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November 19, 2003

HOLIDAY ICE DREAMS (Trenton, NJ, USA)

by Rosemary

Hi everyone!
I'm sorry it has taken me a day or two to post this review. I went to to the Trenton, New Jersey show on Wednesday night called "Holiday Dreams On Ice."  Starring:  Katia, Ilia, Elvis Stojko, Oksana Baiul, Paul Wylie, Isabelle Brasseur &  Lloyd Eisler (who were great), then some amateur's, Scott Smith, Louann Donovan, Katie Orcher and her partner Garrett Lucash (who were also great.)
 
Ummmm....who else???
Oh yeah...and... DARIA skated too!!!!
       
AND.... Katia landed   FOUR   DOUBLE   AXELS !!!
 
Although I had to drive 3 1/2 hours, in the pouring rain, by myself... it was so worth it!  The minute I saw how good shape Katia was in, it all made sense.   The next important thing is that it will be on TV.   Everyone set your VCR's for December 4th on the A&E channel.   Check for your local times....

The host of the show was Rosalynn Sumners, and the co-host was Daria.   She is just beautiful.   She had her hair in two braids, and she did most of the announcing of the skaters taking the ice.
 
Paul Wylie was another big reason why I wanted to see this show.  He has not lost one move, since "retiring" 5 years ago.  I have never seen him live before, and it was a treat.  His spins were just as blurring as before.  His wife Katie is due with their first child "any day now."

Katia skated her "red scarf" routine.  The music is from "Stelma."   She looked fenominal!  She's back in great shape, and skated so well.  In this program she landed a single axel, which I wasn't suprised.  We all know that that's her worst jump.  It's a great program, and I think she could have coreographed it herself.  Lots of edges, and she wore the black unitard we've seen before.  The one with the red criss-cross stripe down the middle.  I think that's the best unitard she has worn.  (I'm not one for the unitard.)

Oksana is trying for her great comeback.  She still has work to do.  She seemed like she hadn't been skating professionally in a while.

The program Daria was in was called "Glow Worm" by Rockapella Christmas.  She skated with Paul Wylie, Louann Donovan, and  Katie Orcher.  It was a really cute number, with Daria doing a pretty decent camel spin into a sit spin.  She wore a light yellow outfit, with her stockings over her skates.   Someone already commented about that, and I hate to say that I think I saw holes in them around the boots (but don't quote me on that.)  She had great presence, and acting ability.  I really enjoyed seeing her skate.

Ilia skated to a number called "Green Tomatoes" by Rick Braun.  It was a lot like his usual programs, but he's still great.  (Can you tell I liked seeing everyone?)

Everyone skated two programs, except Daria.
 
Katia and Ilia were the last two to skate, and Roz introduced them.  She said something along the lines that Christmas is for families, and that Katia wanted to dedicate this next number to her girls.  She skated to "I Hope You Dance," by Lee Ann Womack.  In this program she landed TWO double axels!  I was so excited for her!!!  I think the dress she wore was from her older program "Beautiful."  It was light blue, with illusion neckline and chest.    Next Ilia met her on the ice, and he skated to "A House is Not a Home" by James Ingram.  They did a pairs spiral, and I hate to say it reminded me so much of Katia and Sergei.

Then the cast came out for he finale.  Everyone was in black and white.    Paul and Oksana came out together, and Paul must have clipped an edge and went down.  This made Oksana totally stop to see if he was all right, interrupting the whole finale.  So, after they finished it, they immediatly skated it again for a re-take.  (That's what I meant about Oksana seeming to be inexperienced.)    Then they had to do a few more re-takes.  Paul had to do two. Ilia wanted to redo a triple toe, and then I think he wanted to keep skating.  Then Katia came out again for her retake.   But to me, she didn't do anything "wrong."  Then she landed a double axel, and I flipped out!  She kind of over-rotated it, so they did  it again, and then one more time.  I felt so proud of her!

Other little things I took notice with.  Daria was wearing glasses at first.  She also had to do a re-take of her announcing with Roz.  By that point, she had taken out her braids.

I had the first row off the ice, and for the first time I didn't bring my camera.  I could have gotten great pictures, because the tunnel was about 15 feet from where I was sitting.   I could even notice that Lloyd Eisler has an eyebrow ring.   

OK, that's all for now.  If I think of anything else, I'll add to the post.

Have a great day!