I'm posting here b/c this is from a "cast member's experience..." If you want to just read about the elite skaters, you might want to skip the stuff after the Cast Party section...

Elite (and almost elite) skaters

The rewards of the hard work returned on the dress rehearsal day when I showed up not expecting Rudy, Surya and Caryn to show up 'til the day of the show and seeing instead TWO of our guest stars during rehearsal... (I will not publicly embarass the person who didn't show up. You know who you are.) It was weird... skating with the stage lights, the live singers and having to go thru costume changes (some very quick ones) and being backstage alongside the elite skaters.

Caryn did an elegant and graceful "Anyone Who Have a Heart." She did struggle with a double axel but seriously, she really didn't need to do one!!! Surya did two numbers: "One Day I'll Fly Away" and "I Will Survive" (Yes, THAT version!) She's ever the show girl with her acrobatic and skating talents on the ice! And despite her size (she's quite short!!!) she looks like one lady the hockey guys don't wanna mess with on the ice! (MUSCLES, man!!! MUSCLES!!!!) And what a sweetie!!! She and Rohene pose a picture with me!!! Rudy skating "Send In The Clowns" with a golden hula hoop!!! When we're not in awe of his skating, we're taking notes on the many ways you can skate to a program with a hula hoop as a prompt. And what a class act!!! Parts of my ensemble group and I got off stage quickly -- right thru the entrance door backstage to a cheering and clapping Rudy!!! I like him!!!

I personally think besides the elite skaters that the skater who stole the show was Rohene Ward!!! WHAT gorgeous lines, extensions and flexiblity!!! (The guy can rival SASHA COHEN in this area!!!) PLUS, he can jump AND spin in both directions too!!! And he's just one the nicest and most gracious skaters I've ever met. All I can say is (He got a good laugh coming off the ice to a bunch of us too!)

Justin Dillon - Nice and smooth!!! (And FAST too!!!)

When we were all out to take our bows on the ice (and yes, all the ensemble skaters were introduced by name), I was right smack on the "50 yard" line with our elite skaters RIGHT in front of me center ice!!! How KEWL is THAT!?!?!

Cast Party
Rudy had to go practice super early the next morning, so he bowed out of our cast party. Don't know why Caryn couldn't make it (she rushed out REAL fast after the finale) but she looks like a busy lady anyway. Surya DID make it to the cast party and signed autographs and had LOTS of adoring fans taking pictures of her with them! You're KEWL in my book Surya!!!

Hubby liked the wine and the good bar. Food is okay... but all those who have gone to restaurants that I recommend before know I can find better pot stickers... Party was alive and kickin' though! Hubby and I didn't stay long since it was way past bedtime for me and I was turning into a pumpkin!

Adult skaters
Century Leigh - Ever the classy show girl she is!!! LOVE her dress too!!! And WHAT a sweetie off ice too!!! I just LOVE her energy!!! (She strongly recommends I save up for Germany next year!)

Amy Entwistle - Also another gorgeous skater!!! Nice gal too!!!

Elizabeth Floriani - (yet another lovely skater!!!) skated to "Knowing When to Leave."

John Braun aka "Contessa de la Frommage" was such a hoot!!! Love him...er, her...er... (He had a lovely hair pin in his blond wig that I'd just LOVE to have!)

Our own "Lives To Skate", Burt Powley is definitely an attention getter with his gorgeous skating (including an EASY double flip and death drop) and his skating jacket and pants outfit. The closest way to describe it is that it reminds me of one of those 70's disco balls!!! There were quite a few spectators and kids who gravitated towards Burt either after the show or during intermission... not sure if it's more b/c of his skating or his outfit though!

And yes, folks!!! Now that I've met him myself... he's KEWL in my book!!! And if I was in his shoes and, at a time, was pretty much near death's door...only to come back to skate and win like he did at AN -- damn straight I'm gonna go celebrating my life now too!!! You GO, "Lives To Skate!!!" You GO!!!

