A world-class ballerina is the first member of the public to have tried Alton Towers Resort’s new ride named the Toxicator — the only topspin ride of its kind in the UK
One of Britain’s leading ballerinas is the first person to have tried out Alton Towers Resort’s new record-breaking ride.
Birmingham Royal Ballet soloist Karla Doorbar has completed approximately half a million pirouettes in her career, but this week also became the first member of the public to experience Alton Towers’ newest attraction —Toxicator.
Toxicator is the only topspin ride of its kind in the UK — including extreme spin patterns and heart-pounding centrifugal forces. The ride stands at a record-breaking 78ft high, on a 16ft elevated platform within the park’s Forbidden Valley.
Karla Doorbar, a soloist with the world-renowned Birmingham Royal Ballet, rode the new attraction ahead of its official opening on Saturday, March 15.
The 32-year-old has had a lifelong love for Alton Towers Resort, commenting: “Throughout my training and career I’ve devoted countless hours to perfecting the pirouette — whether performing on world-renowned stages or in the studio. It has taken immense levels of focus over many years to develop the strength and power that this entails.
“So when Alton Towers invited me to be the first to take on the unrivalled spinning power of Toxicator I jumped at the chance. Riding it is an incredible experience and will give riders an unrivalled sense of the intense power of spin.”
The ride officially opens tomorrow, where guests can also experience the ride for the first time in the dark, as part of the Alton After Dark event. The topspin ride will allow more than 500 riders per hour and is one of only two rides o its kind in Europe.
Guests will need to be at least 1.4 metres tall to go on the ride, and they can walk under the structure the ride sits on, which is a world-first. Bianca Sammut, vice president of Alton Towers Resort said: “Toxicator is the latest example of how Alton Towers continues to set new standards for heart-pounding attractions.
“As one of Britain’s most accomplished ballerinas there are few people who know more about spins and pirouettes than Karla — which is why we are so delighted that she is amongst the first to experience the head-spinning thrills of Toxicator.”
Karla enrolled at The Royal Ballet School in London at the age of 11. After graduation she joined Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2011. Her career has taken her across the globe to Japan, Spain, Germany and the USA. Notable performances include her dream role as Clara in The Nutcracker, a role she has performed annually.
The mother of one estimates she has performed close to half a million pirouettes in a career on some of the most famous stages including the Royal Opera House, Sadler’s Wells and BRB’s home base of Birmingham Hippodrome as well as multiple venues across Europe, Asia and America.