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Boardman native soars with Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Crystal’

Jimmy Hake has been skating for as long as he can remember.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I loved skating,” he said. “I loved the feeling of gliding, the sense of freedom. It’s been my passion my whole life. I can’t get away from it.”

For most of his 35 years, the Boardman native and 2001 Boardman High School graduate did his skating on wheels. He operated Vertigo Skate Park in his hometown and competed in the X Games in inline skating events.

These days, Hake does his skating on blades, performing with Cirque du Soleil in “Crystal,” its first production on ice. It combines the acrobatics the troupe is known for with the grace of figure skating. “Crystal” opens Wednesday for a seven-performance run at the Covelli Centre.

While Cirque du Soleil regularly holds auditions for its various productions, Hake’s reputation was strong enough that the company approached him about being one of the extreme skaters in “Crystal.”

“I felt really honored they asked me,” he said.

Still, it was a big adjustment for him. He had to get comfortable doing on blades the kinds of stunts he’d only done on wheels in the past. Hake said Cirque rented an ice arena in Montreal and the cast spent months figuring out such details as what size ramps to use and how big the space should be between them and learning to perform in sync with the other skaters.

“You’re moving at high speeds,” Hake said. “It’s pretty dangerous.”

There’s danger competing in X Games events too, and more freedom to push the boundaries on the course. “Crystal” involves a different kind of risk, Hake said, with each performer on the ice having to execute his or her own moves as well as making sure they are not endangered by a fall or mishap by another cast member.

“This is more like a beautiful art show, but you still have to be mentally prepared,” Hake said. “It’s still stressful and scary.”

“Crystal” tells an “Alice in Wonderland”-like story of a young woman who feels misunderstood. When she falls through the ice on a frozen pond, she ends up in an upside-down world where she sees a reflection of herself. The reflection guides her through this world and awakens her creativity.

According to the press kit, “Crystal” is about “looking at things from fresh angles, peeking through the veneer of everyday life (and), reframing one’s daily reality to see what one might have missed … Discovering one’s individuality and uniqueness requires venturing out on thin ice.”

“It’s exciting,” Cirque spokeswoman Julie Desmarais said in a separate interview. “There’s a lot of wow, a lot of acrobatics that have never been done before. It’s a special combination of acrobatics, ice skating, live music and costumes.”

The company had to reinvent what it’s done in the past for its first production on ice, and among the consultants brought in to create it was Canadian figure skater and four-time World Champion Kurt Browning.

“All of the acrobats had to learn how to skate,” Desmarais said. “Most of the props were made so they glide onto the ice and can be moved throughout the show.”

“Crystal” is the 42nd production created in the 35-year history of Cirque du Soleil. Its shows have been seen by more than 180 million people in 450 cities and 60 countries.

“They have been able to reinvent themselves,” Desmarais said. “They’re constantly looking at how they can develop new acrobatics, new ways of doing shows that are unique.”

In addition to the 40 performers, there are nearly 50 other crew and support staff that tour with “Crystal.”

“We have a great medical staff, athletic trainers, masseuses,” Hake said. “Cirque definitely provides you with the best of the best. They want you to be happy, and they want you to perform the best you can.”

Hake said his favorite part of the show is the playground / hockey scene.

“I really enjoy ice skating and hitting the ramps,” he said. “I’ve been hitting ramps for 25 years now. It something I love. I love to fly.”

And he’s looking forward to doing it for an audience of family and friends

“I can’t even put an exciting word on it,” he said. “I’m genuinely excited to come home. It’s a little nerve-wracking.”

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