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Stars on Ice to light up Saddledome

Source: Calgary Sun
Date: May 16, 2015
Author: Scott Fisher
All the Stars are coming to the Dome.

The Stars On Ice tour stops in Calgary on Sunday to celebrate its 25th anniversary with a star-studded lineup.

Kurt Browning, an original on the Canadian leg that debuted in 1991, is front and centre once again. The four-time world champ from Caroline, Alta., will not only perform but is also directing and choreographing the show that will pay homage to some of the greatest programs the tour has seen over the past two-plus decades.

"The first half of the show is a celebration of the 25 years," Browning said of Sunday's show at the Saddledome (4 p.m.).

"I asked each skater to come up with a personal connection with Stars On Ice or someone from the past.

"Sandra Bezic is a name that has helped build the Stars On Ice brand. She was a director and choreographer with the show many times. In my formative years, she had a lot to do with some great programs I was able to share with the audiences.

"So I decided to honour her and also Scott Hamilton, who started Stars on Ice (in the U.S. in '86)."

Browning is re-doing Hamilton's One For My Baby program, that Bezic put together long ago. Hamilton, of course, was well-known for his trademark flip.

"After 20 years of not doing a backflip, I had to get that back," Browning said.

"I'm flipping again."

Browning will be joined by Olympic gold-medallists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, silver-medallist Patrick Chan and other Canadian and international stars.

The Canada Sports Hall of Famer said the Stars On Ice tour has given elite skaters a place to grow.

"Scott (Hamilton) had a quote a long time ago that I've really held onto: Stars On Ice is a place world champions go to get better," Browning said. "It's true because we can experiment. At the world championships, you're really restricted to what the judges are looking for.

"Ashley Wagner is the U.S. champion and she's with the cast. Her moment before she skates talks about how Stars On Ice gives her that chance to enjoy her skating without the judges watching."

It doesn't sound like Browning's 25th season on the Stars On Ice tour will be his last, which is great news for fans from coast to coast.

"In 2008, I had a knee problem and my jumps weren't getting off the ice," the 48-year-old said. "And I thought, ‘well, it's been a good run.'

"That was the closest I came to thinking maybe it was over. But after the surgery, I said, ‘oh, I guess I can still do this.' "