Olga Sharuntenko has a long, harsh winter in her native Russia to thank for her glittering international figure skating career.

At the age of six she stepped out onto an icy street and discovered a flair for skating. Following in the footsteps of her mother, an accomplished figure skater, Olga started training and joined the Russian National Junior team.

In 1995 she and her partner became Junior World Champions and were invited to join the Russian Senior National team, winning competitions worldwide. In 1999, she joined theatrical skating troupe the Russian Ice Stars then the Imperial Ice Stars, taking lead roles in world tours of Swan Lake and Cinderella on Ice.

Both shows have been to the Alhambra and this summer Olga returns to the theatre in Sleeping Beauty on Ice, which will see the theatre’s stage transformed into a shimmering ice rink.

“Something magical happens when the performance starts. Even for us skaters it’s amazing to see the ice appear,” she says. “In some countries we visit, like South Africa, they never see snow and only have ice in their drinks, so to see such a large amount of it in a theatre is incredible.”

Having been used to skating in huge arenas competing as a figure skater, Olga had to adjust to skating in smaller venues.

“I finished my sporting career, but I didn’t want to finish figure skating. Being in shows like this meant I could continue doing what I loved. Performing in theatres, on smaller stages than I was used to, was a challenge at first, but you make the adjustment, mentally and physically.

“We’re still doing things that skaters would do on a bigger rink and there are some spectacular effects.”

The ice shows draw on classical ballet and Olga even manages to make skating on points look effortless.

“I started doing ballet at the same time as skating, then had to make a choice. I chose figure skating, but sometimes I wish I’d gone with ballet,” she says. “I was telling (producer) Tony Mercer this and he said ‘well, you could do points on the ice’. That was something very special for me.”

Taking on different dance styles is something Olga did each week on this year’s series of Dancing on Ice, which saw her partnered with Keith Chegwin.

“He was a fun person but took the skating very seriously. I think people were surprised he did so well, but he put so much effort in,” she says. “He kept saying he didn’t want to let me down, and I never had any doubts when it came to him lifting me.

“If I have inspired a couple of kids to take skating lessons I will be happy. Bradford is lucky to have an ice rink – Keith and I trained there one day when he was working up there – and it’s a great place to spend an hour. If you try to balance yourself on the ice you’re using muscles you wouldn’t normally use.”

* Sleeping Beauty on Ice runs at the Alhambra from June 4 to 9. For tickets, ring (01274) 432000.