Telegraph & Argus, Bradford
by Emma Clayton
Broken ribs, pulled muscles and lacerated fingers are all in a day's work for the stars of a spectacular new ice show coming to the Alhambra next week. Swan Lake on Ice blends world-class ice dancing with aerial gymnastics, skating on stilts and special effects including snow fountains and rings of fire.
It's performed by the Imperial Ice Stars, a 25-strong troupe of world champion skaters, including Olympic gold medalists, based In Russia. They are touring the show around the world with the UK run this autumn. Fresh from a sell out tour of Australia and New Zealand, the show's stars Olga Sharutenko and Vadim Yarkov arrive at the Alhambra to talk about the production and perform a routine from it.
When the show arrives at the Alhambra the stage will be transformed into an ice rink, but for now Olga and Vadim - who play Odette and the Prince - make do with a bare floor in the Studio, giving their performance more of a ballet feel. "It's harder for us to perform on the floor when you learn on ice you don't know anything else," says Vadim. "We learned some dance techniques on the floor but we're used to being on ice, moving constantly."
Known as the Nureyev of the ice rink. Vadim has performed leading roles in many ice dance shows. Olga Is a former junior world champion who took part in ITV's Dancing on ice earlier this year, pairing up with actor John Barrowman. She and Vadim say the transition from figure skating to ice dancing taught them new techniques.
"Figure skating Is close to dancing but it's a sport so you're not acting a part," says Olga. "There is a more artistic side to ice dancing, more expression and emotion. Torvill and Dean are naturally theatrical which is why they're amazing to watch, but usually figure skating is more, technique than theatre.
"Vadim and I have been skating all our lives but we're not dancers. We work closely with a choreographer, incorporating dance techniques into the skating."
The show is touring theatres rather than ice arenas, leaving the skaters with less room to move around. And with flames flickering and snow machines raging around them, the business of skating is quite a challenge.
"We adapt, we have a long rehearsal before each opening night to get to know the stage." says Olga. "It looks spectacular." The skaters dance at speeds of up to 40mph, pulling off various jumps and lifts, and Injuries to rehearsals aren't uncommon. "The usual ones are pulled muscles, broken ribs soft cuts across the hands," says Vadim, with a 'C'est la vie' shrug of the shoulders. "You expect Injuries because we skate at speed, and blades are sharp. We have a doctor with us. The girls suffer bruises falling during lifts. This all happens early on - by the time the show opens we are fine!"
Ice skating has never been so popular and Olga and Vadim credit shows like Swan Lake on Ice with making it Inspirational and accessible, giving audiences chance to see Olympic-style skating in the Intimacy of a theatre.
"Ice shows used to be performed only in ice arenas but not everyone goes to them," says Olga. "There's the thrill of a live show and the opportunity to see technical demands taken to new artistic levels. Children are inspired to take up skating. That's good for the sport and helps with children's fitness, discipline, confidence and motivation."
Dancing on Ice was also responsible for a surge in skating. Is Olga returning for the next series early 2007? Her grimace suggests not."John, my partner, was voted out early on which everyone thought was very unfair," she says. "He worked so hard and was becoming an excellent skater. He should have made it to the final, I don't know what happened. I was upset because I knew how far he had come, it took me a week to deal with it. I wouldn't want to partner anyone else.
For now she's having a blast touring the world in this stunning production set to Tchaikovsky's glorious score. As she, and Vadim make their way outside for a photo call they chat about returning to Russia for a week's holiday before the UK tour. "Have a good rest." I say. They look at me oddly clearly world-class skaters aren't used to the concept of rest. "We'll be on the Ice every day," laughs Olga "Skating is our life."
They look strangely out of place like fishes out of water, standing on the pavement in their glittering costume, minus Ice skates. As someone whose experience of Ice skating doesn't extend beyond gripping the raillings for dear life, I feel like we come from different worlds. I can't wait to see them in action on the frozen Alhambra stage.