After a three-year hiatus, the Stars on Ice tour has returned to Canada, and no one could be happier than show choreographer Jeffrey Buttle, who had not performed live for an audience since December 2019.
But, having worked on the show since 2010, Buttle had an extensive repertoire of experience to draw from, which proved to be an invaluable asset he could rely on following the lengthy break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have all been craving a live audience for so long, and I think audiences have been craving live performances as well,” said Buttle. “You get that sense of relief that things are happening again and that everyone is appreciating being able to perform and people are appreciating being back in the stands. A lot of the skaters had been competing for no audiences, so everyone was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.”
Buttle started his 2022 Stars on Ice “Journey” — which is the theme of this year’s shows — in Japan. He and his assistant choreographer, Tyler Myles, a former Canadian ice dancer and now a coach, spent two weeks working on pre-production in Calgary and then went to Japan to install the show. The Japanese leg of the tour saw three performances in Osaka and three in Tokyo.
They then went to Fort Myers, Florida, to install the U.S. leg. “It has been a busy month, but it all came together really nicely and I am really happy,” said Buttle, the 2008 World champion. “Tyler is a childhood friend who also trained at Mariposa so working on the show together was a blast. We spent half the time laughing.”
The U.S. tour is currently playing out in 24 cities, while 12 shows will take place in Canada.
This year, there are six new cast members on the Canadian tour: Elladj Baldé, Keegan Messing, Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro, Satoko Miyahara and Alissa Czisny. “Almost half the cast is newbies, rookies, so it is great having that new energy,” said Buttle, adding that Messing arrived in Halifax for rehearsals but his skates were once again delayed.
“The first day in Halifax was one of elation. For so many in the last couple of years it was ‘the tour is happening’ and then ‘nope, it’s cancelled.’ I think we all just got used to things being cancelled or postponed, so for all of us to be there in person and realize that it was actually happening was such a relief. The group has been so enthusiastic about being back on the ice.
“The opening night in Halifax was my first show in a really, really long time. It was great; just a joy is how I would describe it. I was a little bit nervous, you know, skating under lights…but everything came flooding back. It is something I have missed a lot in my life for sure.”
Buttle said the concept for “Journey” is a way to share the individual experiences of each skater and acknowledging all the people who helped them along the way. “I really wanted it to speak on behalf of the skaters about their personal journeys through the Olympics, the pandemic; the journey through their lives and to share with audiences those who have shaped the skaters′ personal journeys.
“An Olympic year makes you go back and think about all the people who helped you along the way, and I think that journey can draw parallels to everyone about their life. It is not just Olympians, it isn’t just athletes — everyone can identify with that. It really does take a village. So on behalf of all the skaters, it is just great to pay respect to the people that helped them get here.
“Everyone was asked to submit photos of their journey. It is so fun to see photos like those of Satoko when she was 3 years old flash across the screen. You get a little glimpse of everyone’s life — little glimpses that you may not have known about. It is a bit of a retrospect for everyone.”
Buttle had the opportunity to see the “I Lived” program Jason Brown had chosen prior to the start of the U.S. tour. He said he was totally captivated by the routine. “I was at the Cricket Club and Tracy (Wilson) asked me if I wanted to see it. I was like ‘of course!’ It is an endearing piece that he brings his personality to. It brings a tear to the eye just watching it because it is very heartfelt — it is just perfect for the show and perfect for the message. And, of course, he is just unbelievable.”
The three-time Canadian champion also has high praise for the newcomers on the Canadian tour. “Elladj brings this fresh energy. He does a hip hop number in the first act that is just so him. It is hard to imagine anyone else pulling off what he is doing. In the second act, he skates a tribute to his Guinean heritage. It is a more traditional look and it is just so breathtaking. It just has this really beautiful energy.
“Mike and Kirsten came with brand new pieces that I believe were choreographed by Mark Pillay. They are so fun. They have taken to touring like a fish to water and have been a wonderful addition to the tour. With it being their first time on tour it can be a daunting thing with rehearsals and learning how to skate with a group, getting into formation and stuff like that, but they have been such pros. Prior to the shows Mike is in the dressing room studying the videos before we go out every night.
“And, oh my God! They have one of the best headbangers I have ever seen. The opening number is ACDC, which really rocks and has a lot of energy. So I asked them: ‘Do you guys do a headbanger?’ They said yes, but you don’t know what that means if you have not seen it in person. Anyway, the first one they did my jaw dropped. It was so dynamic.
“With Satoko, it is so refreshing to have some international flavor in the cast. She has this gorgeous routine in the second half set to “Stabat Mater Dolorosa” by Giovanni Pergolesi that was choreographed by Kenta Kojiri, a contemporary Japanese dancer. And she is wearing this beautiful white dress that is the length of an ice dancer’s costume. It is just stunning.”
Buttle also has a new show program set to a version of the Beatles classic “In My Life” that he and his long-time choreographer David Wilson collaborated on. “It is images of people who have shaped my life in and out of skating. It is difficult for me not to become overwhelmed with emotion when I am skating and looking at the screen – seeing my mom and dad, my sister, David and my coach Lee (Barkell). It is a tribute to all the people that really made me who I am,” Buttle explained.
Wilson, who choreographed Buttle’s programs throughout his competitive career, was happy to be back working with one of his favorite students. “Jeff actually found the Diana Krall version and it only took us three days to design the program. After working together for so many years, that was all the time we needed,” he said.
When asked his favorite part of the show, Buttle cited the finale, which is “an 11-minute marathon set to a bunch of Elton John hits. If we did all his hits it would be a four-hour number, but it’s just so much fun to perform.
“It is such a fun show. I can tell that the skaters really love doing it and it has just the kind of energy fans will enjoy after a three-year hiatus.”
RELATED CONTENT:
SKATE ORDER/MUSIC LIST – CANADIAN TOUR
SKATE ORDER/MUSIC LIST – U.S. TOUR
JASON BROWN LOVING LIFE ON STARS ON ICE