24th March 2005 BBC.co.uk - Manchester
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Sleeping Beauty on Ice at the Lowry is a real feast for the eyes. Ice, fire, lavish set and dazzling costumes combined with some spectacularly acrobatic skating bring this fairytale to life in all its beauty - as if by magic! Right from the chillingly dramatic opening scene, when the menacing black fairy Carabosse appears suddenly suspended in thin air, “The Imperial Ice Stars” holds the audience in its grip. Tony Mercer’s extravaganza is “grand scale” in every way. The stage alone is a feat, using no less than 14 tonnes of ice to convert the Lowry’s Lyric Theatre stage into an ice rink. The touring cast comprises 23 ice skating champions, holding no less than 210 competition medals between them, ensuring that the dancing is truly world class! Former Olympic coach, Tatiana Tarasova’s choreography is exciting, innovative, daring and highly interpretive of Tchaikovsky’s music. A fusion of classical ballet and ice dance, it blends moments of lyrical beauty with breathtaking leaps - even skating on stilts and aerial ballet! Some of the most impressive skating comes from the former World and European champion Mandy Woetzel, as Princess Aurora, and Vadim Yarkov as Prince Désiré who perform complex moves and pas de deux with amazing ease. Anton Klykov is also an instant hit as Catalabutte, the cheeky “court jester” figure, who cartwheels and back-flips his way across the stage to the audience’s obvious delight and applause. This magical family show is not to be missed. Narrated by Bill Kerr, Sleeping Beauty on Ice will appeal to children of all ages - from four to 84! Download press clipping from BBC website
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