ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Jumping off skate rails, the Cirque du Soleil skaters flipped in the air and landed flawlessly on the ice Thursday.
The group rehearsing the extreme acrobatic lands are part of the "Crystal" cast, Cirque du Soleil's first show on ice.
"Crystal," which had a successful run at PPL Center in 2018, opened Thursday night and continues with performances at 7 p.m. Friday, 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets, which start at $65, are available at the PPL Center website.
“Crystal” tells the story of a misunderstood teen, Crystal, who takes the audience a tale of self-discovery as she dives into a world of her own imagination — on ice.
"I think this show has a very relatable story," Roberto Larroude, senior publicist for "Crystal," said.
"I think we're all on a transformation journey. Crystal is on a transformation journey. And we get to come watch her journey be expressed through the arts of circus acts."JoJo Velasquez, cast of Cirque du Soleil's ice show, "Crystal"
"Because a lot of teenagers who are going through that phase where they can't get along at home or at school and everybody's been there."
"Then she escapes through ice skating. And one day the ice breaks, she goes to an upside-down world where she encounters different characters that point her in the right direction and show her that personality, her creativity.
"Those characters show her that it's all going to be OK."
'I enjoy every single show'
During the performance, the "upside down" world includes hockey, an extreme sports act in which the skateboarders flaunt the gravity-defying moves on ice, and a romantic courtship.
JoJo Velasquez has been cast member of "Crystal" for three years.
"It was quite the integration process, but within a week, two weeks, three weeks, I got more comfortable. I felt more one with my family, and now I enjoy every single show I do fully.""Crystal" cast member Jojo Valasquez
Valasquez said he was born in Woodward, Centre County, near State College, and started rollerblading at age 2.
At 10, he started playing ice hockey, and continued when he later moved to California.
But nothing could prepare him for the "Crystal" experience, he said.
" Cirque du Soleil was really the first time I was taking what I did and putting it in a public view," Valasquez said.
"So coming into the company, I was extremely nervous to try to do these elite level tricks in front of thousands of people. It's a lot of pressure.
"It was quite the integration process, but within a week, two weeks, three weeks, I got more comfortable. I felt more one with my family, and now I enjoy every single show I do fully."
'About their countries, their cultures'
Since 2017, "Crystal" has performed before more than 1.9 million people in more than 135 cities worldwide, according to Cirque du Soleil.
"Crystal" is Cirque’s 42nd creation and celebrated its 1,000th show in Perth, Australia, in September 2023.
"We have 45 artists from 24 different nationalities. it's not only just about their skills on the ice and their skills in the arts. But it's really about their countries, their cultures."Roberto Larroude, senior publicist for "Crystal" by Cirque du Soleil
The cast and crew are a diverse mix of talents, the show says.
"We have 45 artists from 24 different nationalities," Larroude said. "I say to them all the time — it's not only just about their skills on the ice and their skills in the arts.
"But it's really about their countries, their cultures."
Velasquez said Crystal's story can appeal to everyone, regardless of where they're from.
"As humans, we experience reflection, going through life, you know, questioning things — Is this right? Is this wrong? Am I right?" he said.
"And truly I call that transformation. And I think we're all on a transformation journey. Crystal is on a transformation journey. And we get to come watch her journey be expressed through the arts of circus acts."
