fireworks cues with the music. To time the music properly, the choreographer must know how long it takes for each shell to open up after it's fired. For example, if he wanted two hearts to appear just when Phil Collins mentions hearts, he'd have to mark them on a form about five seconds before the words come in the song.
