Ice Theatre of New York: Free ice concerts at Rockefeller Center Skating Rink (video)

FREE! Is there a more lovely word than free? Is anything free anymore? Especially in New York City -- I once walked out of a deli because the guy charged me $.50 to have my bagel toasted! Just when you become jaded, here comes an unexpected surprise -- Ice Theatre of New York, an ice dance company that showcases ice skating as performance art, is holding free concerts at Rockefeller Center Skating Rink throughout March. The last free concert at Rockefeller Rink is on Wednesday, March 17 at 1 p.m. so if you work or live around the area, please come by to watch an entertaining 30-minute show.

Moira North, founder of the company, really packs the half hour in with numbers that will appeal to everyone. I had a chance to see their first Rockefeller Rink ice concert this year and it was a mix of modern and traditional, but with one common theme -- all the ensemble members are accomplished skaters so they made all the pieces look very interesting. This is also an exciting time for Ice Theatre because they will be celebrating the 25th year of the company and Moira is planning something spectacular towards the end of the year or beginning of 2011.

Here's a rundown of the ice concert that I saw in early March:

• La Revolte Des Enfants: Choreographed by Alberto Del Saz, music by Renee Aubry, performed by Eve Chalom, Ali Blank and Marni Halasa (see photo at right) (They are attached to each other with pink spandex, no kidding.)

• The Dreame: Choreographed by Jacqulynn Buglisi, music by Franz Liszt, performed by Elisa Angeli and Tyrrell Gene (Watching them made me wish I liked to work out.)

• Dare Greatly: Choreographed by Douglas Webster, music by Coldplay, performed by Alizah Allen, Eve Chalom and Susanne McDonald (Watching them made me wish I had great edges.)

• Hot Chocolate: Choreographed by Douglas Webster, performed by Ali Blank, Tyrrell Gene, Marni Halasa, Marie Ogawa, Radmila Olshandky, Kevin Sidewell, Wendy Wilke and Greg Wittrock (What an awesome number --- made everyone smile at the end.)

Special guests included:

• Kim Navarro and Brent Bommentre, two-time U.S. bronze medalists in ice dance as well as two-time World competitors, skating to Give Me One Reason by Tracy Chapman

• Danielle Gamelin and Alexander Gamelin, 2010 Eastern Sectional silver medalists in ice dance, skating to James Bond theme from movie Casino Royale

• Felicia Zhang and Taylor Toth, 2010 U.S. junior national champions, skating to Rondo Veneziano by Mozart

So mark your calendars everyone: Wednesday, March 17, at 1 p.m. at Rockefeller Center Skating Rink. Raindate is the following day. Special guest skater for the March 17 show will be Emmanuel Savary, 2010 U.S. silver medalist in novice men's -- cute as a button and you can't believe he's only 11. See you there!

Comments

[Puma Espera]

I really wish I would of thought of that! I Wow- I absolutely love what you did with this

tart. I bet it was heaven! It is gorgeous and I can only imagine how delicious it was!