Monday, September 22, 2008

Shane Sparks joins figure skating’s brightest stars

From NorwalkPlus...

On Sunday, September 28, Shane Sparks, the Emmy-nominated choreographer from hit TV shows So You Think You Can Dance? and America’s Best Dance Crew will join Olympic figure skaters and local talent in the 7th annual Ethan Allen Hotel’s Stars, Stripes, and Skates ICEtravaganza, which honors the memory of September 11 and benefits The Heritage Foundation of 9/11.

The show will take place at 3:00pm at the Danbury Ice Arena in Danbury, CT. Sparks will be joined by co-host JoJo Starbuck, a three-time U.S. pair champion and two-time Olympian.

“When Stars, Stripes, and Skates called, I made time on my calendar,” Sparks said. “I will never forget the heroes of 9/11 and I don’t want any of the kids in America to forget, either.”

For Baiul, the Ukrainian-born skating superstar who still captivates audiences around the globe, performing at the Danbury Ice Arena is a homecoming of sorts.

“I lived and trained in Connecticut for several years, and I really hope I get to reconnect with a lot of my friends and fans here,” the 1994 Olympic champion said.

Joining Baiul on the ice will be three-time world medalist Fumie Suguri; British ice dance champions Sinead and John Kerr; current U.S. ladies bronze medalist Ashley Wagner; 2008 world team member Jeremy Abbott; 2008 U.S. ice dance bronze medalists Kim Navarro and Brent Bommentre; and 2008 world junior champion Adam Rippon. In addition to the world-class roster, young area skaters will share the ice with their idols in a performance celebrating the patriotic spirit of the United States.

“For the past seven years, Ethan Allen Hotel’s Stars, Stripes, and Skates has honored the memory of those lost on September 11 while celebrating future generations of talented Americans,” said Tara Eve Modlin, founder of the Heritage Foundation of 9/11 and creator of Ethan Allen Hotel’s Stars, Stripes, and Skates. “We are very grateful to the skaters that have helped to make the previous shows a success, and are looking forward to another sensational show in 2008.”

Tickets are available for just $10 and $25; special VIP tickets, including an on-ice seat and pre-show meet-and-greet party, are $125 each. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.danburyicearena.com or www.starsstripesandskates.org, or call (646) 435-0951.

About the Heritage Foundation of 9/11

The Heritage Foundation of 9/11 aims to teach younger generations of Americans the historical significance of September 11, 2001. In doing this, the foundation stresses the life lessons we learned in the aftermath of the attacks, patriotism, heroism, and the value of volunteering. Through the annual Ethan Allen Hotel’s Stars, Stripes and Skates show, children learn patriotism through the touching ‘red, white and blue’ group number, which includes 150 children each holding an American flag; they learn about heroism by working to raise money for different charities each year; and they learn about the importance of volunteerism by meeting their skating idols, all of whom volunteer their time to participate in the show and inspire kids to volunteer themselves.

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