Star-studded Cast at Evening With Champions
by Elizabeth Leamy, Special to U.S. Figure Skating Online |
| Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto |
Check out two pages of backstage photos from the event!
(10/10/06) - “An Evening With Champions” kicked off its 37th year Oct. 6 with a star-studded show that featured some of the most decorated U.S figure skaters in the sport today as well as several past Olympic medalists.
More than 4,000 spectators showed up to support the two-night Boston-based skating show, which has come to be regarded as one of the most reputable fundraisers in the figure skating community. The show was held Oct. 6-7 at the Bright Hockey Arena on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Mass
The annual event began in 1970 in order to help to raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund. It is coordinated entirely by a small group of Harvard undergraduate students.
“This is a great event for a great cause,” said Angela Ying, a Harvard student and the event's public relations manager. “I love how this event attracts so many people from all over. There are so many people who help to make this show so great.”
This year's roster included Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto, Emily Hughes, Matt Savoie, Scott Smith, Juliana Cannarozzo, Stephanie Rosenthal, Morgan Matthews & Maxim Zavozin, Julia Vlassov & Drew Meekins, the Haydenettes and Theatre on Ice team Act I of Boston.
“It's nice to be part of this whole experience,” Agosto said. “It is such a good cause, and it's a lot more than just a show.”
Friday night's lineup also featured 1994 Olympic gold medalist Oksana Baiul, and two-time Olympic pairs champions Oleg and Ludmila Protopopov of Russia performed both nights. Both Baiul and the Protopopovs previously performed at the event and said that they like coming back because it is such a fulfilling experience.
“I have learned that it is best to stick with what you know and what you love,” Baiul said. “Then everything works out well.”
The EWC EffectSince it was first implemented, “An Evening With Champions” has raised more than $2.3 million for the Jimmy Fund. It was started by two Harvard undergraduate students from their Eliot House dorm - former U.S.champion John Misha-Petkevich and his classmate, John Powers, who was inspired after making a visit to a local hospital.
“An Evening with Champions” is part of a popular fall kick-off forHarvardUniversity. Throughout the weekend, there are many skating-related activities that involve the performers, students and families who are associated with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The weekend commences on Friday afternoon with a visit by the skaters and Harvard students to the hospital, where they spend one-on-one time with the children and their families.
On Saturday afternoon, there is a “Skate With the Stars” session at the Bright Arena in which the performers and children spend time together on the ice. Afterward, participants are invited to the dining hall for an ice cream party complete with balloons, clowns and a show put on by members of the Harvard Magic Society.
“The best part is seeing the kids be able to be so happy,” said Anna Chen, a Harvard sophomore who served as the Jimmy Fund liaison this year.
There is also a dinner banquet held for performers and students at the conclusion of the Friday and Saturday night shows.
“It's really exciting to skate with world-class skaters for such a great cause,” said Chris Schleicher, a Harvard student and event volunteer who performed at this year's shows with his sister, Molly. He and his sister finished 10th at the 2005 State Farm U.S. Championships in novice pairs. “Last year, one of the children gave me a plastic bracelet that he had been wearing after I had finished skating with him. The kids are so excited to have a day to skate.”
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| Oksana Baiul |
Despite a few glitches (There were a few sound problems early on, and event host Paul Wylie was running late due to airport delays.), the Friday night show featured notable performances by all the skaters. Belbin and Agosto stepped up to pinch-host for Wylie until he arrived 20 minutes later. Although he was wearing his traveling clothes, Wylie glided into his commentary in a smooth and professional fashion.
Belbin and Agosto were the final skaters of the evening, and they lived up to their Olympic reputation. They brought down the house with their new original dance to tango music. She wore a three-quarter-length red sequin and black dress with a red-chiffon fabric accent on the back. He was donned in a black, double-breasted blazer, black pants and a black button-down shirt with a red tie.
“We felt it would be good to debut this program here,” Belbin said. “It's such a great way to see how it will work going into the season.”
Hughes was another crowd favorite. She performed a high-octane rendition of Ike and Tina Turner's “Proud Mary” wearing black pants and a stunning black halter top with diamond-like sequins. She reeled off a triple Salchow, triple toe and a double Axel, as well as a beautiful spiral sequence.
