|
|
|
Cohen connects with crowd at Stars on Ice
Silver medallist enjoys the stage
| Source: |
The Windsor Star |
| Date: |
April 28, 2011 |
| Author: |
Mary Caton |
Home to the two-time Memorial Cup champions, the WFCU Centre has seen
its share of stars grace the ice in recent years.
Not taking anything away from the hockey-driven talents of Taylor
Hall, Cam Fowler and Ryan Ellis, but they kicked it up a notch
Wednesday with the Sears Stars on Ice Show.
A crowd of 2,236 screamed in delight at the stylized techno number by
Canadian Jeffrey Buttle and were mesmerized by the grace and beauty of
Sasha Cohen and Joannie Rochette.
Even a broken marriage couldn't stunt the raw emotion flowing from
former Canadian sweethearts Jamie Sale and David Pelletier.
"This is the best show I've been a part of," said Cohen, an Olympic
silver medallist in 2006. "We've got great numbers this year."
Cohen has been touring for 13 years and over time she's learned what
makes a great competitive skater does not necessarily translate into a
great show skater.
"It's difficult," she said.
"You have to be able to transform yourself from a competitor."
You learn to be more of a performer and to have fun with it. You need
to connect with the audience and open up your skating and bring them
in."
Stars on Ice has assembled a strong, diverse cast of world champions
and Olympic medallists for their 2011 tour.
Evan Lysacek won gold in Vancouver last year, Rochette and Buttle both
own an Olympic bronze and Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto took a shine to
silver.
At 45 years old, Kurt Browning is the tour patriarch.
The four-time world champion joked about a rocking chair but he
cranked out a flawless triple jump.
"It helps when you have a great cast," Cohen said of transitioning
from competitive to show skating. "You learn from them."
Instead of skating within herself, Cohen has mastered the art of
luring the audience in and making a personal connection.
She sold the crowd Wednesday on an elegant routine done to Pink's
ballad "Nobody Knows."
Lysacek was absolutely inspirational when performing to "The Climb"
and Sawyer instantly earned the crowd's warm appreciation for skipping
the World Championships for some back-flipping fun.
The tour is taking a reflective look back at 25 years of Stars on Ice
and the musical numbers spanned the decades from Cohen's racy
rendition of a Liza Minnelli show tune, to Kyoko Ina's flowing
artistry to Rhianna.
The show's second set ramped up to an ensemble finish to Tina Turner's
"The Best."
Despite a gruelling travel schedule that has 25 U.S. stops, 12
Canadian destinations and a two-week, six-show visit to Japan, the
cast pulled together for a crowd-pleasing performance that culminated
in a standing ovation.
"I'm really fortunate because I love what I do," Cohen said.
"The people can give you a lot of energy and the crowds in Canada have
been really responsive."
The troupe was fresh off a three-day break.
They were in Ottawa last Saturday and headed out late Wednesday for Toronto.
|
|
|
|
|
