Fountains of Bellagio
Fountains of Bellagio
The Fountains of Bellagio, set in an 8.5-acre manmade lake, is a vast, water feature with performances set to light and music. They incorporate a network of pipes with more than 1,200 nozzles that make it possible to stage fountain displays coordinated with more than 4,500 lights. It is estimated that the fountains cost US$75 million to build. The idea and character for the fountain were conceived by Steve Wynn, Chairman of Mirage Resorts. The show takes place every 30 minutes in the afternoons and early evenings, and every 15 minutes from 8 p.m. to midnight. The fountain display is choreographed to various pieces of music. Some of the movement is continuous, responding to the smooth, legato passages of music, while other water jets are rapidly pulsing and staccato.
Music pieces that have been choreographed by Kenny Ortega:
- All Night Long – Lionel Richie
- Hey, Big Spender (from Sweet Charity musical)
- One (from A Chorus Line musical)
- Singin’ in the Rain – Gene Kelly
“When Steve Wynn and WET Design invited me to creatively participate in the opening of the Bellagio Fountain, I knew instantly what I wanted to do: Pay homage to Gene Kelly, my longtime friend, mentor, and teacher. It has been forty-six years since Mr. Kelly danced his way across the silver screen in ‘Singin’ In The Rain’, and yet his performance still stands as one of the most loved and respected.
This new medium posed numerous challenges, but the greatest challenge was to somehow have Gene’s wonderful spirit come alive and dance across the lake.
I wanted to capture the emotion that I felt when Gene performed this classic: his childlike exuberance, his exciting choreography while splashing from puddle to puddle, swinging around lampposts and, finally, whistling away carefree and in love.
To Gene, with love -”
– Kenny Ortega
The fountains have also been included in the following movies:
- 21 (2008)
- Lucky You (2007)
- Ocean’s Thirteen (2007)
- Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
