By Karen Bloom
Those who can’t wait for the 2010 Winter Olympics, will get at taste of what high-level competitive skating is all about in this latest installment of Scott Hamilton’s Smucker’s Stars On Ice tour when it visits Long Island Friday.
The skating tour expands its boundaries as it returns for the 23rd season. The all-new production “On the Edge” promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats as the best skaters in the world show their amazing moves on the ice. Olympic Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen returns for her second season to headline the production, joined by Olympic, World, and National Champions who show fans what it takes to have the heart of a champion.
This year fans are in for a special treat: Smucker’s Stars on Ice welcomes 2008 World Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist Jeffrey Buttle as a guest for this performance. Buttle, who retired from competiton in September 2008, is skating with the Stars On Ice tour for the first time. “I wasn't sure what to expect,” he said. “I'm loving it just as much as the fans. The audiences are amazing and every night is different.” The three-time Canadian champion welcomes the opportunity to demonstrate his skills for American fans. “I'm building a rapport with American audiences who are very receptive to this show,” he said. With a World title now to his credit, Buttle is motivated to explore more innovative approaches to skating, which translates into his performance with the Stars On Ice tour.
This production is completely different than previous shows, Buttle said, in that the skaters are showcasing their technical skills. Each skater gets the opportunity to perform a competitive routine of the type prepared for competition. “We're demonstrating both sides of the sport,” Buttle said, “the artistic and the technical.
The skaters all perform a program, full of competitive elements. It’s a preview of what audiences might see in Olympic competition. “We have really pushed ourselves to the limit for this show,” Buttle said. “We’ve put in a lot of jumps and special elements”
From triple jumps to backflips (not permitted in Olympic competition), this show has it all. And, as the tour continues, Buttle noted, “we keep pushing to increase the difficulty of our routines.” Jumps, lifts, spins, and tosses keep skaters and audience literally on the edge. The show incorporates solos, duets and group routines, displaying each skater's talents, as they take their skills to new heights; challenging themselves, daring to be different.
“We do a little bit of everything, with a variety of music,” Buttle said. There is something for everyone .”
Cohen and Buttle are joined by a cast of Olympic, World and National Champions, including World Champion and six-time U.S. Champion Todd Eldredge, two-time World Bronze Medalist and three-time U.S. Champion Michael Weiss, 1998 Olympic Gold Medalist Ilia Kulik (Russia), World Champion and two-time Japanese Ladies Champion Yuka Sato, World Bronze Medalist and three-time U.S. Pair Champion John Zimmerman, six-time Canadian Ladies Champion Jennifer Robinson, two-time Olympic Medalists and three-time World Pair Champions Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao (China), two-time World Silver Medalists and five-time Canadian Dance Champions Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon, and others.
The show is known for intricate lighting, dynamic costumes, cutting-edge choreography and state-of-the-art technology, which all combine to create theatrical spectacle. This year's production features a broad spectrum of popular music, with a soundtrack that ranges from Beethoven to Big and Rich, Dave Koz and Celine Dion.
Photo: Jeffrey Buttle
Caption: World Champion Jeffrey Buttle brings his unique blend of artistry and athleticism to his performances with the Stars on Ice tour. See him at Nassau Coliseum on Friday.
Jeffrey Buttle up close
Jeffrey Buttle is not household name to many American figure skating fans. That is about to change. The young Canadian, making his first guest starring appearance with the Smucker’s Stars on Ice tour, is mesmerizing American audiences with his talent and virtuoso performance.
He is eager to his introduce himself to the American public in a big way.” I love to perform,” he said. Everyone has been very receptive to me and I’m looking forward to appearing before the Long Island audience.”
Buttle burst onto the international scene in 2002 when he upset the favorites to win the ISU Four Continents Championships, a feat he repeated in 2004. He placed eighth in his Worlds debut, receiving great praise for his musicality and artistry. In 2005, he earned his first World Championships medal and in 2006 he was the leading skater on the Canadian Winter Olympic team, winning the bronze medal. World Championships gold was his in 2008 (the first Canadian man to win the title in 11 years), when two strong performances placed him on the top step of the podium.
“It was definitely an exciting season. I’m obviously elated with the World Championships,” he said. “At first, it was shocking. It didn’t seem like it was real. It took a while to digest the title itself. After, I felt there was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Instead of this pressure you’d think I might feel it was the opposite. I feel very at ease on the ice.”
Buttle has been skating since the age of 2 and competing since he was 6. He has divided his time between two training bases, working with Lee Barkell at the world-renowned Mariposa School Skating in Barrie, Ontario, and Raphael Arutunian at the Ice Castle International Training Center in Lake Arrowhead, Calif. He also spends time working with choreographer David Wilson at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club. He has appreciated the willingness of all members of his training team to work collaboratively.
With a World title now to his credit, Buttle feels motivated to explore more innovative approaches to skating. On Sept. 10, 2008 he announced his retirement from competitive skating. “Representing Canada around the world has been an honor and I’m very proud of my achievements as a competitive figure skater,” said Buttle, who is retaining his eligible status and leaving the door open for a future return to Olympic sport. “I’ve had so much support throughout my career –I’ll be forever grateful to my fans, coaches and of course, my family.”
Buttle’s performance skills and willingness to experiment with diverse choreography have been honed by four years with Stars on Ice Canada. Audiences expect the best out of the skaters night in and night out, and he has learned to meet their expectations. Of course, they gave him great motivation in the form of standing ovations before he even skated in recognition of his golden achievements.
Buttle also takes pride in pursuing his education. He has been a student at the University of Toronto, where he studied chemical engineering. Due to the demands of his Olympic pursuit, he temporarily put his studies on hold, but now plans to return to school.
With his focus on the performance end of the sport, he is ready to let his creativity flow. “Whenever I approached a season, I was always diligent in picking music that really hasn’t been done before,” said Buttle. “Now as a performer, I am able to be more abstract in my music choices.”
Smucker's Stars on Ice
Friday, Mar. 27, 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25 and may be purchased at the Coliseum Box Office, Ticketmaster locations, (631) 888-9000 or www.ticketmaster.com.
A portion of the proceeds benefits Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
