Swan Lake on Ice

Swan Lake on IceFour years ago I was blown away by one of the most amazing theatrical shows I’ve ever experienced. It was August 2006 and I was taking Emily out on a dad and daughter date to see The Imperial Ice Stars performing Swan Lake on Ice.

I had visions of the lower area of Burswood Theatre being converted into a huge ice rink. I was quite surprised when we entered the theatre to see that the ice was only covering the regular stage area. The stage is quite sizeable as theatre stages go but how they managed to perform such a spectacular show on such a small area of ice amazed me.

The athleticism, strength and skill was beyond incredible. I find it hard enough to stand up in ice skates but the performers for this show were doing somersaults and all sorts of leaps and jumps.

Not a word was spoken from the stage before, during or after the performance yet the story was told with amazing clarity, skill and humour through the music and the outstanding performances of the cast.

I’m absolutely thrilled that Swan Lake on Ice is back and this time I’ll be taking Pauline and James to see the show.

The Imperial Ice Stars have performed to nearly 3 million people across five continents. The company is a collection of the world’s greatest skaters. The performers between them have won over 250 competition medals. The performance isn’t a ballet on ice; it’s a theatrical masterpiece designed from the ground up to create something that audiences have never before experienced.

Olga Sharutenko performs as Odette in the current production and she joined me in the studio today on 98.5 Sonshine FM.

It was a true delight to speak with Olga and you can hear our conversation by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

If you ever get the opportunity to see anything by the Imperial Ice Stars, don’t hesitate. You’ll be amazed and you’ll create wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.

For Perth readers, Swan Lake on Ice is being performed at Burswood Theatre from the 13th to the 22nd of August.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/MOR081210_0938.mp3]

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Cinderella on Ice

Cinderella.jpgAmazing.

It’s hard to find the words to describe the Imperial Ice Stars production of Cinderella on Ice. The athleticism, strength and skill of the skaters is beyond incredible.

Pauline and I saw the show on Wednesday evening and were thrilled by the performance. I had seen their Swan Lake on Ice a couple of years ago and so I knew some of what to expect but there were still plenty of surprises.

You can get a small taste of the show by watching this video.

While I have trouble even standing up in a pair of ice skates, these performers just keep adding to the degree of difficulty with their perfect triple flips, triple toe loops, double axels, death spirals, camel spins, Bielmanns, triple throw axels, awe-inspiring aerial gymnastics and their performance specialty of incredible lifts and lift sequences, as part of their unique style of theatre on ice.

I guess we should expect greatness from such a company with the Imperial Ice Stars boasting 25 World, European and National Championship skaters who between them have won over 200 competition medals.

The Imperial Ice Stars is comprised of the cream of Russian skating talent, the majority having been coached and schooled by Russia’s leading coaches, and some from as early as 4 years of age.

Their amazing feats are made even more spectacular by the fact that their ‘ice rink’ is only the size of a theatre stage.

More than two million people across five continents have been swept to their feet by The Imperial Ice Stars’ adrenaline-infused performances. The Imperial Ice Stars have performed at many of the world’s most prestigious venues, from Sadler’s Wells in London’s West End to the Esplanade Theatre in Singapore, and from Montreal’s Place des Arts to Moscow’s Red Square.

The Imperial Ice Stars specialise in performing theatrical ice skating in the intimacy of the theatre. Synonymous with innovation in the skating world, The Imperial Ice Stars are renowned for their daring on the ice and unique style of story-telling.

Cinderella on Ice, their third production, continues to break new ground in the genre of ice dancing. Stunning skating feats, some only seen in Olympic arenas and some never seen before, are performed within the confines of a frozen theatre stage, including breathtaking high speed throws and incredible lifts and lift sequences.

If you ever get the opportunity to see any performances by the Imperial Ice Stars I suggest you grab that opportunity with both hands.



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