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mysticseasons · 6 years

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Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir to co-produce their own cross-Canada ‘thank-you’ tour

Ice dance gold medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir will be co-producing a cross-Canada tour this fall – and this time, they’ll be the ones in creative control.

Though the details are still being worked out, in an interview with the Star, Virtue described the concept as a sort of scaled-down combo of a rock concert, dance extravaganza and traditional skating show.

Virtue, on the phone from Kanazawa, Japan, said she and Moir have been busy, “Picking the buildings, finding sponsors, putting a cast together, creating a team of directors, choreographers and costume designers, and thinking about everything we’ve always wanted to do in a show.”

The two have been performing during the Olympic off-season for many years now, but, “We would sit in every show and think ‘I wish I could do this, I wish I could do that, I would do this differently.’ Well, now we’re actually trying to make that happen,” Virtue said.

Virtue and Moir, who won individual and team gold at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, are known for their ice-meltingly sexy routines .

Since their win in February, the pair has appeared in skating shows at home and abroad, including the spring Stars On Ice tour across major Canadian cities.

Tour producer Byron Allen told the Star that, thanks to Olympic fever and Virtue-Moir madness specifically, Stars on Ice had a banger year, selling out six venues and generating a level of attendance and excitement not seen since the summer of 2002, when Jamie Salé and David Pelletier headlined.

This new venture — dubbed the Thank You Canada Tour, in honour of the gratitude the two feel towards Canadians who supported them through their Olympic journey — will make its 30 stops in smaller communities; kicking off in Abbottsford, B.C. on Oct. 5 and concluding in St. John’s, Nfld. On Nov. 24.

It will feature some of Virtue and Moir’s closest friends, who happen to make up the majority of the Canadian Olympic figure skating team, as well as Elvis Stojko and a number of as-yet-unannounced guests.

Virtue said they want to perform in places where people don’t usually get to see professional figure skating. She spoke wistfully of the skating club in Ilderton, Ont., population 1,800, where she and Moir met at just seven and nine years old, and imagined what it would have been like, back then, to see ice dance at a high level on home ice.

“We were lucky that we got to travel when we were young and do seminars and get exposed to other ice dancing teams and athletes,” Virtue said. “We don’t think we’re going to be changing the world (with this tour), but if we can go into these cities and put on a good show, that maybe is a little fresh and different, and have fun with 5,000 people in Grande Prairie, Alberta, then that would be really cool.”

Over the years, exhibition skating – especially those seasons when they were deep in Olympic training and just appeared as guests for a few minutes in a number or two — has been fun, but they had no “creative control or investment in the full product,” Virtue said.

“We’re all-in people. That’s not really fulfilling for us.”

When asked what they want to do creatively, Virtue said there is a “long list” but that budget and the limitations of small venues will rein them in somewhat.

“But” she said excitedly, “even things like having a stage and doing some off-ice dance, but then the choreography comes on to the ice. Or doing the lighting a different way. Or having loud music. Or confetti! We’re at that stage now where we’re just throwing out all our crazy ideas.”

“We’re shaking things up. It’s really our way to tour Canada and say thank you. We’re so excited.”

- The Star

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mysticseasons · 6 years

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Canadian Figure Skating Superstars Pay Tribute to Home Country With "The Thank You Canada Tour" this Fall 2018

Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir along with Patrick Chan, Kaetlyn Osmond, Elvis Stojko, Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford, and more will bring their new figure skating show to 30 Canadian cities coast-to-coast

TORONTO, June 5, 2018 /CNW/ - Canada has produced the most talented figure skaters in the history of the sport with household names like Virtue, Moir, Chan, Osmond, Stojko and more who have reached the pinnacle of the sport in the Canadian Nationals, World Titles and Olympic Games. As a 'thank you' to their home country, these Canadian greats will embark on The Thank You Canada Tour, presented by Round Room this fall. Tickets will go on sale June 8, 2018 atthethankyoucanadatour.ca.

Launching October 5, 2018 in Abbotsford, BC, the cross-country tour will play in 30 cities, wrapping up in St. John's, NL. Family, friends and long-time fans will have the special opportunity to see some of their favourite performances that put these Canadian darlings on the top of podiums around the world.

The 2018 tour cast features five-time Olympic Medalists, three-time World Champions and eight-time National Champions Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir; three-time Olympic Medalist, three-time World Champion, and ten-time National Champion Patrick Chan; three-time Olympic Medalist, four-time World Medalist, seven-time National Champions Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford; three-time Olympic Medalist, three-time National Champion, World Champion Kaetlyn Osmond; and two-time Olympic Medalist, three-time World Champion, and seven-time National Champion Elvis Stojko.

"After a career that has taken us to many corners of the world, it's thrilling to return to Canada and celebrate with those who have supported us every step of the way. Visiting cities that don't ordinarily get skating productions is particularly special to us, as we know firsthand how important grassroots programs are in small towns - it's how we got our start! Our hope is to inspire a new generation to pursue their goals fearlessly," says Tessa Virtue.

"We love Canada, we love Canadians and we love what this country represents! It's the perfect time in our career to say thank you and acknowledge the unwavering and unconditional support we've received over the years," adds Scott Moir.

"This is a special group and we're not ready for this ride to end. We want to keep performing and share our craft and our love of skating with all Canadians," says Patrick Chan.

For a complete list of tour dates and to purchase tickets, please visit thethankyoucanadatour.ca.

Tour Media Sponsor: Bell Media Tour Travel Partner: Air Canada

Tour Dates:

Oct 05, 2018 Abbotsford, BC, Abbotsford Centre Oct 06, 2018 Kelowna, BC, Prospera Place Oct 09, 2018 Grand Prairie, AB, Revolution Place Oct 13, 2018 Prince George, BC, CN Centre Oct 14, 2018 Dawson Creek, BC, Encana Events Centre Oct 17, 2018 Lethbridge, AB, ENMAX Centre Oct 18, 2018 Red Deer, AB, ENMAX Centrium Arena Oct 19, 2018 Regina, SK, Brandt Centre Oct 20, 2018 Medicine Hat, AB, Canalta Centre Oct 21, 2018 Brandon, MB, Keystone Centre Oct 25, 2018 Sault Ste Marie, ON, Essar Centre Oct 26, 2018 Sudbury, ON, Sudbury Arena Oct 27, 2018 Kitchener, ON, Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Oct 31, 2018 Barrie, ON, Barrie Molson Centre Nov 01, 2018 Oshawa, ON, Tribute Communities Centre Nov 02, 2018 Sarnia, ON, Progressive Auto Sales Arena Nov 03, 2018 London, ON, Budweiser Gardens Nov 04, 2018 St. Catharines, ON, Meridian Centre Nov 08, 2018 Kingston, ON, Rogers K-Rock Centre Nov 09, 2018 Peterborough, ON, Peterborough Memorial Centre Nov 10, 2018 Quebec City, QC Nov 11, 2018 Moncton, NB, Moncton Downtown Centre Nov 13, 2018 Saint John, NB, Harbour Station Nov 14, 2018 Sydney, NS, Centre 200 Nov 15, 2018 Summerside, PEI, Credit Union Place Nov 24, 2018 St. John's, NL, Mile One Centre

Website: thethankyoucanadatour.ca

Instagram: @thethankyoucanadatour

Twitter: @thethankyoutour

Facebook: /TheThankYouCanadaTour

Hashtag: #thethankyoucanadatour

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