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Stars on Ice to light up Saddledome
| Source: |
Calgary Sun |
| Date: |
May 16, 2015 |
| Author: |
Scott Fisher |
All the Stars are coming to the Dome.
The Stars On Ice tour stops in Calgary on Sunday to celebrate its 25th
anniversary with a star-studded lineup.
Kurt Browning, an original on the Canadian leg that debuted in 1991,
is front and centre once again. The four-time world champ from
Caroline, Alta., will not only perform but is also directing and
choreographing the show that will pay homage to some of the greatest
programs the tour has seen over the past two-plus decades.
"The first half of the show is a celebration of the 25 years,"
Browning said of Sunday's show at the Saddledome (4 p.m.).
"I asked each skater to come up with a personal connection with Stars
On Ice or someone from the past.
"Sandra Bezic is a name that has helped build the Stars On Ice
brand. She was a director and choreographer with the show many
times. In my formative years, she had a lot to do with some great
programs I was able to share with the audiences.
"So I decided to honour her and also Scott Hamilton, who started Stars
on Ice (in the U.S. in '86)."
Browning is re-doing Hamilton's One For My Baby program, that Bezic
put together long ago. Hamilton, of course, was well-known for his
trademark flip.
"After 20 years of not doing a backflip, I had to get that back,"
Browning said.
"I'm flipping again."
Browning will be joined by Olympic gold-medallists Tessa Virtue and
Scott Moir, silver-medallist Patrick Chan and other Canadian and
international stars.
The Canada Sports Hall of Famer said the Stars On Ice tour has given
elite skaters a place to grow.
"Scott (Hamilton) had a quote a long time ago that I've really held
onto: Stars On Ice is a place world champions go to get better,"
Browning said. "It's true because we can experiment. At the world
championships, you're really restricted to what the judges are looking
for.
"Ashley Wagner is the U.S. champion and she's with the cast. Her
moment before she skates talks about how Stars On Ice gives her that
chance to enjoy her skating without the judges watching."
It doesn't sound like Browning's 25th season on the Stars On Ice tour
will be his last, which is great news for fans from coast to
coast.
"In 2008, I had a knee problem and my jumps weren't getting off the
ice," the 48-year-old said. "And I thought, ‘well, it's been a good
run.'
"That was the closest I came to thinking maybe it was over. But after
the surgery, I said, ‘oh, I guess I can still do this.' "
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