European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 6, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                 Europe s & s photos by Tracy Baker British Dawn and Atlin Onitt Jimmy Peacock above doing hit Lem Wiy routine amt Risafi i Liott vat if Maltha and swill chomp pout i Ier right in a scottish Nam bar. Careers on the ice Are no each year. 6 million people pour into Europe ? largess Arenas to see Holiday on leg. Yet Lew have the Chance to look behind the scenes of the 2k hour show when the curtains Ara drawn and the skates removed the articles on these pages spotlight two acts /. The 1986 production american skater Valerie Matzke formerly of the ice Capanes who s been with Holiday on ice Tor three years and Werner matter s family of skating chimpanzees. Stories by Anita Gosch staff writer five minutes til Showtime the jeep metallic voice booming Over in Loudspeaker echoed throughout Essen shrug Halle a concert Hall Lumen skaling  so performers Iri he 1986 Holiday on ice slipped into skaists and costumes checked their makeup one last Lime and rushed to the rink Tor the opening number. The skaters had just had Ivi hours to relax Between 1tie afternoon performance and the evening show. Some had spent the time doing stretch exercises others watched television or read the newspaper still others had gathered around the Coffee machine reminiscing about past performances. American Valerie met Ike one of the show s principal skaters had taken Refuge in the tiny dressing Toom she shared with two other women. The Petite 27 year old irom Seattle. Wash., had been upset Over a near spill during her second Solo that afternoon. Though she had managed to catch herself the slip up had hampered the fes of her performance. Of was ready to walk out she said. But of course i would t do hat. Nobody would do  a half hour Catnap during the break had revived Matzke s spirits. She admitted to having had problems with that particular jump in the past and experiencing stage fright ust before the number. Performing is an emotionally packed Job she said sometimes \ spend a whole number thinking about a certain jump which is the worst thing you can do. You can t have Tunnel vision. Vou have to just get out there and relax and enjoy  Matzke should know. She s been skaling or in years specializing in ice shows. Inspired by a Peggy Fleming performance she began skating at age 9. Alter several years of group and private lessons she took he series of tests Given by the United states free skating association uss which ranks skaters according to heir abilities Matzke never was a competitive skater she said by opted instead for entertaining. At 19, she joined the american ice Capanes show As  in the chorus. Her Lucky break came a year Laler when the principal ska or injun Edan ankle and was of Lor five months. Malzeke remained with ice Capanes 4v years. In 1982, she and her husband Greg. A so a skater were Oli ered positions in the chorus of Holiday on see a year later Maize is again received a full time position As principal skater. Being a Coaler with Holiday on ice is not an easy Job according 10 Makke. Upon joining the ensemble each skater must sign a three year contract that contains strict terms pertaining to such things As conduct and appearance. Ii the skaters come late to a performance Tor instance of in they leave the rink during the Middle of a show the Are lined. If they gain weight As determined by a biweekly weigh in held by lha company they also must pay $4 for the first time More if she weigh increases until finally they Are suspended. The directors want you to have curves but they want you to look sleek explained Gatzke. A s All show Biz really. If a chorus girl looks Pudgy the audience will say she looks like any Normal Gitl. The directors Wani you to look Tike a  the on the Road throughout Europe also presents hardships or Many skaters. Americans according to Mal Zuce. Have an especially difficult time dealing with language barriers and culture Shock As Well As living without she comforts of Home. Each production Tours Lour years which makes it possible Lor there to be Rifle real Holiday on ice shows at the same Lime in diff event countries. Since the performers have to pay their own travel expenses most of them have fully equipped caravans which they haul irom City to City. For Malzeke and her husband this has been a positive experience. It gives you a whole different perspective on  she said. We might have a Small caravan that makes us feel Asil we live in a shoe Box but i m grateful Inal we have a caravan. And when i have my House or apartment i won t Leel As if it s not enough because i have Learned to live with  deep let outward similarities Matzke rejects he notion of parallels Between the lifestyle of Holiday on ice skaters and thai of circus performers. People in the circus Are born into it she explained. But a lot of the people in ice shows Are former Champion skaters who come re conservative a Miles and were brought up in a Normal competitive skating Type of  Matzke is the daughter of a lawyer who she says does t Appi Ariate her Choice of career. He would prefer that she leave the show and return to school tar her degree. A do feel strop Gay Abou going to school but Hare s just something about skating like with dancing that gets into your blood. Once you re a dancer you d probably do anything to stay on the stage and dance after you be trained for 10 or 15 years. I think that s what skating has done to  Page the stars and stripes