Ice Age: Uncertainty and Hope Behind the Show’s Pause

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In early April, an interview with Ilya Averbukh appeared on socialbites.ca. He mentioned that preparations for filming Ice Age were underway while stressing that no final decision had been made about the show’s fate yet.

“I am not making a final call at this moment. We are taking a break, yet we are gradually getting ready to return and I am considering possible changes in the format for a new season. I am doing this groundwork. But I want to be clear: there is no final decision on Ice Age continuing at this time,” he stated.

Nevertheless, on April 12, the producer told Teleprogramma.pro that waiting for a new season would be unwise. Ice Age for autumn was not scheduled, he explained. He manages a large team and is currently collaborating with junior dance duets. He continues to coach in the mornings and work with his team in the afternoons as before, hoping to balance both roles given the size of his troupe.

Maxim Stavisky, the choreographer for Ice Age and a two-time world champion in ice dancing, suggested in an interview with socialbites.ca that the decision to pause the project originated with Channel One, expressing confidence that the show’s creators had not publicly announced such an initiative.

“Probably it is Channel One’s call. Those of us on the project have nothing to do with that choice. We have faced breaks before, sometimes lasting more than a year. Of course we want the program to exist. It is both a fascinating project and a job for us. But there is no confirmation. Will I miss Ice Age? Yes, it is demanding, yet we always feel its absence.” Stavisky recalled.

He recalled the era when Ice Age brought together many famous faces. Actors and musicians appeared, and the experience was enriching. The process relied on creativity, props, and performances that could be enjoyed by non-professionals as well. It was challenging, but endlessly engaging.

In a separate discussion with socialbites.ca, Roman Kostomarov, the Olympic champion in ice dancing who participated in Ice Age with partners such as Chulpan Khamatova, Regina Todorenko, and Yulia Kovalchuk, questioned Averbukh’s statements.

“We still do not know anything for sure. No one can confirm if the show has stopped or if it is proceeding. Tomorrow or the day after may bring a different outcome, or several months from now. If Ilya spoke today, it does not guarantee the future.” Kostomarov explained.

News of the hiatus arrived as the season’s finale seemed to be advancing but only appealed to a midrange audience, mainly older viewers who had followed the project since 2007, while younger viewers consumed content online. Attention from rising talents like two-time world champions Evgenia Medvedeva and a popular TikTok creator, Dani Milokhin, had drawn young audiences. Their rental videos on YouTube frequently drew millions of views, and they had given joint interviews after performances. One publication noted view counts reaching hundreds of thousands.

Weekly Ice Age rankings appeared in popular outlets, and Philip Kirkorov even attended the finale, recording a joint TikTok on the ice with Alina Zagitova. The hype around Ice Age had seemed poised to push the show forward for another season, yet the suspension came at the moment of its ascent.

Tatyana Navka, an Olympic champion in ice dancing who took part in Ice Age with Marat Basharov, Ville Haapasalo, Alexei Vorobyov, and Yegor Beroev, lamented the pause. She suggested that Averbukh’s new coaching pursuits could not greatly influence the fate of Ice Age.

“So sad. It is a pity that our viewers, skating fans, and Channel One viewers won’t be able to watch this project this year. But there were years when Ice Age was not on the air, and we did manage to endure. We will wait for better times,” Navka said in a quote cited by the press.

Alexei Yagudin, the former Olympic champion who performed with Victoria Daineko in Ice Age and also partnered with Alina Zagitova, echoed a similar sentiment.

“Sadly, this is one of the best shows ever. Yet it stops for now, it does not disappear forever. It has happened before, and then it came back stronger,” Yagudin recalled.

Tatyana Tarasova, the longtime head judge associated with the project, remained confident that nothing dire had occurred. She noted that as Averbukh moves into coaching, keeping up with every facet of the Ice Age may be challenging, but the door remains open for the show to return.

“God bless him. This isn’t the worst thing that could happen. There were times when Ice Age did not air, and we found a way through. Soon, there will be another Ice Age. We will look forward to it,” Tarasova remarked to the press.

The overall sentiment was one of cautious optimism mixed with uncertainty. While some participants and fans emphasized the show’s potential for a meaningful comeback, others recognized the practical realities of scheduling, production demands, and the performers’ diverse commitments. The question of Ice Age’s return remains unanswered, with stakeholders continuing to monitor developments and the audience awaiting clearer signals about future episodes.

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