(seen at the early afternoon performance on 13th April 2025)
In 1994, the monkey attended Torvill and Dean’s farewell “Face The Music Tour” at this very arena. That it was back yesterday for what they claim really is their “Last Dance” together makes 1994 seem a misnomer...
... but is it really?
“The Last Dance Tour” proves to be a bit of a “lap of honour” for our duo. 30 years ago, they were still in their prime. They danced in full every famous routine and the show was a non-stop lavish, up-to-date, presentation.
This fond goodbye is equally professionally presented, but far from thrilling “cutting edge” in approach. It can best be described as a 3D autobiography. Long pre-recorded interviews rehash the well-known history and career highlight stories.
We know them all – Michael Crawford and the Palladium “Barnum” team creating that routine, Radio Nottingham’s record library generously giving them access to music, their trainer pushing two teen bodies together on the ice and leaving them there. It does no harm hearing them again, though, knowing the pair are behind the screens, still giggling together after all these years.
As for the show itself, a talented ensemble, featuring several ‘up and coming’ Team GB contenders, intersperse classic T&D routines with a variety of other impressive dances.
Full of gasp-inducing lifts and turns, plenty of performers being turned upside down and some spectacular jumps thrown in. The vibrancy never stops.
Kicking off with a company number, based around “The Greatest Showman” they play it safe on the music, but the outfits are eye-catching.
First Torvill and Dean routine, “Summertime” (Larry Adler sent him a mouth-organ after seeing the original, Chris recalls), and the duo establish how they will get around their age and ability to skate. Simply, they begin a routine, then gently fade off the ice to allow younger people to perform the rest. It works rather well.
The young people go on to their first independent work with “Keep your eyes on me” weaving amidst cubes of light.
On to a female solo, with a sharp “You Say” by Lauren Daigle routine an early highlight. A male response with Adrenaline Mob’s “What You’re Made Of” has equal impact before a return to the main stars.
“Mack and Mabel” is an amazing score, suited to ice dance, and this is given the full Hollywood treatment with monochrome outfits and a dash of Keystone Kops comedy.
Into a 1980s music set with Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s “Relax” melting into “Uptown Girl” and “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go.”
“Barnum” is up to close the first half, a perfect air ribbon routine and clowning leaving us uplifted for the break.
Act two, and a paired-up ensemble interpret Holst’s “The Planets” suite. A chance for a little Western duo and quartet work follows, P!nk’s “What About Love” and “A Little Less Contradiction” respectively.
Time for a trip back to the 1930s, “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” as a hotel bar arrives on the ice. Into “Minnie the Moocher” and a fabulous “Some Enchanted Evening” with the stars in splendid white outfits.
A giant leap in time for a long sequence about the 19-year run of “Dancing on Ice.” Torvill and Dean thought they couldn’t teach amateurs to ice dance in less than six months. The blooper reel we watch rather proves the point.
Padding out the show, a cod contest in which everybody wins plays out, two couples ending in a draw after dancing to "Me Too" by Meghan Trainor, “Devil on my Shoulder” and “I Like to Move It" by Reel to Real.
A glimpse of the future, as new generation hopes Phebe Bekker and James Hernandez perform their well-known “James Bond 007” - using the "Title Theme", “Goldfinger” and “No Time to Die.” Could we be watching their own triumphant goodbye in 50 years time?
Big moment finally arrives. Sparing knees, the swan start is on video, Torvill and Dean skating on to continue “Bolero” right to the lying on ice conclusion and full board of 6.0 projection moment - reminding us just why they are the best.
Finishing on a circuit of honour, signing off from Chris with “see you another time”, the arena rose as one for our champions.
They may not be able to quite achieve the lifts anymore, but they still out-skate the youngsters, a synchronisation and balance beyond anything the young people have yet learned... and maybe never will.
Only the automated follow-spot lighting (they wear trackers so the beams follow them as they move) is truly revolutionary. And that’s exactly how we like it. A reminder of simpler, glorious days, and a bittersweet farewell.
4 stars.