The Holiday Festival On Ice taping for CBC, held at Penticton's South Okanagan Events Centre, put many of Canada's favorite skaters in front of skating fans from throughout the valley.
Skating either to prerecorded music, or in many cases to the live performancs of either George Canyon or One More Girl, the who's who of Canadian figure skating delighted the crowd with both their athleticism and their art. The show opened with an ensemble number, with all the cast members skating to George Canyon's "I Believe in Angels". From there, it was a succesion of solo skaters or duos performing their programs with all the flair of a competition, without the pressure of a panel of judges, but nevertheless with the full knowledge of the cameras filming each piece for the future television special.
Kurt Browning continues to be loved by Canadians of all ages and from all backgrounds. While he may no longer be competing, the footwork that made him legendary was on full display last night. Joannie Rochette, who performed so valiantly at this years Olympics, also received the audience's adoration and appreciation the moment she stepped on the ice to start her program.
One by one, starting with Steven Cousins, and then on to Shawn Sawyer, who performed 2 backflips, the extreme skating pair of Violetta Afanasieva and Pete Dack, Jeffrey Buttle, Browning, Rochette, Ashley Wagner and the amazing pair of Sale and Pelletier, each skater or pair delivered spirited programs that thrilled and entertained the Penticton crowd. The order was changed up for the second half of the evening, after the intermission, and all once again took to the ice to perform their second routines.
While all the programs were excellent, and delivered with excellence, the highlights for this reviewer (and I make no pretense of being a figure skating expert) were Browning's program to Geoffrey Tyler's rendition of the Joni Mitchell classic "River", Afanasieva & Dack's "(Christmas) Baby Please Come Home" routine, and Sale & Pelletier's very dynamic skate to Blue Rodeo's "Try". Having said that, Shawn Sawyer was amazing, Rochette was so expressive, and Ashley Wagner brings something to her routines beyond her youth and seeming innocence.
Do catch the broadcast on CBC on December 14th if you're a figure skating fan. It was a wonderful show with a truly festive feel.
Musical host and performer George Canyon, along with his band, laid down some seriously nice tunes. Perfect blend of country, swing and jazz by a very, very good band. One More Girl also supported the skate programs well.