Sunday News, New Zealand
THE fairytale continues for lovers of ice shows as Russian skaters The Imperial Ice Stars return to New Zealand to perform Swan Lake.
It's the third time they've brought a show here - the same company performed Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker On Ice. Swan Lake On Ice will be performed to Tchaikovsky's music by 26 of the world's best skaters - Olympic, World, European and National Championship skaters, who have won more than 200 medals between them.
As well as telling the classic story of Swan Lake, the show Involves the skaters doing Olympic-quality skating - moves including triple flips, toe loops, double axels end high-speed lifts.
Artistic director Tony Mercer moved to Moscow from his home in Britain when he realised the best skaters in the world lived in Russia. Now he's married to a Russian skater and has a four-year-old son who also skates.
Tony's productions have toured Britain, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia over the past 10 years. But he says the best reception they have had has been in Auckland's Civic Theatre. ' That may sound like a standard line but Tony has put his money where his mouth is - he's bringing a group of British journalists to Auckland to watch the show.
"We have a UK tour starting In mid-October and we are bringing all the British journalists to Auckland to see the show, that's how much I enjoy the venue," he told Sunday News. "We do get the best reaction In Auckland and hopefully that will translate into their articles!" Fans of previous shows will have even more to look forward to in Swan Lake - Tony has introduced more than 40 new "elements" to the show.
Swan Lake On Ice will be in Wellington at the Westpac St James Theatre for two weeks from July 13 and in Auckland at the Civic Theatre from July 26.