OUCH! ‘It’s still not as bad as bungee-jumping’
MelodyChen and other celebs with no ice-dancing experience get hurt while training for reality TV show
By Gan Ling Kai
November 26, 2009
A BLOODY cut, bruises and bad falls.
That’s what freelance actress-host Melody Chen is getting for joining reality TV ice-dancing contest Ice Star Asia – even before she gets a glimpse of the $10,000 prize.
The 32-year-old will be competing against celebs like Angelique Teo, Pamela Chong, Moe Alkaff, RJ Rosales and Edmund Ng.
None of them has any experience in ice-dancing, which is a variation of figure-skating – minus the complicated triple axles. They are paired up with professional ice dancers from Reverie: Cirque On Ice.
PAINFUL: Melody Chen with a bleeding elbow. She fell on the ice rink while rehearsing for Ice Star Asia, a reality TV show featuring ice-dancing.
TNP PICTURES: KUA CHEE SIONG
During a rehearsal yesterday at Arina Stadium Waterfront, which is a new facility at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, Melody lost her balance while gliding across the rink.
She tried frantically to grab hold of her partner – 34-year-old Frenchman Stephane Morel – but failed to break her fall.
Falling hard on the ice, she grazed her left elbow, which bled immediately.
Later, with a gauze over the cut and another fresh bruise on her tanned left shoulder, Melody told The New Paper: ‘The first thing I thought of was to get up and continue. I could deal with the pain and the blood later.’
She said such response to injuries will be critical during the actual competition, which will begin recording on Monday.
‘It wouldn’t look nice if I just sat there and went, ‘Oh, my God!’ she said.
The contestants have been practising two hours daily for the past two weeks. And, like Melody, they have what she called ‘battle scars’ – bruises on knees, hips or elbows.
Throughout the practice session yesterday, Melody was visibly nervous.
‘While focusing on my moves, I still have to look at my partner,’ she said. ‘I’m very lucky to have (Stephane) as a partner. He’s a really good teacher.’
Said Mr Morel, who twirled with ease during the demonstration: ‘Ice-skating is very unpredictable. It’s not like dancing, where it’s easier to maintain your balance.’
Melody – who married actor Randall Tan last year – admitted she’s slightly fearful of performing the stunts on the ice, which include high kicks, spins and sitting on her partner’s shoulder.
‘But it’s not as bad as bungee-jumping,’ said Melody. She bungee-jumped in the first season of reality TV series The Amazing Race Asia in 2006.
The wakeboarding junkie once blacked out for about 20 seconds after a bad fall in the water. She has also participated in endurance races such as the half-marathon.
So is this gung-ho artiste confident of winning the dance competition?
Said Melody: ‘It’s already a personal victory to put up a show.’
Secret weapon
Meanwhile, US-based local funnyman Moe Alkaff – the oldest contestant at 47 – is concerned about how he looks on the rink.
Standing at 1.8m and weighing just under 90kg, the ex-host of variety show Gotcha said: ‘I’m not going to wear the tight costumes.’
But aren’t sexy leotards and figure-hugging pants part of the ice-dancing uniform?
‘In that case, I’ve got to run a lot. But no tights pants, man, I’m a baggy pants type of guy,’ he insisted.
Moe, who owns an event company, added: ‘I’m not afraid of losing out to the younger ones. Age is not an issue. I’ve been cycling and going to the gym a lot.’
He revealed his secret weapon – his funny facial expressions.
‘With my magic, I’m going to capture the love of the audience and the judges.’
Organised by the Singapore Indoor Stadium on behalf of the Singapore Sports Council, Ice Star Asia will be recorded live at Arina Stadium Waterfront every Monday starting next week, with the finals on 21 Dec.
The contestants will be judged by a panel of three professional ice-dancers based on their artistic presentation and technical skills.
The studio audience will then cast their votes to decide which of the bottom two skaters will stay in the contest, while the other will be eliminated.
Tickets are available through Sistic (63485555 or www.sistic.com.sg) at $20 per episode or $30 for the entire series.
The telecast details of the show have not been confirmed.
The NewPaper