Leona Lewis simply has it all. Her voice is inspiring. Her big heart makes one and all rejoice, as does her modesty. The London native drew international acclaim in 2006 with her single “Bleeding Love” and her first CD “Spirit” made all the Hit Parades starting in 2007. In the USA there was talk of the second Mariah Carey. Her voice was compared with that of Whitney Houston and in 2008 Leona Lewis was named “Top New Artist”. She followed up in 2009 with her CD “Echo” and also had a hit with her single “Happy”. On August 24, 2008, Leona performed at the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. She also sang “I See You” for the motion picture “Avatar”.  Leona’s newest coup is called Glassheart”. The CD should cause quite a sensation by year’s end.

In 2011 2Cellos, made up of Croatian Stjepan Hauser and Slovenian Luka Sulic, put their version of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” on YouTube. Bow strings were popping with nearly six million views. Sir Elton John also saw the film and ended up taking the duo along on one of his big tours. 2Cellos let it rip, but they can also be heartrending.

The German-Canadian artist is considered the king of modern clowns.  Bazinet is also an actor as well as a pantomime and an impersonator.  René Bazinet shone during his 1,000 performances in Cirque du Soleil’s “Saltimbanco”.

Following his brilliant 2010 debut Swiss soul star is once again in Art on Ice! At the age of 15 Seven founded his own band while cramming for his high school diploma. Once the band was on its feet things really took off. “Dedicated to…”, “Sevensoul”, “Lovejam”… It was all uphill after that. In 2007 “Home”was launched and in March 2009 “Like A Rocket” hit the airwaves.  Seven went on tour in 2010 and then went “Unplugged”. In September 2012 Seven released his current CD “The Art Is King” and he is now again on the road.

Larissa Evans is an up-and-coming singing talent with a decisive goal in her sights: to make it as a singer on the international stage. The now 19-year old has been taking singing and dancing classes since she was a young girl in addition to learning to play the drums and the piano, and appearing on a number of stages throughout Switzerland. In 2012 the singer from Zurich succeeded in taking her first big step towards her goal: she recorded the official Art on Ice song «Live Your Fantasy» together with figure skating star Stéphane Lambiel. Her first solo single will come out in Spring 2013, followed up by her debut album – a dance mix of pop and R&B.

Twenty-five year old Viktoria Helgesson from Tibro is Sweden’s best figure skater. She has already won six titles in her homeland (2008 to 2012). Viktoria came in fifth at the 201t European Championship in Sheffield. This was the best European Championship ranking for a Swedish skater since 1932.

This two-time world champion enchants audiences with his ability to interpret music on skates. Wherever he performs in the world, the Valaisan amazes those who watch. The experts all agree: he is the best, both on and off the ice. Oliver Höner, CEO of Art on Ice: “Stéph is a godsend.”

Florent Amodio was born May 12, 1990, in  Sobral, Ceará, Brasil. A French couple adopted him as an infant, along with his sister. He was raised in Fremainville, Val-d’Oise. He holds both French and Brazilian citizenship. Florent is the 2011 European champion. At the Europeans 2012 he won bronze, at the Europeans 2013 he won silver. His coach is Nikolai Morozov.

The legendary Swiss theater troupe Mummenschanz will be enriching Art on Ice 2013 with a special appearance. The ingenious ideas of the Mummenschanz theater ensemble, founded in 1972 by Andres Bossard, Floriana Frassetto and Bernie Schürch, continue to this day to fascinate audiences worldwide. Mummenschanz is much more than just a name; it has become its own art form. The troupe has left noticeable traces in figure theater. The myth of Mummenschanz lives on. Mummenschanz remains mysterious. Mummenschanz inspires reflection – but always invites its audiences to laugh.

Berntsson was the first Swede to perform a triple axel at the 2000 National Championships and then made his international debut at the European Championships. From 2000 till 2011 Berntsson participated in the European Championships every year. His best result was in 2008 when he reached seventh place. From 2001 till 2009 Berntsson also took part in all of the World Championships, attaining his best result at the 2007 World Championship with a ninth place finish.  Between 2000 and 2011 Berntsson was a nine-time Swedish champion. In March Berntsson retired from competitive sport. However, he still skates regularly at gala events and is studying electrical engineering in Göteborg. Berntsson puts great value on the artistry of his sport.

No one “caresses” the ice so gently, so smoothly, as the graceful Japanese skater from Tokyo. In 2006 Shizuka Arakawa took home Olympic gold from Turin. In Dortmund 2004 she took home the title of world champion. Her freestyle program from that event, where she landed seven triple jumps, has gone on to become part of figure skating history.

