Sing And Skate Against Breast Cancer in NYC on January 5

Upcoming breast cancer benefit, The Sing & Skate Against Breast Cancer, is on for Saturday, January 5 at Bryant Park in NYC. More information is available on the organizer's website here.

What the Buck hosts Ice Theatre of New York gala live stream

Ice Theatre of New York is holding their 2012 Benefit Gala and Performance at Sky Rink, Chelsea Piers tonight at 7 pm. The performance at Sky Rink, Chelsea Piers will feature this year's honoree Mr. Debonair -- Richard Dwyer -- and his Celebrity Dwyer Girls: Tai Babilonia, Dorothy Hamill, Linda Fratianne and JoJo Starbuck. Ryan Bradley, the 2011 US National champion will also be performing with the Ice Theatre company. Doesn't this sound like an amazing show? Sigh...I can't make it this year. But wait! Ice Theatre is streaming the gala live and it will be hosted by one of my favs Michael Buckley of What the Buck! Michael Buckley (at right) is a huge huge figure skating (and gymnastics) fan so what a fun host he will be. I'll be checking out the live stream which starts around 6:45 pm ET.

 

Ice Theatre of New York honors Richard "Mr. Debonair" Dwyer

RICHARD "MR. DEBONAIR" DWYER TO BE HONORED AT 2012 ICE THEATRE OF NEW YORK GALA 

Ice Theatre of New York's 2012 annual Benefit Gala and Performance will honor America's most beloved ice show star, Richard "Mr. Debonair" Dwyer on Monday, October 22 at 7 pm.

The performance at Sky Rink, Chelsea Piers, NYC featuring Richard Dwyer and his Celebrity Dwyer Girls: Tai Babilonia, Dorothy Hamill, Linda Fratianne and JoJo Starbuck. Ryan Bradley, the 2011 US Men's Champion, will be our guest performer. Ice Theatre of New York will perform selected pieces from its repertory, including the world premiere of a piece inspired by the music from Oscar-winning movie "The Artist", choreographed by Ice Theatre's Artistic Director Douglas Webster. Other repertory on the program are a re-stagings of "Inclusions" choreographed by Alberto Del Saz and "Transitions" by Douglas Webster. Some of the featured performers in the Ice Theatre repertory will include Kim Navarro & Brent Bommentre, Sinead & John Kerr, Elisa Angeli, Joel Dear, Nicole Bobek, Ryan Bradley and Tyrrell Gene.

Click here to purchase tickets online. You may also purchase tickets with a check through the Ice Theatre of New York office. Please call (212) 929-5811.

This year's Ice Angel Award goes to ITNY trustee, volunteer, and supporter, Debbie Gordon. Our 2012 Arts & Business Partnership Award goes to Ice Skating Institute.

Cocktails, auction, dinner and award ceremony at The Lighthouse, Chelsea Piers immediately after the performance (about 8:15 pm).

About Ice Theatre of New York

Founded in 1984 by Moira North, Ice Theatre of New York (ITNY) has changed the face of figure skating by creating works that integrate the sensibilities of contemporary dance, music and art. Through its performances in both traditional and alternative venues, ITNY presents on-ice dances that challenge the perceptions and conventional definitions of figure skating.

All of the evening’s proceeds will support ITNY’s New Works and Young Artists Series, an outreach program for public school children in Manhattan and Queens, as well as all of ITNY’s 2012-2013 season's artistic programming.

(Folks, I'm gonna try to go to this thing as Ice Theatre of New York is an amazing organization that needs our support. In the past, I've attended the galas honoring Dorothy Hamill, Johnny Weir, Nancy Kerrigan and it's wonderful that they too recognize that skating is more than just jumps and spins -- and that ITNY provides the forum for skating to be expressed in new and beautiful ways. Below is a short piece from the 2010 gala honoring Dorothy Hamill.)

Meet your favorite skating stars: Tickets still available for Monday's Figure Skating in Harlem gala honoring Vera Wang

Figure Skating in Harlem (FSH) provides free ice skating and academic tutoring for young girls in the Harlem Community. FSH will be holding their annual benefit gala tomorrow evening at Wollman Rink in Central Park. This year's honorees include fashion designer Vera Wang. In case you missed last year's event (see video above), Olympic Champion Evan Lysacek presented a check from the Pioneer Fund and Scott Hamilton for $100,000 to support the organization. If you're a skating fan, tomorrow evening is not to be missed -- hobnob with anyone and everyone from the skating world, including: Johnny Weir, Evan Lysacek, Sasha Cohen, Sarah Hughes, Tara Lipinski, Todd Eldredge, Tanith Belbin, Ben Agosto, Joannie Rochette, Paul Wylie, Nicole Bobek, Meryl Davis, Charlie White, Caydee Denney, John Coughlin, Jeremy Abbott, Ashley Wagner, Alissa Czisny, Maia Shibutani, Alex Shibutani, Adam Rippon, Mary Beth Marley, Rockne Brubaker, Madison Hubbell, Zach Donohue, and the list goes on! Hope to see you there!