Last but definitely NOT least... Edward Van Campen...kinda hard to decide whether you're an "almost elite skater" or one of the "adult skater" given (but choose to put him here b/c of his recent bronze medal at AN in the Championship Masters Men event!) WHAT a handsome matador he was as he's skating to Malaguena!!! MAJOR KUDOS for his figure loop, footwork and BIG split jumps in his program!!! Also a charmer off ice too!!! (Which, knowing my luck, probably means if you're one of his MITF students, you won't be "charmed" for long! )

Edward and I briefly talked backstage as well as at the cast party over some fried pot stickers and other fried appetizers. FrankR, if you are reading this, please tell your moves coach that he has a fan in SF and if he's ever back in SF again, I would love to take him out for some REALLY GOOD pot stickers -- worthy of this SF foodie too!!! Love to hear what his response is!

There are some of you I didn't get to see b/c of either costume change or just plain concentrating for the next group number. If I didn't mention you... I humbly apologize!!! I was changing for our next number and I really wished I had a chance to see your number.

General Notes:
First thing, it was a LOOOOONG night!!! Two sold out crowds! I didn't do much skating, but I still had to be in skates throughout the show b/c the ensembles are scattered throughout the shows. Each show was at least two hours!!! My feet are KILLING me!!! And I already turned into a pumpkin by the time the cast party was getting started!!! And when I got home I got about 45 bobby pins to secure the hair extension bun, which was also a pain to remove b/c of the stiff hair from the TON of hairspray my hairstylist put on my head... (but people loved my hair and makeup job!!!)

Second thing, it's been a while since I've worked on an ensemble number, never mind 3 numbers. And trust me, it's very scary to learn 3 synch skating number with 16 people who has no experience in synch skating, never mind various skating levels, in two months' time!!!

But we made it!!! Overall, it was a good experience to go thru! I learn a lot about skating with a group, formed some strong friendships and met some new friends!!! I loved the "hen party" (costume and makeup) ... and learn a lot about being part of a skating synch group. Not sure I want to do this again next year, though, admittedly!!! But I can now say that I've done something "interesting" in my skating life and have no regrets about the experience!!!

__________________
Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Hey jazzpants,

Thanks for the report!! I was wondering how the show went and I'm so happy to hear that it went well and that it sounds like a good time was had by all.

I will be more than happy to pass your message along to Edward. I'm sure he'll appreciate your kind words and your invitation. And you're right, it's always cool to hang out with Edward. He's a fun guy. Believe it or not, some of his funnier moments happen during lessons. I believe that I'm "moves-challenged" so his lessons aren't easy for me on most days. Nevertheless, I can think of at least one thing that he said or did that made me laugh during just about each lesson. So, to sum it all up, it's not all FIRE AND BRIMSTONE during his lessons. There's also HUMOR and HILARITY .

Thanks again and take care,

Frank

Glad you had fun, Jazz! That's what matters. Thanks for the detailed report.

At the end, we all pulled together and it was a very supportive environment!!! And I have no doubt that Edward is to hang out with.

I've been working almost FOUR YEARS on Bronze MITF. Trust me, I'm the lost cause of Bronze moves!!! Maybe I should make a visit to Hackensack someday and see if Edward can pull some miracles!!! LOL!!! (It's really not THAT bad! I am close enough to test now... as my primary coach would say it "There IS a GOD!!!" )

__________________
Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Wow, thanks for the report! It sounds great.

All your talk of SF food reminds me of childhood and recent trips to SF. The BEST sushi and tuna sashimi in my life I had at an interesting mall in Japantown. I also once went to a Chinese wedding at some restaurant in Chinatown that had an escalator inside. My cousins and I were seated at the end of a long table, so the waiters kept giving us the extras as they finished serving our table!

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Edward and Lives to Skate are both very nice people! And she is quite right, too. Or perhaps the Mountain Cup for your first trip (you could do the camp, too, which is fun), and Germany in a year or so when I'm good enough to dance there..... AFAIK we aren't going this year, and I should hate to miss you! So think about the Mountain Cup, instead!

What about Liz McG, or didn't you see her skate?

