A Spellbinding Journey on Ice Enchants ROHM audience
Published: 03:01 PM,Jan 06,2025 | EDITED : 03:01 PM,Jan 08,2025
Photos by Khalid al Busaidi
The much-anticipated New Year’s show, “Beauty and the Beast on Ice”, was brought to The Royal Opera House Muscat for three performances last weekend by the UK-based company, ‘The International Ice Stars’. It was a sparkling success and spectacular experience for all those who attended, young and old, animating this traditional fairy-tale with enchanting, magical effects.
The stage of ROHM was transformed into a real skating rink, the house was sold out, and blankets were provided for each guest against any cold! Stage sets magnified the charm of the production in the form of four projected backdrops depicting the Enchanted Castle Gardens, the Village Square, Beauty’s House and Inside the Castle.
The company commissioned an original score from the talented Italian composer, Silvio Amato to enhance the dramatic and emotional intensity of the narrative. It was a superb soundtrack, blending semi-classical styles with Spanish and Russian elements. There were touches of Broadway shows mixed with rhythmic fairground music; Tchaikovsky and Prokovief classical ballet meets John Williams’ film scores.
To add to the splendour of the fantasy, costumes in velvets and satin, designed by Licia Furieri, glistened in the light as dancers spun, twirled and leapt in fluid movement, all directed by Giuseppe Arena, considered to be among the most innovative ice choreographers today. Figure skating on ice is a balletic form, fusing the accuracy of classical synchronisation with gymnastics and acrobatics. Some gestures are necessarily affected by the weight - and sharpness - of the blades, such as leaping, lifting and spinning partners, and there were a few inevitable slips on the ice during this winter extravaganza.
Adding to the awe of this production were fire-breathers, juggling and twirling live flames on ice to amaze the audience, played by the enchantress herself and Anastasiia Bardanova. Aerial skaters, like high wire acrobats walking on air, were seamlessly interspersed with the celebrations. The Belarussian athlete, Krystina Kipinava and Chilean circus artist, Javier Miura twisted themselves above the stage on suspended aerial straps in the two acts’ finales, to resounding applause.
The tale began in falling snow at the castle gates as the mysterious enchantress dressed in black and puce, danced by fiery, dynamic Russian figure skater, Viktoriia Mikhailova, cast her curse on the arrogant prince.
The shift to the village square and market was as swift and smooth as the entrance of 5 townswomen in colourful garb, speeding across the ice in a thrilling, dazzling display. One of Beauty’s sisters was dressed in red (Canadian figure skater, Jennyfer Labelle), the other in blue (Russian ice skater, Irina Tkachuk) - always perfectly coordinated in motion. Beauty’s Brother was spellbinding with his incredible flexibility and back flips, displaying an athletic whirlwind throughout the evening, exquisitely performed by Russian dancer, Artem Khramov.
Another principal male and nemesis of the Beast was Beauty’s father, played superbly by the experienced and energetic Philadelphia-based figure skater and contemporary dancer, Isaac Lindy. He is dressed in deep burgundy velvet matching Beauty’s, and perhaps this connection symbolises the intense and special, protective bond between father and daughter.
Father’s scene at the atmospheric Castle gates is utterly memorable. Five pairs of woodland creatures, dressed entirely in green emerge as father watches the mystical fantasy to a romantic classical waltz. The castle under a full moon is highly evocative and other-worldly as father plucks a white rose as requested by Beauty. The gates open to a ghastly wood and the enraged Beast appears, wearing a mask and wild hair. His athletic approach to the role began here, spinning theatrically from prince to Beast and back, skated impressively by Russian principal performer, Ratibor Shirokov.
Unique and central to this visit to Muscat was the star of the show, Omani-British elite skater, Amani Fancy, returning to where her story began when she first fell in love with ice. Her performance was truly breath-taking as her petite, nimble figure fulfilled the role of Beauty in every sense. Particularly poignant were her duets with the Beast in Act 2, their complementary forms perfectly synchronised as they danced inside the castle, falling in love to a classical romantic score.
The Finale was the perfect climax to the performance. The subdued colours of the castle interior underwent a transformation into a surreal, bright pink palace, symbolising love’s true power over fear. The five couples of the Corps de Ballet were dressed in matching pink courtiers’ costumes exploring their most virtuoso ensemble dancing, girls lifted above boys’ shoulders like fairy trophies. Beauty and her prince entered in pure white as bride and groom in a mesmerising ‘pas de deux’. Amani spun in endless pirouettes and numerous tricky leaps – never losing her footing
The couple on the high wire gave a grand display of agility and strength, the enchantress demonstrated her most impressive spinning technique and one by one the members of Beauty’s family gave startling cameo solos - as if one needed further proof of their outstanding talent in this splendid beginning to 2025.
