Roller coasters, volcanoes, radio waves and more will come together under one roof this weekend during the 56th annual Ice Show.
Hosted by the Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, the ice theater performance will be at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Washington Park Ice Arena, 711 Kansas St.
The show, titled "iMotion," combines dance, ice skating, costumes, props and sets to tell a story about "the transformation of potential energy into kinetic energy," Ice Theater Director Brent Echols said. Potential energy is stored energy due to its position in relation to other objects, while kinetic energy is what an object possesses due to it being in motion.
In various numbers, 39 skaters ranging from 5-18 years old will depict motions like radio waves, volcanoes, lightning, roller coasters and carousels. There also will be a sound number where skaters produce their own music by stomping, clapping and banging on the walls.
"It's kind of bringing science to life," Echols said. "We always like to step outside of the box and explore different kinds of expression, different types of movements and different kinds of motions and emotions."
The skaters have been working for weeks on their facial expressions and body movements, preparing them for the four performances, he added.
The shows help the skaters practice and allow them to learn the ins and outs of theater.
"It gives them the experience of putting on shows and putting all of these elements together as far as the props, costumes, lights and backstage stuff that they help with," Echols said. "They learn how to be self-sufficient backstage and how to run in any kind of theater really. They're learning how to express and be able to experience expressing themselves through their motions, their bodies and their facial expressions."
General admission tickets cost $7, VIP tickets cost $10