The Robert Crown Center will host “Heroes and Legends,” the 35th Annual Spring Ice Show, this weekend.
The show, featuring approximately 200 students from the center’s skating school and 20 professional staff members, will include popular superheroes such as Superman and Batman and Chicago legends such as the Bulls and Blackhawks, Skating Director Julie Solheim said.
“Each individual person may have different concepts of who’s a hero to them and who’s a legend to them,” Solheim said. “Through the show, you get people thinking in their own life … who is a legend for you.”
“Heroes and Legends” involves every member of the skating community at the Robert Crown Center, 1701 Main St., regardless of age and skill level.
The 16 group numbers and 20 solos give every participant – ranging in age from 3 years old to 60 – a chance to show the audience what he or she can do.
“We want to get everyone that’s in any level of skating involved,” Solheim said. “No matter what level they are, they get to show off for their friends and family and learn how to show off in front of a crowd during a production.”
Especially for the younger students, the event presents an opportunity to meet other skaters and a chance to showcase what they’ve learned so far.
“They like the camaraderie, making new friends and learning about new kids who aren’t the ones you go to school with,” Solheim said. “They also like memorizing a routine that’s fun with music. You can always see their faces light up when they get their applause.”
Because of the variety of talent, the show will also feature strong skaters, including national ice dance champions as well as the Bulgarian junior men’s champion. The event usually draws 450 to 600 people.
“We have tots that are just learning to walk all the way up to skaters who can do triple jumps,” Solheim said.
The performances will be held Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $9 for general admission.