The much-anticipated New Year’s show, “Beauty and the Beast on Ice”, was brought to The Royal Opera House Muscat for three performances last weekend by the UK-based company, ‘The International Ice Stars’. It was a sparkling success and spectacular experience for all those who attended, young and old, animating this traditional fairy-tale with enchanting, magical effects.
The stage of ROHM was transformed into a real skating rink, the house was sold out, and blankets were provided for each guest against any cold! Stage sets magnified the charm of the production in the form of four projected backdrops depicting the Enchanted Castle Gardens, the Village Square, Beauty’s House and Inside the Castle.
The company commissioned an original score from the talented Italian composer, Silvio Amato to enhance the dramatic and emotional intensity of the narrative. It was a superb soundtrack, blending semi-classical styles with Spanish and Russian elements. There were touches of Broadway shows mixed with rhythmic fairground music; Tchaikovsky and Prokovief classical ballet meets John Williams’ film scores.
To add to the splendour of the fantasy, costumes in velvets and satin, designed by Licia Furieri, glistened in the light as dancers spun, twirled and leapt in fluid movement, all directed by Giuseppe Arena, considered to be among the most innovative ice choreographers today. Figure skating on ice is a balletic form, fusing the accuracy of classical synchronisation with gymnastics and acrobatics. Some gestures are necessarily affected by the weight - and sharpness - of the blades, such as leaping, lifting and spinning partners, and there were a few inevitable slips on the ice during this winter extravaganza.
Adding to the awe of this production were fire-breathers, juggling and twirling live flames on ice to amaze the audience, played by the enchantress herself and Anastasiia Bardanova. Aerial skaters, like high wire acrobats walking on air, were seamlessly interspersed with the celebrations. The Belarussian athlete, Krystina Kipinava and Chilean circus artist, Javier Miura twisted themselves above the stage on suspended aerial straps in the two acts’ finales, to resounding applause.
The tale began in falling snow at the castle gates as the mysterious enchantress dressed in black and puce, danced by fiery, dynamic Russian figure skater, Viktoriia Mikhailova, cast her curse on the arrogant prince.
The shift to the village square and market was as swift and smooth as the entrance of 5 townswomen in colourful garb, speeding across the ice in a thrilling, dazzling display. One of Beauty’s sisters was dressed in red (Canadian figure skater, Jennyfer Labelle), the other in blue (Russian ice skater, Irina Tkachuk) - always perfectly coordinated in motion. Beauty’s Brother was spellbinding with his incredible flexibility and back flips, displaying an athletic whirlwind throughout the evening, exquisitely performed by Russian dancer, Artem Khramov.
Another principal male and nemesis of the Beast was Beauty’s father, played superbly by the experienced and energetic Philadelphia-based figure skater and contemporary dancer, Isaac Lindy. He is dressed in deep burgundy velvet matching Beauty’s, and perhaps this connection symbolises the intense and special, protective bond between father and daughter.
Father’s scene at the atmospheric Castle gates is utterly memorable. Five pairs of woodland creatures, dressed entirely in green emerge as father watches the mystical fantasy to a romantic classical waltz. The castle under a full moon is highly evocative and other-worldly as father plucks a white rose as requested by Beauty. The gates open to a ghastly wood and the enraged Beast appears, wearing a mask and wild hair. His athletic approach to the role began here, spinning theatrically from prince to Beast and back, skated impressively by Russian principal performer, Ratibor Shirokov.
Unique and central to this visit to Muscat was the star of the show, Omani-British elite skater, Amani Fancy, returning to where her story began when she first fell in love with ice. Her performance was truly breath-taking as her petite, nimble figure fulfilled the role of Beauty in every sense. Particularly poignant were her duets with the Beast in Act 2, their complementary forms perfectly synchronised as they danced inside the castle, falling in love to a classical romantic score.
The Finale was the perfect climax to the performance. The subdued colours of the castle interior underwent a transformation into a surreal, bright pink palace, symbolising love’s true power over fear. The five couples of the Corps de Ballet were dressed in matching pink courtiers’ costumes exploring their most virtuoso ensemble dancing, girls lifted above boys’ shoulders like fairy trophies. Beauty and her prince entered in pure white as bride and groom in a mesmerising ‘pas de deux’. Amani spun in endless pirouettes and numerous tricky leaps – never losing her footing
The couple on the high wire gave a grand display of agility and strength, the enchantress demonstrated her most impressive spinning technique and one by one the members of Beauty’s family gave startling cameo solos - as if one needed further proof of their outstanding talent in this splendid beginning to 2025.