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Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
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Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Well, we'll see now with my new car expense... I have no plans to travel anywhere but Dallas next year for now (assuming I pass the tests.) I did NOT see Liz McG skate, as I was going thru a costume change, but I did see her backstage and said hello to her. She did have a beautiful dress on though (as she always does...as did a LOT of skaters actually...)

__________________
Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Including you, Jazz? Too bad skaternum wasn't there to take pics! MUUHAHAHAH!

What a fantastic, unique, and exciting experience!! Thank you so much for the details.

Do you live in SF, and is Yerba Buena your home rink? I lived in SF until recently, but never could skate due to my schedule. I will be going back in January and plan on continuing to skate -- hopefully if you are local we can grab a coffee or something

Congratulations on all your hard work!

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--
Natalie

http://www.ILoveTaB.com

Photos from the show:
http://www.reactionphotography.com/v...oos*wsromo.KK0

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Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
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They never get me on a good shot... Ah, well...

They had specific costumes for us... I have a plain black skirt as one of the dresses, the shirt and tie in a couple of numbers, and the red dress in the "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" number. (They're dresses "borrowed" from the synch team. Makes me look like a bell hop... )

Yes. Natalie! YB is my home rink and I live near SF... and I'll definitely take you up on your offer for coffee.

__________________
Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

I disagree! I think you look fantastic in that red dress.

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This morning I returned the red dress back to the lady who deals with the synch team's costumes... with the words "Oh, PLEASE take it away from me before I hold a bonfire for it!!!" Poor woman was like LOL!!! (Of course, I also had to explain why I hated the dress.)

__________________
Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Oh, dear! Must resist talk about dim sum...

AUGH!!! I hate resisting my "foodie" impulses...

Oh, are you talking about Miriwa on Pacific Ave (between Grant and Stockton?)

They're pretty decent... but not my favorite for dim sum!!! Mine are Koi Palace in Daly City, Yank Sing and Harbor Village (in that order -- Koi Palace and Yank Sing ties for first place in terms of food, but Koi wins b/c it's 5 minutes from my home and it's free parking if you can find it!!!) It's expensive for dim sum but well worth it!!! Of course, the big minus is to get there before the dim sum crowd comes in... and they WILL come... in DROVES!!!

Koi definitely wins in the Chinese banquet stuff too!!! (Okay! NOW I'm hungry for dim sum... see what you've done, mikawendy?!?!?!!)

__________________
Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Jazzpants, I just found out that Billy, who skated in your show, is the former pairs partner of my skating director on Staten Island! He skated with her in our show in May, and was practicing on the empty public session ice after the morning class I teach. What a nice guy, and fabulous skater!

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Interesting!!! Yes, he did mentioned that he used to do pairs.

Billy's also our poster guy too!!! And yes, definitely a wonderful guy...

__________________
Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

I'll second that.. Billy is GREAT! I skate at the same time as him when I take lessons from my primary coach.. and he's always considerate of everyone else's music and lessons.. even though he's so powerful he could probably jump over any of us! He also teaches.. and it's always fun to see him chasing the younger kids around the rink.. they think he's going full out because THEY are working so hard to stay ahead of him, and we know he's practically loafing. But at the end he asks them "Did that feel like you were outskating me?" And they almost always say "Oh yes!" and he doesn't tell them otherwise... it's very cute!

I used to watch him practice pairs. He went to Nationals in Jr. Pairs the year Nationals were in Boston.

Sorry, I can't remember the name of the place with the escalator. It was about 1987 or 1988. I do remember having dim sum on a different day in a different place and it WAS just divine. That's the advantage of having a cousin who married a woman from China. She knew all the good places to go!

The shopping mall in Japantown that I remember getting great sushi at was 2 stories high, and it had a really neat hardware store (Soko Hardware?) in it, too, which had Japanese lanterns and teapots and other things in addition to tools.

(Sorry to hijack the thread again.... it's been WAAAAAY too long since I've had dim sum! And a co-worker of mine is vacationing in SF this coming week....)

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