Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
It truly is a small world after all as spectacular skaters from across the globe delighted Disney fans with a series of magical musical performances throughout Eid Al Fitr.
On the ice the family-favourite characters displayed high-flying tricks wearing colourful costumes amid exciting visual effects and foot-stomping numbers.
Disney on Ice presents Passport to Adventure concludes today. The show, produced by Feld Entertainment and hosted by the Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority, lived up to its hype in more ways than one.
Members of the media were treated to a sneak-preview and backstage visit earlier on in the week. During the special tour, costumes and props were placed on display and a selection of scenes from the show were unveiled.
Keri Jones, the Disney on Ice tour coordinator, promised that the show, which features 48 world-class ice skaters from around the world including Japan, Belgium, Czech Republic, America, Canada, Philippines and Bulgaria would have something for everybody and it truly did.
She said the performing troupe was particularly excited to be part of the the first touring ice show in Bahrain. “Our show boasts lots of colour, amazing costumes and favourite songs like The Little Mermaid’s Under the Sea and Frozen’s Let it Go,” she explained. “It’s great when we are touring to hear all the children singing along.
“There is so much activity on the ice and so many stories that children and adults never get bored … plus some amazing skating and tricks that produce plenty of surprises for the audience.”
Passport to Adventure was created by a team of ice show industry experts such as award-winning choreographer Cindy Stuart, who collaborated with Olympic Gold Medalist Robin Cousins on multiple projects, Jerry Bilik, music coordinator for The 31st Annual Emmy Awards, and Patty Vincent who has been creative director for all touring Disney On Ice productions. The tour started in Europe in September taking in the UK, Spain, France, Belgium and Switzerland before heading to the Gulf region with a stopover in Dubai before helping to make the Eid holidays memorable in Bahrain.
Although the show has been updated and changed into different formats, it has been electrifying fans for the past 23 years.
Hundreds of families and friends have already flocked to the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC) and there was a full house on Saturday afternoon for the premiere.
From the moment people stepped through the BIECC doors, they were transported into a Disney wonderland full of memorabilia including Little Mermaid and Frozen princess dolls, glowing icicle sticks and wands, Olaf soft toys and other fun souvenirs. Even some of the snacks were Frozen-themed with Olaf snow cones in mugs alongside Mickey Mouse & Friends popcorn bags.
Disney movies and past ice performances played on giant screens in the food court and the whole arena was full of life and laughter even before the show started. Many children were dressed as their favourite Disney movie characters and their parents appeared equally as excited.
Businessman Jude D’Souza, who attended the show with his wife, Dona, and children Andreas, six, and Alexis, one, said: “This show transports you back to your own childhood and I’m happy that the kids were able to enjoy what we watched growing up.”
When three skaters glided onto the ice for a pre-show warm-up assisted by Zootopia mascots, children began to scream and joined in their routine. The skaters reminded the audience to stay hydrated and wished them all a great time and then the two-hour show took off.
It started with a Small World feature in which performers dressed in outfits representing numerous countries spun and twirled to the classic song.
Everyone who has watched Walt Disney movies or visited Disneyworld will have heard this family favourite which also boasts its own ride.
Then Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy appeared and everyone waved hello and screamed.
The first stop on a global journey included a stopover in Africa where Simba from The Lion King and his friends Timon and Pumbaa, Nala and Rafiki took to the ice.
Peter Pan’s Tinkerbell sparkled too as pixie dust shot out of her wand every time she twirled. The pirate ship and the Lost Boys home were remarkable with producers obviously paying attention to every detail. The crowd stomped their feet at the Pirates Yo Ho Ho song and laughed at Captain Hook when he came across the Tick-Tock Croc.
After a 15-minute break … the magic continued with The Little Mermaid’s Princess Ariel began to sing Part of Your World. Sebastian the crab and other colourful creatures sang Under the Sea and Kiss the Girl before Wicked Witch Ursula appeared. Her costume was mesmerising.
Just as the audience thought it couldn’t get any better, Frozen’s princesses Elssa and Anna appeared in full voice. Elssa’s Let it Go as always had children singing along in full voice and screaming. With every flick of Elssa wrist more sparks flew from the rink.
The show ended with a Disney flash mob dance and fireworks.
Jehan Hasan, 34, AVP in group strategy at Bank ABC, took her four-year-old twins, Hasan and Aryana, to the show. “We had a great time,” she said. “What a brilliant idea to bring this to Bahrain, it was extremely entertaining and the children loved the interaction.”
British School of Bahrain pupil and Ariel fan, Amelia Taylor, six, from Saar, came to the show with a friend and said: “I loved the dancing, especially when Wendy and her brothers flew and the skaters were lifted up in the air.”
Amelia’s mum, Nicola, a teacher at BSB, added: “The girls have been talking about it for weeks and were very excited. They loved all the costumes and the songs they know so well. The timing was perfect too because everyone has been in a really celebratory mood for Eid. It was so lovely.”
There is a final show today at 3pm so if you haven’t seen it, this is the one time GulfWeekly suggests you really don’t ‘let it go’!
