9/11 Stars, Stripes and Skates

[sk8rmom]

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to get the word out for all of you in the northeast area to come out to this commemorative event for Sept. 11th. It's at Nassau Coliseum on Sept. 7th. I know there will be a lot of champion skaters there as well as other celebrities (Nancy Kerrigan, Steve Buschemi, Philippe Candeloro, Justin Guarini and Julia Demato from American Idol) with an after party that they will all be attending!

I'm especially excited that they're giving children a chance to skate at the show who were chosen from a talent search. It gives them a great opportunity to shine as well as learn about fundraising for an excellent cause!!! My daughter's best friend was one of the lucky ones chosen and we're surely going to be there to show her our support.

If you're interested, which I hope you are, you can get more information on the event by going to www.starsstripesandskates.org.

Hope to see you there!!!!!

Sincerely,
Sk8Rmom :D

[spicyicey]

Oops, I think your last period after "org" got into that web address...this link should work : www.starsstripesandskates.org

[GEM21]

I'm posting this in both threads (there is one in News as well), just incase...

But does anyone know if this is going to be televised by any chance? Some friends of mine (besides being a huge skating fan) are huge American Idol fans and would love to see them together on the same stage/ice...

Thanks!!!

[adrianchew]

Just got back a while ago from this year's Stars, Stripes, Skates - they held it this time at the Nassau Collesium in Long Island, New York. It was hosted by Nancy Kerrigan and Steve Buscemi again.

Justin Guarini was there to sing the national anthem to open the event, and he sang 2 songs from his debut album later on the show. One of the finalists from American Idol 2 (forget the name) sang God Bless America somewhere midway in the show (but she forgot part of the lyrics ugh!).

Skaters were...

Emily Hughes
Katie Orscher/Garrett Lucash
Vaktang Murvanidze
Tiffany Scott/Philip Dulebohn
Mellisa Ielpi
Phillippe Candeloro
Tanith Belbin/Benjamin Agosto
Johnny Weir
Galit Chait/Sergey Sakhnovsky
Yuka Sato/Jason Dungjen

Others on the ice were...

Chesapeake Bay Diamonds
Ice Theater of New York
The many kids in the talent show

I didn't really try to record in my head too many details on the actual skating, but most were exhbition programs. Tanith/Ben might have done a new original dance I think.

The turnout wasn't too encouraging - I'd say maybe 50% of the arena are parents/relatives of the kids that took part in the show. People all around me seemed to be just that. And they didn't exactly pack the arena up either. :(

[Gilda]

Hi, I also saw the show and was disappointed by the turn out. But we had football and a very important Yankee/Red Sox game to deal with....and the Yankees thankfully won. But i did go to the show and was impressed by Johnny Weir who threw in more jumps than anybody. He looked good but lacked expression. He didn't seem very warm. Ben and Tanith were expressive but had errors in the program; it wasn't cleanly skated but as usual they related to the spectators. Yuka and Jason look good but I was surprised at how weak Scott and Dulebohn looked. Their porgram was slow but they did land a throw triple. It seemed that he struggled with the lifts. Orscher and Lucash looked better than I have ever seen them. Their presentation really has been notched up. He really tosses her on those throws, she had difficulty with the landings however. I think Garrett was risking his life by showing up in a BRGHT RED Red Sox jersey.

Jen Robinson was also there and was not impressive. She had trouble with almost every jump.

The Isreali team was terrific as should be expected. They have a beautiful line and just glide along through their routine in a beautiful manner.

As always Philippe was the star of the show. He is really an entertainer. And yes ladies he took of hs shirt, again!

Based on what I saw I think that Weir is lookng better than ever. Scott and Dulebohn on the other hand need work could be facing some difficulty n ths years competitions. Ben and Tanith should cruise to a national championship.

I only wish there had been more people there as the show despite show production mishaps was really enjoyable.
Oh, Even Nancy Kerrgan skated!

[CMc]

Sorry to hear about the turnout--It seemed to be a much bigger one last year at the Garden.
Any reports on how Emily did, and what she skated to?

[Alexeiskate]

Gilda,

How was Vaktang's performance? He was a lot of fun to watch at Worlds.

