Hollywood, an ice show that blends performing arts, skating and entertainment, first came to Taiwan in 2005. It was the first time the main hall of the Taipei Arena was fitted for ice performances, making it the first ice show in Taiwan with over ten thousand seats.
Hollywood brought together 50 figure-skating stars from 24 countries. Its theme was the birthplace of film production, exploring the many genres made by Hollywood studios since the twentieth century. Skaters glided through scene after scene of film-making, from solos and pairs to thrilling group numbers, every act a creative piece. Creative director Anthony Van Laast, a Laurence Olivier Award winner on Broadway who has worked on world-famous musicals such as Chess and choreographed Mamma Mia, was the soul of the show. Holiday on Ice, the ice-entertainment company, has set many astonishing world records. Founded in Ohio, USA, in 1943, it was the first ice show company in history and was named for its first performance, which ran from Christmas to New Year. In 1945 it introduced advanced artificial-ice technology, which allowed it to tour everywhere.
Since 1996, Holiday on Ice has combined ice performance with theatre, dance, opera, pop music, magic, acrobatics, musicals and special effects, seeking new ways to break through traditional skating shows while keeping the character of modern concept-driven productions. With richer artistic forms it creates distinctive works, and it has become the only choice for the world’s top competitive skaters turning professional.
Hollywood took film genres as its blueprint and danced the most classic stories and scenes from the 1930s to the 2000s, from early silent films to recent blockbusters, from action to musicals, epics to comedies, romance to science fiction, set to signature film themes and including adaptations of well-known films such as the romantic Titanic, the action film 007 and Chaplin’s witty silents. With more than 500 costumes and 18 containers of sets and props, it recreated the most dazzling story scenes of three generations of Hollywood cinema.
