The Telegraph, Belfast
By Judith Cole
The Imperial Ice Stars from Russia didn't bring a mere ice dancing extravaganza to the Grand Opera House. Rather, they are Olympic and world championship skaters who have won over 200 medals between them and display their jaw-dropping skill with triple axles, aerial gymnastics and gravity defying lifts.
The stage was transformed into an ice rink, providing an intimate setting and a real treat for the audience who could see these talented athletes close-up.
Sometimes there were scores of skaters on the ice at one time, moving at high speed, weaving in and out of each other and performing all manner of lifts - but, because of their finely honed choreography, never clashing with each other.
As someone in the audience cried 'this is far better than the ballet version', the skaters displayed grace and elegance befitting a Tchaikovsky score, and injected much daring and fire into the programme to ensure the crowd was constantly gasping at what they saw.
Playing the lead role of Odette, Olga Sharutenko is perfect, displaying heartbreak when she observes her Prince proposing to her rival, and then utter joy when he returns to her.
Vadim Yarkov is as excellent as the Prince, showing undying love for his swan and then desolation as he realises his mistake in being captivated by Odille. Dazzling in the character of Benno is Andrei Pekine who often played with the audience and made them laugh with his touches of humour, and also gasp with his mid-air acrobatics. And as the evil Rothbart, Anton Klykov performed mid-air splits and back-flips on the ice, and ended the first act in a ring of flames which was simply spectacular.
Despite a constant feast of utterly amazing ice skating, the story of Swan Lake never gets lost and this is certainly one of the best shows I have ever been to.