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Ice Theater Celebrates Milestone
Benefit performance and gala mark Manhattan sky rink anniversary
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The Ice Theater of New York was established in the hopes of combining the best of ice skating, theater and dancing. Since its inception, the company has enjoyed commercial and critical success—becoming the first ice dancing company to be funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. This year, the ITNY will celebrate another milestone in the world of ice world, as the Chelsea Piers Sky Rink celebrates its fortieth anniversary on October 26.
The celebration will kick off the company’s 2009–2010 anniversary season by hosting the annual Benefit Gala and Performance at the Chelsea Piers Sky Rink. The festivities will be hosted by Olympic skating champion Rosalyn Sumners and will honor the fortieth anniversary of the Piers as well as choreographer Lar Lubovitch and Olympic silver medalist and celebrated ice dancer Paul Wylie.
“Paul Wylie has been a friend of ITNY for many years,” says Moira North, ITNY’s artistic director. “He performed with us at the Opening of the new Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers, and he has been an enthusiastic supporter and friend of ITNY and of the artistic skating movement.” Wylie joins an esteemed list of ITNY honorees including Nancy Kerrigan, Vera Wang, Scott Hamilton, two-time World champion Aja Zanova Steindler, and two-time Olympic gold medalist Dick Button. Lubovitch, who is an Emmy, Tony, and Grammy award nominee for his work, is being recognized for his contributions to ice dancing choreography. “In addition to his work for stage, screen and television, Lubovitch has also made a notable contribution to the advancement of choreography in the field of dance on ice,” explains North. “We applaud the priceless contributions he has made to the ice dance community by presenting him with the ITNY Choreography Award.” The Gala Performance is scheduled to feature Lubovitch’s work, Tilt-a-Whirl.
The Benefit Gala at The Lighthouse in Chelsea Piers will follow the performance. Proceeds will Ticket sales support Ice Theatre’s New Works and Young Artists, an outreach program for public school children in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens, as well as Ice Theatre’s 2009–2010 performance season.
For ticket and further information, call Ice Theatre 212.929.5811, or visit www.icetheatre.org.