The 2012 & 2013 European Champions and 2011 & 2012 pair skating silver medalists received their challenge in Moscow: to put China and Germany in their places at the 2014 Olympics in Russia. In view of Tatiana and Maxim’s strengths, it is clear that their competitors will have to be on their toes.

The Germans won gold for the fourth  time at the 2012 World Championships in Nice following their victories in 2008, 2009 and 2011. The only thing missing after their bronze medal in 2010 in Vancouver is an Olympic win – and Aliona and Robin have that in their sights. It should work out in 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Victoria, 17, and Ruslan, 20, are the current ice dancing World Junior Champions. The couple lives and trains in Moscow. Ruslan is brother to ice dancer Nelli Zhiganshin, who skates for Germany with Alexander Gazsi. Ruslan took up ice skating at the age of nine because of his sister. In 2012 the ice dancing couple won the Junior Grand Prix Final and took home gold at the World Junior Championship. This season Victoria and Rusland are skating for the first time among the elite of the sport and placed sixth at the Cup of China and third at the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow.

In January 2011 the Zurich native wrote one of the most beautiful sports fairy tales of all time with her unexpected, but richly deserved victory to conclude her career at the European Championships in Berne. The entire country shed tears of joy – even a number of otherwise hard-nosed guys…

Adelina Sotnikova, born 1 July 1996 in Moscow, is the 2011 World Junior champion, 2010 Junior Grand Prix Final champion, 2012 Youth Olympics silver medalist, and a three-time (2009, 2011, 2012) Russian National champion. Sotnikova started her season with a silver medal at the 2012 Nebelhorn Trophy and a bronze medal at 2012 Skate America.

Alexander was born 19 July 1991 in St. Petersburg, Russia. He is the 2011 World Junior bronze medalist and the two-times Swedish champion. Majorov emigrated with his family to Sweden when he was one year old. He is coached by his father Alexander Majorov senior and by his mother Irina. He lives in Lulea.

Vladimir and Alexei are good friends and this is not their first time at Art on Ice. The Ukrainian ice comedians have been astounding audiences for years – and it is hardly an exaggeration to say that they are the best in the world in their field. Vladimir the giant and Alexei the smaller one make up a mind-boggling funny duo. They are funny because they are creative, but also because they are outstanding skaters and acrobats as well.

The members of the Art on Ice Dance Crew are internationally very successful choreographers and dancers. The choreographers: Marvin A. Smith (crew), Dennis Jauch (Leona Lewis) The dancers: Cheyenne de Miranda, Julianna Codjoe, Kim Willecke, Jeffrey Mac-nack, Jay Revell, Theio Maddix, Ross Sands und Dean Lee.

The aerial artist Emmanuelle Balmori makes audiences hold their breath. The Canadian from Montreal performs her heart-stopping shows without a net or safety line. She glides and “flies” seemingly effortlessly above the ice and hangs from her hoop as it if it were child’s play. Where does the always good-humored athlete get her energy? For the past nine years the dainty Emmanuelle has been touring with a wide variety of acrobatic programs. She has worked with Torvill and Dean’s Ice Adventures, performed in Grease on Ice and on Caribbean cruise ships as well as impressed her fans in Art on Ice. Emmanuelle Balmori says that as an artist one presents one’s innermost self. The work, the challenge is indeed great, but above all it is unequivocally beautiful.

The members of the Art on Ice Dancers are former or actual Swiss top athletes. Some are former or actual medal winners at Swiss Championships. Some competed or still compete on international events. The team for Art on Ice 2013: Viviane Käser, Oscar Peter, Noemi die Gregorio, Melanie Bernhard, Jacqueline Haller and Noah Scherrer.

As in years past, our guest stars will be performing with the “Art on Ice Band”. The ensemble for 2013for all destinations is made up of Lisa Scannell (bass), Dominik Eberle (guitars), Emanuele Esposti (keyboards), Adrian Schäublin (keyboards), Philipp Schmid (drums), Jwan Steiner (percussion) and – last but not least – Gary Scott (guitars, vocals). An American and the leader of the band, Gary has been living and making music in Switzerland for many years. He is responsible for a multitude of song arrangements for Art on Ice. All of the members of the Art on Ice Band have studied music, are active as music teachers or studio musicians, and have been put through their paces on tour so that they know the special nature of Art on Ice.