[NYSk8Fan]

Emily skated to a medley from Chicago I believe. I am not particulary good on jump reporting but I think there were only two in the program - double axel landed well and another which I don't remember what it was that she struggled with. Her skating is polished and expresive and she really relates to the audience and sells the very nice choreography.

[dr.frog]

I'm not surprised turnout for the show was rather light. I never saw an announcement of the complete cast list until less than a week before the event, and the advance publicity for the show made it sound like it was going to be primarily a club-type talent show with a couple guest stars, instead of a professional production with many elite skaters.

[IgglesII]

Originally posted by Gilda
I think Garrett was risking his life by showing up in a BRGHT RED Red Sox jersey.



'atta boy! :D

[legjumper]

Can anyone who went to this show provide more details about Tanith and Ben's performance? (Music, etc.) Thanks!

[Reckless]

Originally posted by legjumper
Can anyone who went to this show provide more details about Tanith and Ben's performance? (Music, etc.) Thanks!

Please. I'd like to hear the same. If they didn't skate clean, can someone say what mistakes they made? How did their program compare to C/S (and what did C/S perform)?

[kara]

I'd like to hear more, too. Thanks for the posts so far! How was Jen's program? Did Johnny do his SP or LP? Where did B&A have problems?

On the news last night, they very briefly showed Tanith and Ben (mostly from the back) skating around holding hands. He was wearing tan/yellow pants and a cream shirt, I think...think his hair was a tad longer. He and the costume looked good...like more manly or something. Tanith's hair was a little longer and more straight and less layered, partially pulled back, I think. The dress was a halter, I think, with her back showing at the top...white/sheerish fluffy, layered, full skirt, '50's looking, below the knees. It had little red things spced out on it...maybe flowers? There were two very short clips, so, I think that's what they might have looked like:). How about more on their program, anyone? Thanks. Go B&A :D .

[adrianchew]

I can't identify the music but Tanith/Ben's routine was filled with intricate footwork for the most part, and had that balance move he does like a forward shoot the duck with her on top. There seemed to be 2 sections to it, so I'm guessing its the OD? The dance looks intricate, but I'd still like to see a bit more speed from them someday. The balance move wasn't done with the greatest security/ease but was ok.

Emily's other jump was a 2-toe. I somehow remember seeing her skate faster, maybe its just this being an exhibition program and all.

C/S performed to Unforgettable. Johnny Weir performed to Imagine.

Scott/Dulebohn did their exhibition number that I've seen before from Worlds - the one with techno-like music, if I remember they did split 2-twist, throw 3-sal.

Vaktang has a voidy exhibtion program (go figure out what that means, some women will understand what I mean though)... he did like 3-toes and straight line step sequences and a lot of other body boogieing.

Johnny Weir - I gotta say, I'm still amazed by his skating quality and lightness of his jumps.

[Reckless]

Originally posted by adrianchew
C/S performed to Unforgettable.


It sounds like that is the exhibition they did a few years ago. I can't imagine them reusing that music in a competitive program.

[NYSk8Fan]

From the way the music was cut at the beginning and from the way they started the dance - both seemed to have no lead-in - I figured we might be seeing the last 2/3rds of Tanith and Ben's free dance.

[Reckless]

Originally posted by NYSk8Fan
From the way the music was cut at the beginning and from the way they started the dance - both seemed to have no lead-in - I figured we might be seeing the last 2/3rds of Tanith and Ben's free dance.

Was the music from West Side Story? That's what people have reported that B/A are using for their FD. It's pretty recognizable music, so hopefully somone who was at the show might be able to say so. If someone tried to describe what their music sounded like, it might be easier to tell if they were dancing their OD or part of their FD.

[kara]

Thanks, Adrian.

[NYSk8Fan]

no - it wasn't West Side Story. I would say it was rock and roll.

[Reckless]

Thanks, NYSk8Fan.

Someone posted at the belgosto mailing list that the music included Louis Prima and the drum solo from Sing, Sing, Sing. There also is a middle part that the author believes was used in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

From your description and that post, it sounds definitely like the OD.

[Blade1]

Thanks so much Adrien for the report. Sorry to hear that the turn out wasn't all that great !! Sounds like you all were entertained !