Baiul skated two programs, including “Dying Swan” by Tchaikovsky in the second half. She wore a sleeveless white ballerina costume that had an ecru and white tulle skirt and a tiara made with white swan feathers. The program was reminiscent of her 1992 Olympic short program in which she wore a similar costume in black. She did her famous “Oksana” spin and a double Axel in which she fell slightly out of the landing. She also did a triple toe that had a two-footed landing. Still, she skated with speed and looked to be in excellent shape.
“I have been working on keeping focused on my skating when I am at the rink, and I try not to let anything from the outside interfere with that,” Baiul said. “This is where I'm at right now and I feel good about it.”
Smith, who grew up in Baltimore and now trains at the Skating Club of Boston, wowed the crowd with his interpretation of Michael Buble's “Feeling Good.” He did a triple loop and triple toe, and although he doubled another planned triple, he won the crowd over with his speed, fluid lines and well-formed spins. He also performed two split jumps and a spread eagle with a cool arched-back position.
Savoie was also a major hit. Although he has retired from competitive skating for the time being, his performance to “Summertime” seemed to be up to its usual speed. He did a double Axel, triple toe with a step out on the landing and a double Lutz from a backward lunge. Overall, Savoie's presentation was of a world-class level, especially in regard to his edges and variations of entries into his jumps and spins.
Savoie is a full-time law student at CornellUniversity in Ithacam N.Y.
“I'm really busy with school now — it's definitely a whole different experience compared to training for competitions,” Savoie said.
He also added that doing this show “brings a different dimension to the whole performance aspect of skating.”
The Protopopovs wore royal blue outfits and skated to an engaging Italian operatic piece. The team has been skating together for 52 years and received a standing ovation. They skated with amazing unison and performed a split lift and a right forward inside death spiral, which they like to refer to as a “life” spiral. They followed with a peppy Russian dance encore.
Matthews and Zavozin performed an innovative rendition of Tom Jones' “Kiss.” They wore pink and black costumes and moved with power and unison. Their crossovers, steps and lifts were done with lightness and energy, and their split-spin lift was exceptional — a move in which Zavozin spins Matthews in a split position at top speed. This past summer, Mathews and Zavozin worked extensively on all of
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| Paul Wylie was the evening's host. |
“This year, we tried to focus on our skating technique,” Zavozin said.
Vlassov and Meekins skated to “Sarabande” by Maksim Mrvica, while SC of Boston skater Juliana Cannarozzo, 17, did a lovely interpretation of “The Prayer” by Charlotte Church and Josh Groban. Stephanie Rosenthal rocked the house with her signature “Rockit” routine from last season. She wore a silver dress and moved her arms and legs in a modern breakdance fashion. This year, she is enrolled as a freshman at Yale University and has embarked on a new life as an academic.
“This program is so ingrained in me, I can pretty much do it from memory,” Rosenthal said.
Molly and Chris Schleicher did a lively rendition of “Ease On Down the Road” from “The Wiz” movie soundtrack. They wore bright green and purple costumes and executed a throw double Salchow.
The Haydenettes debuted their new short program for the coming season to “Legends of the Fall.” They wore peach dresses and performed with speed, confidence and power.
Act I of Boston was another big crowd-pleaser. This 30-member ice theatre troupe interpreted the “Star Wars” saga with costumes, props and sets. Former U.S. junior ice dancing champion Justin Pekarek played Han Solo and skated around fighting off Darth Vader and the Stormtroopers. Chewbacca, the lovable Wookie, even did a double toe.
Yasmin Siraj, a 10-year-old New England juvenile competitor, performed an engaging routine to Arabian music. Her program featured a host of impressive spins, footwork and jumps, including an Axel, double Salchow, double toe and double Lutz with a slight fall out.
Finally, the Harvard Skating Club performed a lighthearted rendition of “It's Raining Men” by former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell. The group, which consisted of eight women and one man, skated around with umbrellas and did a variety of different spins and jumps. At the program's conclusion, the girls formed a circle around their gentleman friend, who posed with his arms in a flexed position.
“This is such an excellent show, and it's so great to be part of it,” said Anna Chen, a Harvard performer and sophomore who has worked on the show for two years. “I'm really looking forward to next year.”
