“Queen of the Iceland” inspires at O’Brien Icehouse

“Queen of the Iceland” inspires at O’Brien Icehouse

A unique event has just taken place at Docklands’ O’Brien Icehouse with two-time Icelandic Eurovision artist Hera Björk performing a fundraising show on ice surrounded by premier Victorian figure skaters choreographed around her.

At a special one-off show, the artist Hera Björk from Iceland performed in Docklands on Wednesday, January 22, as part of her nationwide tour in Australia.

Around 300 spectators, including Hera Björk fans and ice-skating fans, followed the show on ice clapping to songs like Scared of Heights and were thrilled by the impressive ice-skating skills before and during Björk’s performance.

Speaking to Docklands News just two hours before the show, Hera Björk said she felt “very honoured and excited” because the whole evening was going to be a surprise.

“I have never been performing on ice, even though I see a lot of it in my home country,” she said, adding that she had never practiced with the talented skaters before the show.

“Neither they have seen me, nor have I seen them. They sent me a few videos and greetings, which has built up a lot of excitement,” she said.

The team of figure skaters featured athletes from all ages and levels including the 16-year-old junior champion and international athlete “Vinceman”, who has skated since he was five years old.

 

 

Other performances equally as amazing included that by VicSyn – a 16-person group with ages ranging from as young as seven through to adulthood.

The whole evening was focused on raising money for local youth figure skaters from diverse backgrounds supported by Ice Skating Victoria.

“I always love if I can support young people that want to do more of what they love,” said Hera Björk, who donated an additional $1500 to the cause. “That is why we do arts.”

Hera, internationally known for her performances at competitions and festivals around the globe, originally flew to Australia to showcase her musical comedy-cabaret show.

While performing in several shows across Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide, she said the unique fundraising performance in Docklands was among her favourite experiences.

“It is Chris Greaves, my promoter, who brought me here. I knew, it was going to be wonderful just when I had seen the smiley faces of the young skaters,” she said.

“This is the first time I have heard of such an event, and I hope it will not be the last time.” •

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