"Disney's High School Musical" franchise can be summed up in three words — an entertainment phenomenon.

Two made-for-TV (and filmed in Utah) movies have garnered huge ratings. Then there are the spin-offs — a concert tour, a full-scale Broadway-style stage production (coming to Utah next year), and not one but three separate ice-tour companies — two domestic North American tours and a third company scheduled to play in South America, Europe and Australia.

The West Coast version of this tour is coming to EnergySolutions Arena next week. Three choreographers — one of whom had worked alongside Kenny Ortega in choreographing the two original Disney Channel movies — were brought on board by Feld Entertainment to transfer the dance routines from the movies to the ice rink.

This creative trio is comprised of internationally renowned skaters Cindy Stewart and Douglas Webster (who has some Salt Lake City ties from the 2002 Winter Olympics), and one of Ortega's proteges, Charles "Chucky" Klapow.

During separate telephone interviews, Stewart, Webster and Klapow told of their experiences in putting the ice shows together.

Klapow said he had "so much fun" working in Utah on the two "High School Musical" movies. "That whole region of dancers is incredible. We used all locals for both films — more than 200 dancers."

He said Ortega asked if he'd like to choreograph the show. "But I'd never skated before. He said I could teach them the moves on the studio floor, but when we got into the pre-production work, it killed me to just stand on the side of the rink yelling out instructions.

"I put on ice skates for the first time in my life in Los Angeles, and for one month I worked with Cindy and Doug. It was pretty tricky, but because of my dance background, they helped me adapt. Skaters are disciplined in their dancing on ice. They're aware of their bodies and they are classically trained. Their movement is more sharp, and they're so professional and focused."

Stewart explained that the basic choreography was taught in Los Angeles to 102 skaters (34 in each of the three casts), before moving everyone to Lakeland, Fla., and Tampa, Fla., for rehearsing the show on the ice. "We had 85 percent of the show choreographed and ready to teach when we went to Florida. Chucky was very adept on the ice. He really took to it and loved it. He didn't want to be stuck on the sidelines, and it was exciting to have him in the middle of the rink."