Aspen’s annual Ice Spectacular promises to be ‘best show yet’

Each year, Aspen’s Revolutions Skating Club outdoes itself by presenting the Ice Spectacular. This winter’s show — with two performances today at the Lewis Ice Arena — is no different.

“This year we have the most talented cast and the greatest number of skaters ever,” said Peggy Behr of the Revolutions Skating Club. “It’s most definitely our best show yet.”

Behr said the reason for the show’s promised success is several-fold.

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First, the local skating club is collaborating with Ice Dance International, which performs shows all over the world with “programs that really set them apart.” In addition, one program was choreographed by renowned ballet choreographer Edward Villella.

“So, in that sense, this year is very different,” Behr said.

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Also, among the nine professional skaters coming to the ice are Ashley Clark, who literally skates with fire, national champion Ryan Bradley and hometown favorite Jeremy Abbott.

“It’s always an honor and pleasure to have Jeremy here,” Behr said of Abbott, who was born and raised in Aspen but now lives in Michigan. He is a four-time U.S. national champion and two-time Olympian.

“We like to call this ‘The Jeremy Abbott and Friends Show.’”

Also on tap is a solo by Revolutions’ skater Isiri Hughes, who is a sophomore at Aspen High, as well as a duet by Aspen Middle School eight-graders Bronwyn Chesner and Calla Diemer.

“These girls are going to jam, so it will be really exciting,” Behr said. “And my theory is that when these local kids go off to college and look back at their years skating here, what they’ll remember are these performances. I really feel like that’s the gift we give them as a club.”

In addition, with this being an Olympic year, the Ice Spectacular will give a nod to the Games with a program that includes figure skaters, hockey players and speed skaters, “for a little bit of fun on the ice.”