Holiday On Ice, known as the world’s longest-running touring show, is celebrating their 80th anniversary! They are overjoyed to share this incredible new production, “Aurore (A New Day).” The show is now touring the cities of France. It enchants viewers with an adventurous mix of circus arts, stage performance, and ice dance. This extraordinary performance will run through April 28. It highlights the creativity and craftsmanship that have made Holiday On Ice an entertainment industry leader for more than 70 years.
This year, “Aurore” has a passport to an amazing adventure. The heroine leaves her universe, traveling across time and space, eventually arriving on Earth as an adult. There, she’s introduced to a young Earthling named Adam. This story sets a highly engaging stage for the demonstration and experience. Meticulous set designs, elaborate costumes, and occasional visual effects combined with camera magic maximize its animation-inspired artistry.
A Commitment to Craftsmanship
The most impressive part of “Aurore” is how specific it is. Holiday On Ice’s skilful team have created an unbelievable 350 bespoke production costumes for this show alone. In addition to these costumes, we built hundreds of wigs. In her words, “which means every single performer is a 100% representation of that character!
The dedication extends beyond costumes. It’s an incredible show that takes a lot of logistical coordination ahead of each stop along the tour. Holiday On Ice carries the logistics of 12 semi-trailers, filled with all their equipment! This comes with 38 tonnes of equipment that the crew need to set up at each stop. From thawing and freezing to hauling and raising, the crew builds up—and breaks down—two ice rinks. This flexibility means that performances can occur in a variety of spaces.
“Once you’ve seen the show you’ll realise that’s not true at all. The reason it’s lasted so long is because we’ve managed to adapt to new technology, as well as new skating and production techniques.” – Olivier Genest
A Diverse Team Behind the Magic
The making of “Aurore” is based on a dynamic group of creative and technical gifted people. Holiday On Ice showcases the attraction of this internationally famous show, hiring 80 staff from 18 countries. Among them are 40 skaters who tell the story through their amazing athleticism and theatrical bravado.
Additionally, the crew includes 30 technicians responsible for managing the complex technical aspects of the show and 10 administrators who ensure everything runs smoothly. Interdisciplinary collaboration between all these professionals is key to making the show an unforgettable experience for our audiences.
“It’s the longest-running touring show in the world.” – Olivier Genest
A Show That Inspires Connection
Director Francisco Negrin spotlights the emotional center of “Aurore.” Above all, he hopes the show will inspire audiences to reconnect with what makes life extraordinary. In the wake of the uncertainty that has been brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, this feeling rings especially true.
“I think with Covid, it’s nice to revisit the beauty of being human and everything that surrounds us, because we kind of lost it for a little bit.” – Francisco Negrin
Audience members can expect a visually striking final scene featuring a towering sun god standing five metres high, which encapsulates the show’s grandeur. Aurore actor Gabriel St-Jean was one of the performers stage at the Heartbeat of Home auditions. He’s confident that even non-figure-skating enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy.
“Even if you’re not necessarily a big fan of figure skating, I think you’ll also be impressed.” – Gabriel St-Jean
St-Jean further elaborates on the multi-faceted nature of the production:
“Because it’s not just a figure skating show; there are so many more elements that add to it and create this unforgettable piece.” – Gabriel St-Jean
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