Le 23 décembre, Méribel accueillera un spectacle d’exception : La Fille du Marchand de Sable, dernière création d’Olivia et Philippe Candeloro.

On 23 December, Méribel will be hosting an exceptional show: La Fille du Marchand de Sable (The Sandman’s Daughter), the latest creation by Olivia and Philippe Candeloro. This Christmas tale on ice will transport you to a magical world where dreams come to life. You will be swept away by the magic of this unique show which combines figure skating, dance and theatrical staging.

Olivia Candeloro, artistic director and ice choreographer with more than 25 years’ experience, has thought up and orchestrated every detail. She works alongside Philippe Candeloro (bronze medallist at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer and 1998 in Nagano) who brings his expertise as a top-level skater. Together, they founded the Candeloro Show Company, which has created a truly magical production that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

 

In conversation with Philippe Candeloro ✨

A Christmas story on ice

How would you describe the world of la Fille du Marchand de Sable?

Initially, Olivia had imagined this show under the name The Sandman. She was inspired by this figure who sprinkles dust in children’s eyes to guide them to their deepest dreams. So we are immersed in a magical world, almost like an animated film. There is this bright, tender side to it, until the nightmare begins, before the magic finally takes over again and all returns to calm.

It’s really a show designed for escapism: it was created two years ago and is only performed in December, because for us, it’s very much in the spirit of Christmas. The format is deliberately short, so that everyone remains captivated and no one gets bored.

La genèse du spectacle

Where did the idea for La Fille du Marchand de Sable come from?

Originally, I was supposed to narrate the show. But we didn’t want the production to depend on my presence, in case I was affected with health or other problems. This consideration led us to the idea of passing on the role. We therefore decided to entrust the main character to our daughter Maya, who is a dancer. This naturally led to a change in the title. Maya performs on ice wearing special shoes that allow her to dance, which adds an even more poetic dimension to the show.

What were your sources of inspiration?

Although Olivia drew on the figure of the Sandman, who sprinkles silver dust in children’s eyes to guide them towards beautiful dreams, she started with a completely blank page. From this starting point, she built the story by imagining the scenes she wanted to choreograph, until she had created a show lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes. It’s a complex exercise, because everything has to be perfectly orchestrated: the artists, the scenes and the emotions… Olivia is like an orchestra conductor. She thinks about every detail, the music, the staging, the rhythm, and always creates very dynamic worlds. This is what allows the audience to be immediately drawn into the show and never lose interest.

An enchanting show

 

What emotions do you hope to evoke with La Fille du Marchand de Sable?

The audience’s emotions will be aroused as soon as they are drawn into the show. We have imagined an absolutely magical, dream-like world, to which every spectator can be transported. Our artists have the talent to amaze young and old alike. And in addition to holidaymakers, we hope to reach local residents as well, so that everyone can share in the magic of Christmas.

 

What do you offer to people who are unfamiliar with ice-skating?

Above all, this is a family outing. It is nothing like a competition; it’s a genuine Christmas tale on ice. It is a moment for dreams and letting go of everyday life, where all ages will be enchanted. The show is sufficiently short to remain captivating from start to finish, but it is still filled with emotion and magic. This is not about champions or a gala, but a magical, spectacular and engaging world, designed so that everyone can fully enjoy the magic of Christmas.

 

Which scene is the most powerful for you?

It’s not easy to choose! I feel a particular emotion when watching the Freestylers. It’s a spectacular moment, with their jumps of over 2 metres from the springboard, all set to powerful, rousing music. But I’m also deeply moved by the Irish ballet, which is mainly performed by women skaters. This ballet exudes power and grace, almost like a ballet of Amazons, and it’s incredibly beautiful and magical.

 

Imagine wooden and stone chalets, sparkling with a thousand fairylights, the pine forests under their blanket of snow, and an air of magic floating through the streets… This is Méribel at Christmas. What better place than the heart of Les 3 Vallées to discover the magic of La Fille du Marchand de Sable? This 23rd December, let yourself be carried away by the spirit of Christmas and lose yourself in this unique dream-like show.

 

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