Radders Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Hi Any ideas...? We are doing a tap dancing routine in a pantomime next month and would like to get some sort of effect from when the tap dancers dance - ideally, some form of sparkles/crackles etc. as they tap the floor. Not sure this is possible but any ideas would be very much appreciated! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackbird Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Am sure I've seen this on TV in the past? Riverdance maybe? Anyway, I always assumed they did it with black powder or something of that ilk stuck to the floor and abrasive tap shoes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gherriott Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I am merely thinking out loud here, but maybe flash paper would work? However you would probably only end up with one flsh though...hmmm. Would be interesting to find out how it's done. It will be a handy effect to know how to produce! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljoshua Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Flint on the shoes and the floor? Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krais Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Are you looking for the sparkles to appear as if they are coming from their feet, or could standard pyrotechics be considered at a distance?If you want something from their feet is a projected effect, animation disk or gobo rotator worth considering? If you could get the angles right you could even do something with a laser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreatBigHippy Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Are you looking for the sparkles to appear as if they are coming from their feet, or could standard pyrotechnics be considered at a distance?If you want something from their feet is a projected effect, animation disk or gobo rotator worth considering? If you could get the angles right you could even do something with a laser. I was thinking something similar. I considered flint but unless the rest of the stage is very dark than it may not be very impressive.For a lighting/laser effect to work you would probably be best with a low fogger running (or dry ice if conditions allow) and no haze. That way you could shoot some very tight beams at their feet which would give the effect of light coming from their feet. Or, just as an idea, does anyone remember those shoes that were all the rage which flashed in the heel with every step?Don't quote me on this, but one of the sparkies might be able to say if this is safe or not. How about electrical sparks? By that I mean a metal plate on the floor with earthed shoes? I'm kind of thinking a faraday cage type effect. Hmmm, maybe not. A sparky could tell you if this could be done safely.Definitely let us know how you do this, and send pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul TC Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Don't quote me on this, but one of the sparkies might be able to say if this is safe or not. How about electrical sparks? By that I mean a metal plate on the floor with earthed shoes? I'm kind of thinking a faraday cage type effect. Hmmm, maybe not. A sparky could tell you if this could be done safely. Sounds like your thinking of the 1885 production of Faust in which Irving played Mephistopheles, electricity was used to create real sparks during a sword fight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Budget?? Plain taps or teletone?? What about modding some tap shoes and fitting the works of a disposible camera flash? Reduce the main capacitor (the big one -usu black) to about 1 - 5uF so that the flash is low energy and the recharge is faster fit trigger contacts to the moving parts of teletone taps or split the taps into two and dance on a metal sheet to join the contacts. Disposible flashes come for pence (if that) from mini labs and in-store processing places. Usual caveats about competence and hazard appreciation. Fit the front of the dance area with a really low, floor skimming group of random mini strobes and fit the shoe fronts with glitter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmills Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Ammonium tri-iodide :D ? If I was doing it, I would be looking at maybe mounting a disposable camera flash tube somewhere suitable (may require a modified shoe), with the battery and inverter hidden in the costume and triggering it with a contact on the shoe. I would note that just because the camera uses a 3V battery does NOT mean that the capacitor/tube arrangement does not have several hundred volts across it, insulate appropriately. Regards, Dan. Edit: Beaten to the punch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreatBigHippy Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Sounds like your thinking of the 1885 production of Faust in which Irving played Mephistopheles, electricity was used to create real sparks during a sword fight. Ahhhh! That was it! 1885 was a crazy year, so many memories! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Dragons Eggs -crackling micro stars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radders Posted January 14, 2009 Author Share Posted January 14, 2009 Thanks for the ideas. Unfortunately we have very little budget for this, so am not sure quite what we'll be able to do with it. We're still thinking though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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