BWW Previews CINDERELLA ON ICE at Teatro At Montecasino: Ten Things You Didn't Know About The Imperial Ice Stars

The world-famous Imperial Ice Stars are back in South Africa for the seventh time and are set to thrill South African audiences once more with their magical production, CINDERELLA ON ICE, at the Teatro at Montecasino over the upcoming festive season. Having built up a huge following of fans over the years with tours of THE SLEEPING BEAUTY ON ICE, THE NUTCRACKER ON ICE and SWAN LAKE ON ICE, the Imperial Ice Stars are a firm favourite whenever they visit South Africa. But how well do you know what goes into making these spectacular ice visions a reality? Test yourself with BroadwayWorld's list of "Ten Things You Didn't Know About The Imperial Ice Stars!"

1. The Imperial Ice Stars have performed to more than three million people across five continents. In addition to their regular South African visits, have toured in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Holland, France, Belgium, Finland, Monaco, Beirut, Israel, China, Italy, Serbia, Romania, Hungary, Abu Dhabi, Canada, Russia and even in Cyprus in an outdoor amphitheatre in temperatures of 40°C!

2. In Summer 2013, the Imperial Ice Stars performed four different shows in four consecutive weeks in four different countries. These included THE NUTCRACKER in Thailand, SWAN LAKE in Israel, CINDERELLA in Abu Dhabi and SLEEPING BEAUTY in the United Kingdom, with that stretch of the tour finishing in the West End with THE NUTCRACKER at The London Palladium - no mean feat for an international touring company.

3. Over the 2014-2015 touring period, a total of 484 visas applications were filled in by our company manager. That's an average of more than one visa application every day of the year.

4. Since the last time we were in South Africa, an average member of the company has travelled around 185 000 kilometres. In a Boeing 747, that would take 230 hours and is the equivalent of going around the earth nearly five times!

5. The Imperial Ice Stars are the only ice skating company to have won a theatrical award. They were awarded the Manchester Evening News Best Special Entertainment Award for their production of SWAN LAKE ON ICE in 2007.

6. Some of the skating moves performed by The Imperial Ice Stars have never been attempted before. They are so complex that they have not been seen in competition or on stage - in fact, they haven't been named yet!

7. The Imperial Ice Stars represent the cream of Russian skating talent. The Olympic, World, European and National Championship skaters have one over 300 competition medals between them, some of whom started skating from at as young as three years of age.

8. Being part of The Imperial Ice Stars means being part of a community. There have been five weddings and three babies from people who have met whilst on tour with the Imperial Ice Stars.

9. To pull CINDERELLA ON ICE together, the performers rehearsed for nine or more hours a day, six days a week, for seven weeks. They also rehearse for 3 hours each day before the show.

10. For CINDERELLA ON ICE, 44 people tour with the show including performers, technicians and a doctor with a further 17 people required in each venue. Six languages are spoken on tour, with rehearsals conducted and notes given mainly in Russian and the backstage crew speaking mainly in English.

CINDERELLA ON ICE is a new interpretation of the classic tale. Cinderella, a humble chorus dancer, is thrust into the spotlight as a prima ballerina and captivates the handsome Lord Mayor's son, the most eligible bachelor in town, with her graceful performance. Despite rival attempts by her stepsisters to steal his heart, the kindly Watchmakers and Gypsy Fortune Teller ensure that true love triumphs.

Promising to be an unforgettable experience, CINDERELLA ON ICE is guaranteed to take away the breath of South African audiences. Enter a world of magic and dazzling skating brilliance in the perfect festive season show for the whole family to enjoy. CINDERELLA ON ICE runs from 1 December 2017 - 7 January 2018. Tickets, ranging in price from R100 - R425, are available from Computicket.

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