Jay Shah
DevOps\Aerospace Engineer & Journalist
Jaysuits! As winter melts into spring here in RainCouver and with Robson Square’s free ice skating winter wonderland recently concluding earlier this Feb; close your eyes for a moment.
Imagine the soft scrape of blades against ice, the faint echo of music swelling in the air, the glow of lights casting long shadows across the rink at Kerrisdale’s Cyclone Taylor Arena
Yup, there’s no better way to once again lace up your skates and celebrate the season of renewal than with a performance that defies gravity and tradition.
This March, from 20-22 at 7:30pm, and the 22nd & 23rd at 2pm; DanceHouse brings Le Patin Libre’s celebration :
“ M U R M U R A T I O N “
❄️
Inspired by the hypnotic patterns of bird flocks,it’s a full body experience that blurs the line between art athleticism, individualism,collectivism, chaos and harmony. With 15 virtuoso skaters from seven countries gliding in perfect synchronicity, this adrenaline packed spectacle will leave you “breathlessly alert” as if witnessing a natural phenomenon come to life with shifting formations that feel like nature’s own aeriform ballet.
So, as is Jaysus tradition, let’s delve into why this is something us Vancouverites shouldn’t miss
When Ice Meets Sky
What does it mean to move as one? To glide, shift, and soar in perfect harmony, like a flock of starlings painting the sky with their dance? That’s the question at the heart of Murmuration, a performance that takes the natural phenomenon of grouped flight and brings it to life on ice.
For Alexandre Hamel, founder of Le Patin Libre; which literally translates to
“FREE SKATE”
this show is the culmination of a lifelong obsession. “I’ve been fascinated by murmurations since I was a kid,” he shares. “There’s something about the way birds move together—fluid, instinctual, almost otherworldly—that feels like pure magic.”
Two passions have defined his journey: the artistry of figure skating and the mesmerizing movement of bird flocks. From his early days as a competitive skater to his time in the glittering world of Disney on Ice, Hamel has always been drawn to the beauty of movement. But in 2005, he decided to break free from the constraints of traditional skating and create something entirely new.
“What I lived in figure skating in the past versus what I live now is absolutely new, and it’s a joy, it’s a liberation,” Hamel says.
was born out of this liberation. The company blends the athletic virtuosity of skating with the raw energy of contemporary and street dance, creating a style that’s been described as a “body rush” by critics. Gone are the sequins and compulsory figures of Hamel’s youth; in their place is a bold, unfiltered exploration of what skating can be.
But translating that magic to the ice? That’s where the real artistry comes in. Using complex algorithms, Hamel and his team (Pascale Jodoin & Samory Ba) have choreographed a show that mimics the mesmerizing patterns of bird flocks. The skaters move as one, their bodies weaving in and out of formation with a precision that feels almost supernatural.
“I remember as a kid, looking at those murmurations, like either starlings or pigeons in urban settings, and being absolutely obsessed by it. I also saw it in documentaries, with fish doing the same. I purposely made a trip to go swim with sardines—and this feeling of being part of that, it didn’t work! They just got away from me.
“And when I started to understand the mathematical functioning of those murmurations, of those flocks of birds and schools of fish, it started to be even more beautiful to me, a kind of image of togetherness and perfection—of nature creating the great system of Earth, really,” he enthuses.
At a certain point, though, the skaters had to let go of the mathematical logic and unleash the glide, sometimes in a blur of high speed.
“What often happens is the group splits in two, and then you’re facing a problem about how to get the group together again,” Hamel says. “This idea is important in our times: How are we together? How do we split? Why? How can we get together again when we’re split into polarized groups?”
It’s a delicate balance of chaos and control, a reflection of the world we currently live in, where togetherness is both a challenge and a triumph.
“The show evolves like a natural phenomenon,” says Hamel. “One moment, the group is a single entity, moving as if guided by an invisible force. The next, they split apart, only to come back together in a breathtaking display of synchronicity.”
But this isn’t just a visual spectacle. The music, by Jasmin Boivin and Philippe Le Bon two composers whose work is as dynamic and evocative as the skaters themselves; promises to be haunting and ethereal, taking us Vancouverites back earlier into this year; wraping around us like a winter breeze
🎟️Your Front-Row Pass to the Ice🎟️
Mark your calendars, Jaysuits, because this is one performance you won’t want to miss! Here’s everything you need to know to secure your spot:
📅Showtimes:
March 20-22: Evening performances at 7:30 PM
March 22 & 23: Matinee performances at 2:00 PM
Ticket Prices:
Festival seating starts at just:
“$51.45“
A steal for a show of this caliber.
📍Venue:
Kerrisdale Cyclone Taylor Arena
5670 East Boulevard, Vancouver
Box Office:
Grab your tickets at dancehouse.ca or call 604.801.6225.
But wait, there’s more!
After the matinee performance on Sunday March 23, DanceHouse is hosting a:
FREE Disco Skating Party from 3:30-4:30 PM.
So, lace up & sharpen your skates, hit the ice, and glide alongside the performers in a celebration of movement and community. It’s the perfect way to cap off an unforgettable experience.
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One response to “Le Patin Libre’s M U R M U R A T I O N: A Mesmerizing Ice Dance Premiere in Vancouver”
[…] recently, Le Patin Libre’s M U R M U R A T I O N (that hypnotic ice-skating guerrilla performance we all lost our minds over last winter) […]