|
|
|
A Holiday Tradition: Stars on Ice Kicks Off its Tour in Lake Placid, Review
Stars on Ice Begins its Tour in Lake Placid
| Source: |
the free george |
| Date: |
January 4, 2012 |
| Author: |
Christie Sausa |
Since its inception in 1986, the Stars on Ice show has been a
Thanksgiving tradition in Lake Placid. This year, the show was held a
month later, in December.
"We had experienced some scheduling conflicts during the month of
November and decided to give December a try, since we knew that
Christmas week was one of the busiest weeks of the year in Lake
Placid," said Stars on Ice Producer Byron Allen.
This choice was an excellent one; over 5,000 people packed the 1980
Herb Brooks Arena to enjoy this year's Stars on Ice, presented by
Smuckers.
Kurt Browning was at the helm, choreographing the show, and his mark
as both a skater and a choreographer was apparent. I have been a fan
of Kurt since my first Stars on Ice show in the late 90s, so it was a
treat to see him perform. My favorite number of his was "I'm Yours" by
Jason Mraz, a playful program which showcased his footwork and
creativity.
A new addition to the show was US National Champion Ryan Bradley, who
brought more exuberance and flamboyance to the show. One of his more
energetic programs was to Kenny Loggin's "Footloose," in which he
danced and jumped to the iconic song.
Stars on Ice presented by Smuckers also featured Kyoko Ina and John
Zimmerman. Previously Zimmerman skated solo for a season before being
joined again with Ina to skate pairs. They performed with their
typical energy and athleticism–one of the highlights was their
signature move, "Fly High and Say Goodbye," in which Ina is thrown
over Zimmerman's head and is caught in a split second.
Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman. Photo by Christie SausaRounding out the
cast were favorites Sasha Cohen, Todd Eldredge, Ilia Kulik, Ekaterina
Gordeeva, and Joannie Rochette, while new cast members included
Bradley and ice dance siblings Sinead and John Kerr.
The theme of the transitions seemed to be "love." In the first few
sequences, the four male skaters were quartets singing Motown songs;
in another, Ilia Kulik attempted to woo Joannie Rochette to the tune
of "Love Machine." Although not part of a central plot, the
transitions added a fun contrast to the individual programs, as well
as providing a segue between skaters.
Of course, this was the first show of the new tour, so there were
bound to be slight glitches. In one group number, a near collision
occurred between two skaters. Some choreography also lacked the polish
gleaned from performing several different shows, and a few of the
transition numbers didn't quite execute as smoothly as they could
have. Still, it was an exciting event for the entire family, including
skaters from several different generations.
Another bonus for the audience is unique to the Lake Placid show,
namely the retakes. Since the show is taped for broadcasting, the
audience is requested to stay in their seats, as the skaters "fix"
their mistakes by redoing the botched part of the program. This is
often the most intimate moment between the audience and fans, as
particularly difficult elements can sometimes elude the skater,
leading to a pep rally like atmosphere, giving the audience a chance
to glimpse just how difficult figure skating really is.
With or without the glitches, the show is well worth seeing. The
costumes are dazzling, the skaters are entertaining, and it's a
wonderful chance to see your favorite skaters up close and
personal.
For more information, visit www.starsonice.com.
|
|
|
|
|
