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October 4, 2003

VIKTORY FOR KIDS

by Danielle

Part 1:
I arrived at the rink at 3:00, and walked in right behind Katia and Daria. All of the skaters were there practicing, but it was closed unless you had a VIP pass. I picked up my tickets, and was able to watch through the window the skaters for a while. Right away, I spotted Timothy and his beautiful hair!! *sigh* The other skaters were there too, and I heard later that Elena was working very hard on all of her elements. As we were getting ready to leave the rink (time to find food... show didn't start until 7:30) I saw Ilia come in too.

After going to church and eating (Neco's... really really yummy!, they told us that the rink ordered in from them... so we know what they were eating)

We returned to the rink around 5:30 and saw many of the skaters wandering around. Evgeni and Viktor were walking around a lot... Evgeni was playing video games with friends. I also saw Katia and Ilia together, and they shared a cute quick kiss. While I was in line, I met Debra Scarbrough, who has some beautiful pictures on the USFSA site.

We went in to our seats around 6:10 (We were one of the first in line!) We were center ice, up a few rows...  My mom and I were sitting there, commenting on what good seats these were, when Sherrie approached me.

Now, time out. I talked to Sherrie online before and she was the reason I was able to attend this show! I was thrilled with my seats and felt completely blessed to have then. Sherrie picked me out of my crowd, but looking at the pictures in my avater, to find me!! WOW!!

Sherrie told me that she had VIP passes for me and my mom. She explained that these would move us to ON ICE seats, and also get us into the Auction/Reception after the show, WOW!

So my mom and I moved on ice, with Sherrie and her friend Janet. Just for the record, on ice is really cold with you have sandals on... oopps Danielle. We watched Tim head back stage with a cup of coffee... hehe! Very funny

The show started and all of the skaters were introduced. Some younger, local skaters performed first, and then I will go from what I remember from there! I had a little camera trouble (my batteries ended up being dead!, so I didn't pay close enough attention to some programs in the beginning)

Viktor skated well in his first program, I really don't recall much of it at all! Sorry!

Fumie skated next, and she was so beautiful!! I have always loved her light style of skating, and I couldn't get enough of her last night!! She wore a pretty pastel green costume.

Timothy was next.... *sigh* He skated American in Paris... which is always such a hit with audiences. The MC joked that she couldn't help but sing along! There was deff the Timothy smile!!!

I know I am going out of order, and I appoligize because I do not follow Ice Dance much so I really cannot comment on those skaters...

Ilia skated in the first half also, to Pick up the Pieces. I always loved that program... and he looked pretty good!!  I remember one jump seemed huge but he had a little trouble landing it, but no fall. It was nice to see him skate again!!  

Angelica and Oleg also skated, although they didn't appear in the program. They seemed to skate an Egyptian, Cleopatra like program

Vladimir Desedin and Oleksiy Polishchuk are always so much fun to watch, and they skated a program where one was the figure skater and the other played hockey.

I think intermission came about next... I was so cold by then that I was happy to leave the rink for a minute and head to the lobby.

Daria opened the second act.. .wearing a cute yellow costume. She deffinetly has that stage presence. She is working on her doubles, and really looks good! It was cute, you could see Katia watching and smiling every time she hit something well. She skated to Ruban's Flying without Wings

Artur Dmitriev's son also skated, Artur Dmitriev Jr. He was really cute and tiny. They stopped him a few seconds into his program, to re-tie his skate, but he did well. He is also working on doubles.

Naomi and Peter skated well, I was excited to see them skate together!  I don't remember anything specific here tho.

Elena look amazing!! She was right on, and beautiful. She wore the black cotumes that I have seen her in pictures from Cambells the other night, and was just so cute!! I specifically remember thinking her program was very enchanting, and her layback was outstanding!

Evgeni skated well also... with his big jumps!! He wore the black and white cotumes, and my mom was confused about the gloves (YES mom, 2 different colors, lol!)

Katia looked very nice, she had a black one piece pants costume, with silver sparkles I believe. Her program was very seductive to me, but she looked great! She skated with a large red piece of material, skating with it around her, flying behind her, etc. Timothy was very cute, looking over everyone to try and see her skate. Also, Daria had been in the lobby, but came running in to watch her mom (must have heard the music!)

Brian skated next, to Hernando's Hideaway. I have always been a fan of that program, so was very pleased to see him perform it. He did wonderful as well.

Viktor closed skated to the live music of Brian Lane Green. He seemed so strong and amazing, it was wonderful!

All the skaters did a lap around the ice to close, and I toughed Tim's hand... haha! Anyways... everyone headed out of the rink, but the skaters hung around for pictures and to wait to change. Brian started skating with Daria, and they were just doing pairs strokes backwards. Then they did a pair spiral together, it was very sweet, and won the applause of the skaters! Elena and Oleg were skating together as well, very sweet!!


Sherrie, Janet, my mom and I headed across the street to the restaurant. We all found a table and had a little something to eat before the skaters arrived.

The first that I saw was Fumie. She was eating so I didn't want to bother her... and it was so cute because she kept going to get more food... poor skaters are HUNGARY!! I did approch her after someone else did first, and she posed for a picture with me. She was so sweet, and very very beautiful!!

All of the skater were basically upstairs, signing things for the auction. You could see them because it was open, loft-like. Many of us waited by the stairs to see who woudl come down.

Sheri introduced me to Elena Grushina, who we listened to for a little while. She told us about how Nikoli had the idea to cut Ruslans hair, and although he didn't want do, they did. It really looked good tho!!

We saw Peter Tchernyshev as well... he was so sweet!!  We walked by Ilia and smiled, but I didn't ask him to sign for me; he was on his way upstairs.

All this time we were waiting for Timothy, because at this point it was 11 or so, and we still had an hour ride home. We finally saw Tim upstairs talking to a woman, so when they seemed done, my mom yelled up to him, "HI TIM!" He looked down, and smiled and waved to us! Then he walked down to sign for a few people. He was wearing a strange, western-ish jacket, with a blue button down shirt under it!! The blue and his eyes... melts...  He took a pictuer with me and signed.

We said our goodbyes to Sheri and Janet, who were still hoping to see Brian, and headed for the door. There we ran into Elena Sokalova, who graciously signed and posed for a picture as well!!

What a fabulous night! Sheri... Liz... I cannot say thank you enough! You were so sweet and went out of your way... and I am forever grateful!!  Thank you, thank you! I had so much fun and will never forget!!


Part 2:
The kids were very cute! I don't remember what music they skated to, but Daria and Artur Dmitriev Jr were dancing together... just sort of a hip-shaking move. They used hand movements so that... well, I will try to explain. They stood next to each other... and put their outer arm out. Then then moved the arm inside out, so that they could almost high five. They just continued with this for a while, adn it was very cute!! These 2 were adorable together, and looked to be good friends. I am not sure if they have been together before or it was a new friendship, but it was very cute!!