FIGURE SKATING IN HARLEM CELEBRATES 15TH YEAR AT 2012 SKATING WITH THE STARS GALA 

Star-studded event honoring Vera Wang and Rhonda Ross features skating champions and celebritieson the ice with guests at Wollman Rink

Figure Skating in Harlem (http://www.figureskatinginharlem.org) is excited to announce its Annual Skating with the Stars gala honoring international fashion designer Vera Wang, dynamic Figure Skating in Harlem patron Ellen Lowey, and artist and entrepreneur Rhonda Ross. This one-of-a-kind benefit event will be held on Monday, April 2, 2012, from 5:30pm-8:30pm at the famed Wollman Rink in Central Park. This fantastic evening raises critically-needed funds for Figure Skating in Harlem’s (FSH) innovative fitness and academics program for underserved girls, while offering guests the unparalleled chance to skate side-by-side with some of the greatest names in modern skating history. An inaugural gala dinner celebrating 15 years of Figure Skating in Harlem will be held at The Central Park Boathouse following the skating portion of the night. 

Donald Trump and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star (and FSH Board Chair Emerita) Tamara Tunie will serve as this year’s Honorary Chairs; Kimberly and Stephen Bollenbach and Terry and Tina Lundgren are our Event Chairs. Past celebrity guests at this always star-studded night include Kelly Ripa, Mariska Hargitay, Olympic Gold Medalist and Dancing with the Stars’ contestant Evan Lysacek, Maria Cuomo Cole and Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger, and Kelly Rowland, among many others.

Jake T. Austin, Hockey Hall-of-Famer Rod Gilbert, Carson Kressley, Christopher Meloni, and Soledad O’Brien are among those already scheduled to attend this year. Throughout the evening, guests will have the opportunity to skate with Lysacek and many more Olympic and World champions including Olympic Champions Sarah Hughes and Tara Lipinski, Sasha Cohen (Olympic Silver Medalist), Todd Eldredge (World Champion), Johnny Weir (two-time Olympic Team Member),Tanith Belbin (Olympic Silver Medalist with partner Ben Agosto), Joannie Rochette (Olympic Bronze Medalist), Paul Wylie (Olympic Silver Medalist), and Nicole Bobek (World Bronze Medalist), as well as the entire 2012 United States World Team: Meryl Davis and Charlie White (2012 US Ice Dancing Champions and 2011 World Champions), Caydee Denney and John Coughlin (2012 US Pairs Figure Skating Champions), Jeremy Abbott (2012 US Men’s Figure Skating Champion), Ashley Wagner (2012 US Women’s Figure Skating Champion), Alissa Czisny (2011 US Women’s Figure Skating Champion), Maia and Alex Shibutani (World Bronze Medalists), Adam Rippon, Mary Beth Marley and Rockne Brubaker, Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue.   

Tickets to the gala, which include skating and a festive buffet, start at $300 and are available by calling (212) 222-8240. Visit www.charitybuzz.com beginning on March 26th to find great auction items for bidding online.

 

Celebrate Valentine's Day at Rockefeller Skating Rink in NYC

ROCKEFELLER RINK IN NYC HOSTS VALENTINE'S DAY SKATE WITH TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN JOJO STARBUCK

New York City -- For your Valentine sweetheart who has everything, why not give him or her a Valentine Skating Experience on Monday, February 14? Come to The Rink at Rockefeller Center for an exclusive morning skate with two-time time Olympian in pairs skating, JoJo Starbuck. You’ll arrive at 7:15 am to a beautiful continental breakfast from Cucina Restaurant, put on your skates, play your favorite romantic music and have private ice time at the world’s most famous rink! For one hour from 7:30 - 8:30 am, JoJo and her highly experienced staff will show couples the basics of skating and partnering on the ice. You’ll start the day invigorated with a Valentine’s Day gift that won’t be forgotten!

Space is limited so register soon! Cost is $100 per couple. To register, go to JoJo@jojostarbuck.com

(Photo below, JoJo Starbuck at Rockefeller Center Skating Rink in NYC)