After a fairly grey year of cutting back on the finer things in life, sacrificing most joys and pleasures to the grim reality of rising household costs, what better escape than to immerse yourself in the opulent, dream-like magnificence of Hot Ice’s new show, Rapture?
From the moment the house lights went down, I was transported to another world of glitter, beauty and excitement as the cast of world championship performers took to the ice, spinning, jumping and gliding through an ethereal realm conjured by mesmerising lighting and special effects, and beautifully written music.
Amanda Thompson OBE, has been both Producer and Director of the Hot Ice Show for over 20 years.
She said: “This is a show about intense feelings of pleasure and joy.
“This will be depicted in many exciting ways throughout the performance, as our skaters flirt with beauty and grace, as well as the danger of performing at speed.
“The intensity will be created by the performers challenging themselves during each show with the complexities of the enticing and challenging choreography.”
Choreographed by Oula Jaaskelainen, a former Olympic athlete and Hot Ice cast member, each scene sees a breathtaking, edge of the seat performance from the skaters, each specially selected from around the world for their skill and stage-presence.
Oula creates excitement by encouraging the performers to skate at high speeds with intricate footwork and spine-tingling jumps. Working together with former dancer and assistant choreographer, Lynsey Brown, they both inspire the skaters with their unique styles and ideas.
Though nearing the end of its summer run, there was no hint of fatigue or passé from the dancers, all giving a fantastically energetic and enthusiastically fresh performance, weaving between each other in kaleidoscope patterns, moving as if they had evolved a collective hive mind of sorts.
Rapture is a captivating, fast-paced series of vignettes into spectacular fantasies, sumptuous atmospheres and moodscapes, each one a new feast for the senses.
Hot Ice runs from 7th July until 10th September every Monday to Saturday. Evening shows commence at 7pm with a matinee performance on selected dates at 2.30pm.
Tickets can be booked online at www.hoticeshow.com or at the Pleasure Beach Arena Box Office.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here