Holiday on Ice
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Holiday on Ice is an ice show currently produced by Joop van den Ende's Stage Entertainment Group with its headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Although Holiday on Ice originated in the United States in 1943, after several changes of ownership, today it primarily tours simultaneously with three to four different productions in Europe and Latin America.
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[edit] History
Holiday on Ice was established as a family-oriented show by its founders but has retained little of the traditional ice revue format. The actual shows focus more on a theatrical/musical aspect rather than on the glamourous revue style with clouds of feathers and millions of sequins and rhinestones to attract a new, a younger audience. The once large "Corps de Ballet" of skaters has been reduced (from 24 girls + 12 boys to 20 girls + 10 boys) and elaborate costuming has been replaced in favour of small modern stylings. Also the music choice from mainly musical scores has been changed and adapted to the contemporary taste of actual pop music and even rock. Novelty acts such as acrobats have been added regularly to the main production numbers in recent years.
A traditional element in each Holiday on Ice show is the precision number with its famous spinning wheel, in which the skaters link arms with each other, one by one, lengthening the two spokes which spin around a center point. For many years, the traditional kickline, the light finale with illuminated costumes and the firework fountains at the end of a show are much expected elements as well.
Since 1988 each show has been given an official name to expose its unique identity resulting from its main production theme that weaves the various numbers into a unitary presentation. Beginning in 2005, Holiday on Ice has added several family-oriented touring shows to their schedule, including Peter Pan, Bugs Bunny on Ice and Ali Baba in "1001 Nights on Ice" in their new branch Kids Ice shows ("KISS").
In contrast to the North American skating tours Stars on Ice and Champions on Ice which feature primarily World and Olympic champion figure skaters, most of the skaters who tour with Holiday on Ice are not particularly famous, and the focus is on the overall production quality rather than the skaters' competitive credentials.
Robin Cousins, MBE has choreographed several of Holiday on Ice's recent shows. Former choreographers have included: Stephanie Andros, Willi Bietak, Marie Carr, Kevin J. Cottam, Francis Demarteau, Sarah Kawahara, Karen Kresge, Jerôme Savary, Ted Shuffle, Anthony van Laast, MBE, and Frank Wentink.
[edit] Show themes by year (Holiday on Ice Europe)
- 2008 Energia
- 2007 Spirit (Elements) / Ali Baba in the land of 1001 Nights on ice (KISS)
- 2006 Mystery /Bugs Bunny on Ice (KISS)
- 2005 Romanza / Peter Pan on Ice (KISS)
- 2004 Fantasy
- 2003 Diamonds
- 2002 Hollywood
- 2001 Celebration
- 2000 In Concert
- 1999 Colours of Dance
- 1998 Xotika - Journey to the heart
- 1997 Extraventura
- 1996 Evolution / Asterix On Ice
- 1995 Holiday goes Broadway
- 1994 Jubilee
- 1993 Spanish / Aladdin
- 1992 Magic & Illusions
- 1991 Carmen / Robin Hood
- 1990 Banjos & Balalaikas
- 1989 Journey through Time
- 1988 Around the World in 80 Days
- 1987 Italian / Chinese
- 1986 Mexican / Russian
- 1985 Disco / Scottish
- 1984 Counterpoint / Sleeping Beauty
- 1983 Paris / Swan Lake
- 1982 Bolero / Shangri-La
- 1981 Oriental / Western
- 1980 24 Hours / Cinderella
- 1979 La Traviata / Hollywood
- 1978 Flamenco / Fledermaus
- 1977 Pink Panther / Dickens
- 1976 Snoopy / Hollywood
- 1975 Bicentennial
- 1974 Chicago / Gershwin
- 1973 Spartacus / Cabaret
- 1972 Rock / Chevalier
- 1971 Asterix / Bolero
- 1970 Fairy Tales
- 1969 Showboat
- 1968 King Arthur
- 1967 Aladdin / Space Show
- 1966 Marco Polo
- 1965 Gypsy / Dolly
- 1964 Hong Kong
- 1963 Operama
- 1962 Indian / Jazz
- 1961 Circus
- 1960 Wizard
- 1959 Aladdin
- 1958 Nutcracker
- 1957 Bolero
- 1956 Merry Widow/Alice
- 1955 Rhapsody/Red Velvet
- 1954 Wonder Garden/Spanish
- 1953 Jungle/Sea
- 1952 Pink/Carnival
- 1951 Indians/Candy
- 1950 Winter/Gay
[edit] Show themes by year (Holiday on Ice USA)
- 1970 Sonja Henie/London
- 1969 Easter/Christmas
- 1968 New York/Granada
- 1967 Country/Caribbean
- 1966 Venetian/Happy Land
- 1965 Americana/24 Hours
- 1964 Blue waltz/Fiesta Caribe
- 1963 Barn dance/Clock shop
- 1962 Sleeping Beauty/Broadway
- 1961 Hawaii/Southland
- 1960 Golden Aurora
- 1959 Crystal anniversary/Circus
- 1958 Girls/Holiday
- 1957 Waterama/Fiesta
- 1956 Bacchus/Cavalcade
- 1955 Bolero/Guardsmen
- 1954 Storybook/Games
- 1953 Caribbean/Gaucho
- 1952 Japan/Fantasy
- 1951 Jewel/Carnival
- 1950 Candyland/Rhapsody
- 1949 Rumbalero/Enchanted Garden
- 1948 Spanish/Dreams
- 1947 Persian/Gypsy
- 1946 Winter Carnival/Horse show
- 1945 Faster on ice/Rhythmacana
- 1944 Victor Herbert/Minstrels
- 1943 Winter Holiday/Gladiators
