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November 19, 2003

HOLIDAY ICE DREAMS, Trenton, NJ, USA

by Susan B.

Hi All,

I just got home a little while ago and need to go to bed soon, so this will be just a couple of highlights for now.

Katia skated the red scarf program (which is actually called "Red Scarf" on the music list) and it's a bit different now from the version we saw in Danbury. Not quite as "edgy" as it was then, more smoothed out and flowing. She wore the new costume, the black unitard with the red zig-zag down the front, and I think it really works well for the program.

In the second act, she skated "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack. I think someone here was hoping she'd skate to that, so someone got their wish! :-)

At the end of this number, Ilia came out and they did a gorgeous pair spiral together. They looked simply stunning. Then Ilia stepped back towards the tunnel and applauded while Katia took her bows, and then she left and he came forward to do his "A House Is Not a Home" program, which is a blockbuster.

During the finale, Katia and Ilia came out together and did a dance lift where he was holding her basically horizontally in front of him and once again, this was gorgeous.

Roz Sumners hosted, and Daria helped with the introductions. She sat in the audience at one end with a group of school children, and Roz would call her down from time to time to introduce someone. I was having a terrible time with the acoustics and couldn't understand most of what either of them said, but I'm sure it'll come across fine on TV. Anyway, I do know she introduced Katia (for her second number) as "my Mom!" Very cute.

Daria skated in a little number with Paul Wylie, Louann Donovan and Katie Orscher to "Glow Worm" by Rockapella Christmas. It was very cute, not much actual skating in it, but Paul did lift her up by one hand and one skate and swing her around, and she seemed to really like that move a lot, big grin!

One other little tidbit - Katie Orscher and Garrett Lucash skated to "Iris" by the GooGoo Dolls for one number.

It's going to be on A&E on December 4th at 9:00pm EST, but check your local listings. It's going to be so much fun to see this!