The Rose in Cloche Prop

This large-scale prop was created for Hamilton Township High School Marching Band’s 2025 show, “Echoes of the Rose” 🌹. The concept drew inspiration from the enchanted rose in Beauty and the Beast, symbolizing time, transformation, and the fragility of beauty. Standing at nearly 10 feet tall, the cloche served as the show’s centerpiece—both a visual anchor and a storytelling device throughout the performance.

The process began by cutting out the shape of the massive glass cloche from sturdy wooden boards, ensuring the silhouette would read clearly from the stands. I then hand-painted the background using layers of blues, silvers, grays, and metallic whites to simulate the reflective quality of glass under stage lighting. Hints of red were blended into the background to subtly foreshadow the rose within, creating the illusion of depth and shimmer as the lights shifted during the performance.

Next, I painted the delicate stem directly onto the board, giving it a lifelike sense of curvature and dimension. For the rose petals, I cut individual shapes from dense foam and spray painted them with varying shades of red, burgundy, and magenta. A final misting of glitter spray brought the petals to life, catching the light as they moved. Most petals were securely stapled into the wooden base to maintain their placement, while four were strategically attached with hidden magnets—allowing the color guard to interact with the piece mid-performance.

Throughout the show, the guard members removed and danced with the petals. During the finale, one performer returns each petal to its place, completing the rose and restoring its full bloom—a moment that tied together the show’s theme of renewal and unity.

The finished prop not only served as a visual highlight but also became an integral part of the choreography and emotional narrative. Its presence on the field elevated the show’s storytelling, helping the band deliver one of their most memorable performances to date. Their hard work paid off, as Hamilton Township earned their first “1” rating at the OMEA Finals since 2003—a triumphant ending befitting the spirit of “Echoes of the Rose.”