A cool show breezes into town in August, one that's sure to give people a welcome break from the scorching temperatures of a Beijing summer.

After the success of last year's "100 Years of Magic," Disney on Ice returns to Beijing with Three Jungle Adventures which will run at the Workers' Stadium from August 2 to 7.

Composed of The Jungle Book, Tarzan and The Lion King, this 90-minute performance on ice features some 24 characters from favorite Disney jungle stories including Mowgli and Baloo from The Jungle Book, Tarzan and his lover Jane as well as Simba, Timon and Pumbaa from The Lion King.

This high-energy, gravity-defying spectacular also features popular hits like You'll Be in My Heart, Can You Feel the Love Tonight, and a "ungle Book score set to a hip swing beat featuring Bare Necessities and I Wanna Be Like You.

World-champion skaters will play the various roles and perform high-flying stunts that will leave audiences breathless.

While The Jungle Book gets a full-length interpretation that keeps nearly all the film's characters and songs, Tarzan and The Lion King are stripped to their bare essentials.

The first half presents the wild adventures of Mowgli and Baloo from The Jungle Book as they set out on a journey filled with hilarious marching pachyderms, a mesmerizing snake and many of the other creatures that make up this classic children's tale.

The adventure then takes you to the jungles of Africa where Tarzan and his lovable friend, Terk, entertain you with their comical antics and come across Jane, a new friend from a very different world.

Then journey to the realm of The Lion King, where young Simba's childhood escapades and lifelong friendship with Timon and Pumbaa will plant a smile on children's faces and laughter in your belly.

At the end of the show, as is common in Disney on Ice performances, other favorite Disney characters including Mickey, Minnie and Goofy will join their jungle brethren for the finale.

Centered by an astounding, ever-evolving 38-feet tall, 15,000-pound "tree of the jungle," and draped in breathtaking tropical foliage and leafy green jungle vines that dangle from high above the ice, the stadium will take on a lush, vibrant appearance in this brilliant Disney production.

Dazzling lighting, which follows each moment of Simba and Rafiki's adventure, as well as dramatic atmospheric effects further immerse the audience in the world of the characters.

"With show-stopping effects, skaters that fly through the air and across the ice and music that stirs the soul, kids will definitely lose themselves in this priceless jungle adventure," said Li Cheng, a reporter from the Beijing Morning Post who watched the show last week in Hangzhou, where Disney on Ice started its China tour.

"Disney's Jungle Adventures on Ice takes three beloved Disney stories but gives them a twist for the 21st century. The vignette for The Jungle Book, for instance, incorporates hip-hop beats into the original score," said Dai Jieru, communications manager of China Arts and Entertainment Group, the firm putting on the Beijing leg of the tour.

She also revealed that all the characters will be dubbed into Chinese to help audiences better enjoy the show.

"This production is unlike any other ice show we've done in the past," said Brian Prutee, manager of Feld Entertainment Inc, the producing company.

"Aside from having incredible sets, world class skaters and award-winning music, this show does something we've never done before it takes everyone's favorite jungle stories and characters and shows how they all relate in the grand scheme of life. I'm extremely proud of what we've done here."

"We try to reinvent ourselves all the time but maintain the same quality and the high level of skating. A lot of our skaters have national and international competitions under their belts," said Melodee Clysdale, the show's performance director.

But great skaters don't always make skilled dancers. So in order to add a different vibe to this production, dance choreographer Barry Lather who has no skating experience was brought in to give the show a contemporary feel.

"Barry's got an incredible way of challenging the skaters with interesting choreography that translates so well on ice," Obst said.

"Because of his dance background, he lends an awesome quality that isn't the typical ice choreography. He may ask the skaters not to be so precise at certain points to look more natural. And for a skater, that's very difficult to do because we're taught from the beginning to do each move precisely and perfectly."

The emphasis on training cannot be understated. The skaters performing the parts of Tarzan and Jane had to undergo an intense, six-week aerial training programme so they would be able to climb giant webs and swing from vines.

(China Daily July 28, 2005)