Ice: Direct from Russia

Vegas embraces the thrilling, chilling acrobatics of ‘Ice’

By Jeannie Borbe

Outside the Las Vegas Strip may be sweltering under summer temperatures but inside the Riviera a spectacular icy wonderland populated by astounding ice skaters awaits you.

"Ice: Direct From Russia" features 42 skaters with stellar dance moves and amazing acrobatics. Revealing several different moods throughout the show, these performers take you into a world of romance, trance, circus acts and even a little bit of funk – all in one 80-minute production.

These aren't your average ice skaters.

"Most of them have been skating since they could walk," said Tom Pilkington, director of marketing and business services for Ice. "Ice skating is a cultural phenomenon in Russia, It's just something that everyone does there."

Ice is based on the original works by Sergey Ryshkoff, the founder of the Moscow Ice Circus. From Europe to Asia, Ryshkoff's show has entertained countless audiences.

Now, choreographer Debra Brown and her team have adapted Ryshkoff's show for a Las Vegas audience. With Ice, Brown infuses ice skating with the same intense passion and grace that she brought to Cirque du Soleil shows "Mystère" and "O."

Ice begins with dancers skating in long, thick fur jackets and hats, evoking the frigid, cold weather of Moscow. The scene beautifully transforms into the warm and vibrant colors of the Southwest, revealing a brighter set and beautiful women beneath the winter attire.

"That was a deliberate thought that both Sergey [Ryshkoff] and Debra Brown had - to keep the show as natural as possible, in terms of the costuming and the make-up," said Pilkington. "They wanted the beauty of these people to come through and not look artificial."

The 3,000-square-foot stage and runway at the Riviera delivers a sense of intimacy. But with all the stunts performed on this platform, you'll be mesmerized by how these skaters work with such a limited amount of space.

"They performed in 15,000 seat arenas, down to surfaces half the size of what we have now," said Pilkington. "So the pressure on them is to adjust on the size."

Brown's choreography throughout the show is simply breathtaking. In one romantic number, a white clad couple skates gracefully while twirling kites. Combining angelic moves and soothing music, it feels as though you stepped into a heavenly dream.

Another eye-catching piece includes a sultry acrobatic routine with a man and woman twisting and turning from ropes suspended on the ceiling. It's an amazing feat of athleticism that perfectly feeds into a later scene where a couple swings on a hanging hula hoop in a passionate, hypnotic fashion.

"[Brown] felt that it was a very romantic piece visually and styled it in terms of choreography, lighting and music," said Pilkington.

Ice definitely has its share of arresting images. Keep in mind that the moods and scenes change drastically. One moment it may be romantic and dreamy, then out of nowhere, three guys come on stage, share jokes and play fast-paced violin music.

Other outrageous acts include performers executing impressive balancing skills, high flips, skating on stilts, twirling multiple hula hoops and much more.

With the risky stunts on ice, there are moments when the audience collectively holds their breath.

"There have been some close calls," said Pilkington. "The interesting thing is how well they recover and stay within their routine."

Yet with all the difficult tricks, for a second you forget that the show is on ice. There are so many amazing things happening at once, the acrobatics and the artistry are so engrossing, the fact the performers are on ice almost slips your mind.

Adding to the experience is the show's eclectic music selection which makes each number more distinct and memorable.

Realistically, when will you ever hear a live trance singer, trumpet player, violinists, and music like Pink Floyd and James Brown in one production? You'll find them all at Ice.

"It was a collaborative effort between the producer and director, Debra Brown," said Pilkington. "They literally went through hundreds and hundreds of different tracks to find the right music that conveyed not only what was going on stage physically, but emotionally as well."

Combining sheer talent, charisma and exceptional moves on ice, these ice dancers truly establish a powerful connection with the audience.

Do what you can to get close seats. They will allow you to appreciate all the subtle nuances of the performances.

After this show, the last thing on your mind will be the Las Vegas heat.