Dancing on Ice @ Newcastle Arena, Sunday 6 May 2007 The Arena, host to such shows as Riverdance and the X Factor, entertained a full house with this live adaptation of Torvill and Dean's reality TV series. An electric atmosphere was further fired by show-caller Spike Allibone who encouraged the audience to whoop, catcall, clap and stamp their feet at appropriate moments. Boos were positively encouraged if the least-favoured judge, Jason, stepped out of line! Graceful Bonnie Langford's dedication to the sport was firmly highlighted in a delightful, fast-paced routine, skated to a rip-roaring 20s tune with partner Matt. She was light and graceful, executing a wonderful spiral. And her trademark spin in both directions - no mean feat, I can tell you - brought much applause. Clare Buckfield had a force to reckon with there! | "The main highlight of the show still had to be Torvill and Dean... they were foot perfect, elegant and magical." | | Dorothy Billing |
Kyran came out to rapturous applause and performed his most popular robot/body popping routine without a hitch, much to the delight of the audience. During the latter part of the show, professionals Fred Palascak and Melanie Lambert performed an exciting number, skated at great speed to the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, Can Can. This was in a class of its own, with its daring and physically challenging throws and lifts, with Fred literally throwing Melanie over his back to gasps from the audience when he - whew! - caught her again much to everyone's relief. Glitz and glamour But the main highlight of the show still had to be Torvill and Dean. Performing a beautiful slow number to The Beatles' Imagine, they were foot perfect, elegant and magical. This was ice dancing at its very best and the quality of their skating cannot be denied. If you enjoy glitz, glamour, fun and danger, in equal measure, then this show hit the mark. Since Torvill and Dean's triumph at the Olympics with Bolero, there has not been a pair to rival them. Could this be the start of another chapter? Let's wait and see. | 
