Montreal-based company Le Patin Libre took audiences on a journey reclaiming human connection amid one of the most urgent issues of our time—climate change, through its production, “Melt” at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, on October 11, 2026.
Le Patin Libre translates to “the free skate.” The first of its kind, the company pushes beyond traditional figure skating to showcase the fusion of high-level athleticism with the beauty of modern choreography. Performers, Alexandre Hamel and Maude Poulin, are an athletic and artistic duo. Through contemporary dance and acrobatics, they make figure skating — on roller blades without the ice — as elegant as ballet.
Le Patin Libre – Philippe Le Bon in “Melt” – Photo by Caroline Thibault.
On a sparse stage with only a keyboard on one side and a guitar and electrical equipment on the other, Melt opened with Philippe Le Bon, who, in this post-apocalyptic setting uses a pull-start generator to initiate electricity to his guitar. Le Bon dove into a blues/rock riff long enough to get your head nodding before the generator died, and humorously, he had to repeat everything again. It was an interesting choice, for effect, because as an audience member getting into the groove, this vignette left you craving more of his great riffs.
Le Patin Libre – Alexandre Hamel, Maude Poulin in “Melt” – Photo by Caroline Thibault.
The music expanded from there into beat box rhythms. Hamel and Poulin entered the dark stage, each with a rope tied to their waist, as they walked/skated in place, bent forward with their arms reaching ahead. They soon began running — in place — reaching out to each other. At a point Hamel, sans rope, maintained a spinning quick-foot crossover, or essentially, running in place while turning — on skates.
The energy of this production, between the live original music and heart-stirring choreography, immersed you in a journey of humor, connection and beauty. This was so much more than skating. Melt is an inspired, completely original, merging of ice skating, street dance and classical choreography manifested for the stage.
Le Patin Libre – Maude Poulin in “Melt” – Photo by Caroline Thibault.
In an especially elegant act, Poulin, beautiful in a white dress, and Hamel wearing overalls, glided onto the stage. As they performed balletic sequences, lifts and spins, Le Bon sang and played a classical number on keys. Performing utterly in-sync with the progressing music, the duo began skating backward as their arms swept into a backstroke, in unison, to the rise and fall of Le Bon’s arpeggios.
Le Patin Libre – Alexandre Hamel in “Melt” – Photo by Caroline Thibault.
After such a beautiful ethereal set, Melt transported the audience to the street, the funk and fun with ‘Stayin Alive.’ Poulin set the vibe to a disco backbeat; with a cheeky sway she sent her dress into a lively shimmying motion. A motivated Hamel was electrified in his kicks, jumps and spins. The next thing you know, he is gliding across the stage posing in the iconic John Travolta stance from “Saturday Night Fever.”
Le Patin Libre – Maude Poulin and Alexandre Hamel in “Melt” – Photo by Caroline Thibault.
In addition to the amazing skill of the performers, “Melt” was an emotionally astute show. Each act, through this hybrid of skate and dance — and music, evoked friendship, love, and responsiveness, without saying a word. This nuanced production provided charm, subtlety, and poetry. In a surprising highlight, as Hamel and Poulin danced across the stage, there were fleeting seconds when you could see the blades on their skates shine and twinkle. There were intimate moments when they were face to face, gliding toward and away from each other, mirroring each other’s movements and building on many, graceful concentric circles. All together creating a mesmerizing, uplifting effect.There was tension too; and gas cans, which were curious but added to the conceptual set. At a point the dancers threw the multiple gas cans off stage and began moving together to a lullaby song, while each of them still held one can. As ominous music built, Poulin, under the spotlight moved in slow deliberate circles. The dancers faced each other, drifting together as their arms swept in unison, evoking an intense conversation between them as the music soared. They summoned sensuality without any sensual gestures, just fluidity and grace, until the moment when Poulin and Hamel moved toward and passed each other, interlocking their skates in an astonishing crescendo.Founded by former high-level figure skaters, Le Patin Libre has spent more than a decade reinventing skating as a contemporary performing art. Their choreography-driven work has taken them to major festivals and venues around the world, transforming rinks, theaters and unexpected spaces into stages for skating that defies easy categorization.
Le Patin Libre – Maude Poulin and Alexandre Hamel in “Melt” – Photo by Caroline Thibault.
This stunning performance was directed by Jeff Hall, choreographed by Le Patin Libre (Alexandre Hamel, Pascale Jodoin) and featured all-original music by Philippe Le Bon.
For more information about Le Patin Libre, please visit their website.
To see the full performance season at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, please visit their website.
Written by Melina Paris for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Le Patin Libre – Alexandre Hamel in “Melt” – Photo by Caroline Thibault.
