ADNEC Set to Raise Curtains on ‘Cinderella on Ice' Musical

• Six Shows Scheduled for 145-minute Production from 2 - 5 October, 2013

• 25 Championship Skaters to Perform one of the Most Artistically Challenging Ice Shows Ever Created

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 01 October, 2013 – Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) has set the stage for the grand opening of ‘Cinderella on Ice' on 02 October.

The four-day extravaganza featuring performances by the award-winning Imperial Ice Stars promises to create a magical atmosphere with a fusion of ice skating, dance, ballet, gymnastics and acrobatics that offer a dramatic new twist to the timeless classic.

Six shows have been scheduled for the 145-minute production. Curtains will go up on 2 - 3 October at 7:00pm, while the shows scheduled for Friday, 4 October are slotted for 3:00pm and 7:30pm. Saturday, 5 October has two performances at 11:00am and 3:30pm.

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Chief Commercial Officer at ADNEC, said: “ADNEC hopes to attract thousands of visitors with this magnificent performance. Audiences from across the UAE have been waiting patiently to watch ‘Cinderella on Ice'. The Imperial Ice Stars have performed for over four million audiences across five continents at some of the world's most prestigious venues and we are proud to have them here at ADNEC to enchant audiences in Abu Dhabi.”

Al Dhaheri added: “At ADNEC, we are keen to attract award-winning and internationally recognised, entertainment performances to the capital. Such high-calibre shows reaffirm our status as a leading venue for mega projects in the region. Our last live event was the Moscow Grand Circus, which successfully attracted more than 9,700 visitors throughout the four-day show. We look forward to celebrating many such achievements in the coming months, and have a calendar that is packed with interesting fare to entertain our audiences in the capital.”

Tony Mercer, the globally acclaimed creator of contemporary theatre on ice, is the producer, artistic director and choreographer of the show. He has integrated 25 multinational championship skaters to establish one of the most expensive and artistically challenging ice shows ever created.

On the eve of the show, Tony Mercer said: “We are thrilled to bring this world class production to ADNEC, and aim to showcase an outstanding performance with a stellar cast. We have taken care of the minutest details to create this remarkable production that brings together unique choreography, creative and powerful story-telling, impressive sets, opulent costumes and spectacular special effects - on the 170 sq mtr ice rink. Our Imperial Ice Stars' skaters have rehearsed for almost nine hours a day for seven-weeks to ensure the crowd enjoys a flawless performance. The award winning 'Imperial Ice Stars' have been watched by over 4 million people in 19 different countries and are delighted to be visiting the UAE for the very first time.'

Eminent contemporary composers Tim A Duncan and Edward Barnwell have set ‘Cinderella on Ice' to an exclusive musical score that is performed by the Moscow State Cinematic Orchestra as well as soloists from the Manchester Symphony Orchestra.

Apart from the founders of the Imperial Ice Stars, James Cundall and Tony Mercer who are ranked among the greatest names in Europe and Australasia, the creative team consists of Evgeny Platov, dual Olympic gold medallist and four-time world champion, Alexei Nemov, quadruple Olympic gymnastics gold medallist, and two-time Bulgarian world champion duo, Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski.