Slippery Slope

Cirque du Soleil is returning to Arizona in March—this time on ice.

“Axel” comes to the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley from Th ursday, March 19, to Saturday, March 21, and Friday, April 17, to Sunday, April 19, at Tucson Arena. It marks Cirque du Soleil’s second ice show, behind 2017’s “Crystal.”

“Exploring the ice element with ‘Crystal’ was completely new to us as a company,” says Cirque du Soleil Artistic Director Fabrice Lemire, who’s the tour’s father fi gure.

“‘Crystal’ was very much a challenge. (I thought) ‘How can we replicate what we’re good at—acrobatic skills and stunts—and bring them to a slippery service?’”

“Axel” tells the story of Axel, who embarks on an exhilarating adventure to retrieve the stolen light from the mystical Vi. Music and graphic arts captivate the audience.

The show features Karina Manta, who started fi gure skating as a toddler at what is now the Ice Den in Chandler.

“Here I am now 17 or 18 years later,” Manta says.

She and her partner, Joseph Johnson, stopped competitive fi gure skating to pursue a career with Cirque du Soleil.

“We had a really good season last season, so we’re thinking maybe we’ll continue competing,” Manta says. “But Cirque reached out to us and said, ‘Hey, we have this new show we’re building, and we’d love for you guys to be part of it.’”

Manta and Johnson went from a life of performing in competitions six times a year to performing in “Axel” six to 10 times a week.

“It’s cool now that we have the opportunity to show what we do every single day,” Manta says. “We don’t quite have that pressure of this is your one shot for the next few months.” Manta and Johnson play the villains in “Axel.” ‘Axel’ takes the beloved Cirque du Soleil to the ice By Annika Tomlin

“Th ere’s the main villain, Vi, and we’re part of his team of dancing fabulous snake villains,” says Manta, who enjoys her role.

“Axel’s” cast represents 22 nationalities. “Getting to collaborate with all these diff erent, really special people who care a lot about their art and the show and the performance is amazing,” Manta says.

She particularly loves the traveling and seeing a new place every week. “I’m going to cities that I would’ve never probably gotten a chance to go to without taking this opportunity,” Manta says.

Th e show’s production required Manta to take acting and dancing classes as well as harness training.

“A lot of those new things that were a little bit foreign to me before I started were a bit hard at fi rst, but are now some of my favorite parts,” Manta says.

Arizona still has a place in her heart, though.

“Even though I’m a fi gure skater, I’m a wimp about the cold,” Manta says. “I’m still an Arizona girl for sure.”

Performing for her hometown crowd will be exciting for her.

“I get a little bit nervous for every show because you want everyone to get the best experience and you want to show them everything you worked so hard for,” Manta says. “But it’s a good nervous.”

Cirque du Soleil’s “Axel” Findlay Toyota Center, 3201 N. Main Street, Prescott Valley, 928.772.1819, cirquedusoleil. com, various times Thursday, March 19, to Saturday, March 21, tickets start at $43.50, with family packs available.

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