Holiday on Ice
Encyclopedia
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 (founded 1943 in Ohio by Morris Chalfen), after several changes of ownership, today it primarily tours simultaneously with three to four different productions in Europe
and Latin America
.
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 were 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, Frank Wentink , Bart Doerfler.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1943 (founded 1943 in Ohio by Morris Chalfen), after several changes of ownership, today it primarily tours simultaneously with three to four different productions in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
.
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 glamorous 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 (between 1999 and 2008), and 14 girls + 10 boys (from 2009) 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 acrobatsAcrobatics
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
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 were 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
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
, Bugs Bunny on Ice
Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny is a animated character created in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions, later Warner Bros. Cartoons. Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray rabbit and is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality and his portrayal as a trickster. He has primarily appeared in animated cartoons, most...
and Ali Baba
Ali Baba
Ali Baba is a fictional character from medieval Arabic literature. He is described in the adventure tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves...
in "1001 Nights on Ice" in their new branch Kids Ice shows ("KISS").
In contrast to the North American skating tours Stars on Ice
Stars on Ice
Stars on Ice is a touring figure skating show produced by IMG. It was originally conceived in 1986 as a vehicle for IMG client Scott Hamilton, who had been released from his contract with Ice Capades, after being told that male skaters do not sell tickets...
and Champions on Ice
Champions on Ice
Champions on Ice was a touring ice show in the United States. The show featured a large cast of both professional and Olympic-eligible figure skaters along with novelty acts such as skating acrobats. The shows were focused primarily on solo performances by the skaters rather than ensemble work or...
which feature primarily World
World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
and Olympic champion figure skaters
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
, 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
Robin Cousins
Robert "Robin" Cousins is a British retired competitive figure skater. He is the 1980 Olympic Champion, the 1980 European champion, a three-time World medalist and four-time British national champion. He later starred in ice shows and also produced his own...
, 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
Sarah Kawahara
Sarah Kawahara is a Canadian figure skater and choreographer. She won an Emmy Award in 1997 for Scott Hamilton Upside Down and was the first skater to win the Best Choreography Emmy. She won her second Emmy in 2002 for choreographing the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics....
, Karen Kresge, Jerôme Savary, Ted Shuffle, Anthony Van Laast
Anthony Van Laast
Anthony Van Laast is a choreographer, mainly for the stage, concerts, television and film. His works have appeared in the West End and on Broadway.-Career:Van Laast was born in Sussex, UK...
, MBE, Frank Wentink , Bart Doerfler.
Show themes by year (Holiday on Ice Europe)
- 2013 "70th Anniversary (1943 / 2013)"
- 2012
- 2011 Speed / Sleeping Beauty on ice (Stage-Entertainment Russia)
- 2010 Festival / Snow Queen on ice (Stage-Entertainment Russia)
- 2009 Tropicana / Nutcracker on ice (Stage-Entertainment Russia)
- 2008 Energia
- 2007 Elements - Spirit / 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 - Dreams
- 2003 Diamonds / Pinocchio on ice (KISS)
- 2002 Hollywood
- 2001 Celebration
- 2000 In Concert
- 1999 Colours of Dance
- 1998 Xotika
- 1997 Extravaganza / Extraventura
- 1996 Evolution / Asterix On Ice
- 1995 Broadway / Gypsy
- 1994 Jubilee show
- 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 / Minstrels
- 1974 Chicago / Gershwin
- 1973 Spartacus / Cabaret
- 1972 Rock / Chevalier
- 1971 Asterix / Bolero
- 1970 Fairy Tales / Babar
- 1969 Showboat / Beggar's tale
- 1968 King Arthur / Magnifica Waltz
- 1967 Aladdin / Space Show
- 1966 Marco Polo / Cinderella
- 1965 Gypsy / Dolly
- 1964 Hong Kong / Masked Ball
- 1963 Operama / Moiseyev on ice
- 1962 Indian / Jazz
- 1961 Circus / Black Pearl
- 1960 Wizard / Dutch
- 1959 Aladdin / Alice
- 1958 Nutcracker / Alps
- 1957 Bolero / America Musics
- 1956 Merry Widow / Alice
- 1955 Rhapsody / Red Velvet
- 1954 Wonder Garden / Spanish
- 1953 Jungle / Sea
- 1952 Pink / Carnival
- 1951 Indians / Candy
- 1950 Winter / Gay
Show themes by year (Holiday on Ice USA)
- 1984 : Ice around the world : Cinderella / San Francisco (HOLIDAY ON ICE)
- 1971 to 1982 : Ice follies productions in second and third tour under the name HOLIDAY ON ICE USA
- 1970 Sonja Henie / London
- 1969 New Year's / 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