Fred's, (Used to be Barb's), Board

As rehearsals are beginning for the special 2023 Holiday Tour, the (annual) 2024 Spring tour has been announced: https://www.starsonice.ca/tour

Experience the pinnacle of figure skating at the 2024 Stars on Ice tour! Witness live performances by the world’s top skaters fresh from the 2024 World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal, including Canada's own Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier, Madeline Schizas and Deanna Stellato-Dudek & Maxime Deschamps.

The star-studded cast features luminaries Elvis Stojko, Patrick Chan, Keegan Messing, Satoko Miyahara, Loena Hendrickx and more!

In addition to the tremendous lineup, the iconic Kurt Browning is taking on a new role as the Director and Choreographer of the 2024 production. His connection with the audience and skating expertise will bring unique creativity and charisma to each performance, promising an unforgettable experience for all.

Tickets will go on sale December 7th (with some pre-sales on the 3 preceding days).

The tour information with links for ticket buying: https://www.starsonice.ca/buy-tickets
The dates, times, and locations:
Apr 25, 2024 - 7:00 PM - 2024 SPRING TOUR - HALIFAX, NS - SCOTIABANK CENTRE

Apr 26, 2024 - 7:30 PM - 2024 SPRING TOUR - MONCTON, NB - AVENIR CENTRE

Apr 28, 2024 - 4:00 PM - 2024 SPRING TOUR - OTTAWA, ON - CANADIAN TIRE CENTRE

Apr 30, 2024 - 7:00 PM - 2024 SPRING TOUR - LAVAL, QC - PLACE BELL

May 3, 2024 - 7:30 PM - 2024 SPRING TOUR - TORONTO, ON - SCOTIABANK ARENA

May 4, 2024 - 7:30 PM - 2024 SPRING TOUR - ST. CATHARINES, ON - MERIDIAN CENTRE

May 5, 2024 - 4:00 PM - 2024 SPRING TOUR - LONDON, ON - BUDWEISER GARDENS

May 9, 2024 - 7:00 PM - 2024 SPRING TOUR - REGINA, SK - BRANDT CENTRE

May 10, 2024 - 7:30 PM - 2024 SPRING TOUR - CALGARY, AB - SCOTIABANK SADDLEDOME

May 12, 2024 - 4:00 PM - 2024 SPRING TOUR - EDMONTON, AB - ROGERS PLACE

May 14, 2024 - 7:00 PM - 2024 SPRING TOUR - VANCOUVER, BC - ROGERS ARENA

May 16, 2024 - 7:00 PM - 2024 SPRING TOUR - VICTORIA, BC - SAVE-ON-FOODS MEMORIAL CENTRE

There will be no US 2024 Stars on Ice tour - they are planning for 2025

An addition has been announced to the 2024 Canadian SOI tour


Kurt has posted this photo of himself in the "creative process" for the tour

As choreographer of Stars on Ice 2024, here is a peak of how the show is created.

Two "guest" appearances announced today by Stars on Ice:

We’re pleased to announce that 2024 Canadian Champions Wesley Chiu and Kaiya Ruiter will be guest stars in Stars on Ice this spring.
Kaiya will perform in Ottawa, and Wesley in Vancouver!

A press release post-Worlds: https://www.starsonice.ca/articles/2024 ... ia-malinin

Many of the cast members are currently in rehearsals in Japan preparing for the tour there, having flown there directly from Montreal!

Patrick Chan has announced that this will be his final Stars on Ice tour https://twitter.com/starsonice/status/1 ... 1546808638

His son is almost 3 and he and his wife are expecting another boy this summer; balancing a new career and family life with skating/touring has become more challenging.

The 2024 tour begins in Halifax next Thursday.

Rehearsals are underway at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax - some photos

Day Two of rehearsals and "the gang's all here"

It was sunny in Halifax for the 3rd day of rehearsals.


The tour kicks off on Thursday evening at the Scotiabank Centre, the location of this year's Skate Canada International in late October.

Some background on the theme of this year's SOI and the theme "The Science of Skating" from Rob Brodie's interview with Kurt:
https://rwbrodiewrites.substack.com/p/t ... rs-on-icel

~~~~~~

A review, with video clips, of last night's opening show of the tour by Ryan Stevens (Skateguard): https://www.skateguardblog.com/2024/04/ ... e2024.html
It includes some video clips. There are more clips on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SkateGuard

The review ends with this advice:

If you're at all on the fence about going to this year's show, don't be! The performances were top-notch, and watching a new generation of talented individuals breathe life into Kurt Browning's imaginative choreography was an absolute joy. You will love the show.

I'm looking forward to seeing it on Sunday

A Globe & Mail article that I have gifted to you based on an interview with Patrick Chan: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/f1 ... GZOFHKLFA/

He talks about retiring from competitive skating and now from touring.

~~~~~~~

And Bev Smith on Patrick's farewell tour: https://bevsmithwrites.com/send-in-the- ... -farewell/

Thank you for the gift Elizabeth as I don’t subscribe to the Globe and Mail.

Patrick so forthright in that interview, giving us a sense of who he is now and his struggle to succeed in his new roles after devoting 20 plus years to skating. Not easy to walk away from the thing you love and what defines you.

He gave us many years of pleasure. It was a joy just to watch him stroke. Thank you Patrick.

Assume you’ll be in attendance tonight Elizabeth. Enjoy.

Judy wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 3:46 pm Thank you for the gift Elizabeth as I don’t subscribe to the Globe and Mail.

Patrick so forthright in that interview, giving us a sense of who he is now and his struggle to succeed in his new roles after devoting 20 plus years to skating. Not easy to walk away from the thing you love and what defines you.

He gave us many years of pleasure. It was a joy just to watch him stroke. Thank you Patrick.

Assume you’ll be in attendance tonight Elizabeth. Enjoy.

I was at the show last night, Judy. I really enjoyed it. Patrick skated beautifully and got a chance to speak to the audience.

I found the show was a bit of a throwback to "days of yore" where there were small group numbers in between the solos that sort of tied things together in line with the theme of the show. There was a good crowd that seemed very responsive even if the sound wasn't the greatest, at times.

A backstage photo including Kurt and guest skater Kaiya from Ottawa

IMPORTANT DATE CHANGE!!
Due to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Edmonton SOI show has been moved forward a day.

The Stars on Ice Edmonton show originally scheduled for May 12th at Rogers Place - has MOVED to SATURDAY night, May 11th at 7:30pm!
Tickets for May 12th WILL be honored for the new May 11th show date. Visit http://starsonice.ca or contact @RogersPlace
for more info.