Thank you Amy for organizing the contest for the anonymous angel that donated these tickets. Please excuse my lack of detail with the jumps but I am not very good at discerning them. Hopefully I can paint a vivid enough portrait.
When my friend Jill and I walked into the Coliseum (Arena in Oakland) I was surprised that they were not selling more souvenirs. I was all ready to do some spending!!!! Oh well, I had already purchased my pins over the interenet so the program would have to do. The program is beautiful and features pictures of both the skaters AND the musicians as well as ads for the sponsors.
The stage was set like for a small arena...very simple and classy. A full orchestra was seated on center stage (back) and the other musicians would come out from either side and stand in center stage (front) . A screen was provided for the people in the nosebleed seats because these skaters are tiny!!! My seats were wonderful - 2nd row. I have NEVER had seats this close to the ice (I'm usually a nosebleed person) and will be spoiled forever. Gorsha Sur was sitting a few seats away! Sitting next to me was a little girl of about 6. I asked her if she wanted to be a skater when she grew up and she informed me that "actually I AM a skater". Okay... :-p
First to come out of course was Kristi in an absolutely gorgeous pink beaded "midriff" type top with thin straps and a long skirt that looked like cotton candy. She had her hair up and looked lovely. She welcomed everyone and spoke a bit about the Always Dream Foundation and Mervyns support. I've heard her say she gets nervous speaking in front of crowds but she seemed perfectly at ease. The orchestra played a medley of West Side Story songs and then the cast was introduced via the big screen.
Kristi skated first of course and the long cotton candy skirt was switched out for a short cotton candy skirt. She skated to the "Love Theme" from Romeo and Juliet and I was so happy to be sitting where I was because she is breathtaking up close. I think the pressure of hosting an event of this magnitude was a bit much however because she fell on her first jump. It didn't help that everytime she was in the jumping corner there was a guide dog that would bark at her!!! Later, during intermission she came out to redo the jump for the TV cameras and she jokingly wagged her finger at the dog and jumped back on the ice playfully when the dog stopped staring at her and began to rise.
Next came Taylor Dane (introduced by surprise guest Brian Boitano) singing a cover of "Believe Me". I think that's the name of the song (lyrics go - You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand...You don't have to say you love me I will understand...Believe me). She has such a strong voice! Then Kristi introduced Rosalyn Summners and she skated to Taylor Dane's "Love Will Lead You Back".
Then Kristi introduced Peggy Fleming who received a standing ovation. Peggy spoke about her decision to tell her personal story publically and how she learned of her cancer 30 years TO THE DAY of winning her gold medal. Early detection saved her life and she is happy to report that her prognosis is excellent.
Next up was Keiko Matsui playing a piano piece called "Hope". She had a very interesting style and this was a beautiful piece. I will be looking for a CD. Then she accompanied Katia with a piece called "Night Hawks Dream". Katia was wearing a burgundy (top) and blue or lavendar (bottom) dress. She also fell on her first jump (in the same area Kristi fell). I wondered if maybe there was an ice problem because it was VERY hot in the arena. This is a beautiful program and she just flies across the ice. Peggy came back out to introduce Dr. Bodias and mentioned that Katia was also someone who had shown courage and calm during her personal challenge. Dr. Bodias talked about breast cancer and how he lobbied Congress, House and the Senate to have the post office issue a stamp for breast cancer. 7 cents from each stamp is donated to the breast cancer research. The stamp has a drawing of a (mythical?) woman and a rainbow depicting that women of all *colors* are at risk and *hope* for a cure. It is the second hightest selling stamp and has generated $120 million in sales so far!! This was the first I had heard of it but this is an easy way to donate to breast cancer research. REQUEST this stamp next time you purchase stamps.
Skating next was Isabelle Brasseur and Lloyd Eisler. I have seen them skate better. Once again, I think this may have been a problem with the ice. There was one point where it looked like Lloyd's skate got stuck during a lift, another time where it appreared that he slipped, and I was very nervous watching the rest of this program skated to Shania Twain's "You're Still the One". I had my fingers crossed that they would NOT try the headbanger!! (They didn't).
"Carmen" was next. Katerina was wearing black velvet pants with little red flares at the ankles, a black sheer top with a red shirt tied at her midriff. She landed a double flip and loop and received a HUGE response. She has incredible charisma on the ice and beautiful lines.
Boitano introduced Sarah Brightman who sang "Neila Fantasia" so effortlessly that I almost thought she was lipsynching! Another CD I must buy! She then accompanied Tara Lipinski to a very strong perfomance of Second Element. Injury or no she NAILED her jumps (triple loop and triple toe loop?). Solid. She also appeared duing intermission and redid some footwork.
After intermission we were treated to another number by Keiko Matsui and the Oakland East Bay Symphony and thankfully the air conditioner came on.
Then Katia skated her second number to "Tango" from Il Postino. The dress was beautiful, a sort of off center halter - half deep red draped top with the other half a black lacy net. This is a beautiful program and she really seemed comfortable with it. She landed her jumps and her hands and extension are so wonderful. I hope she competes this season. This kind of elegance will be tough to beat! There is some Pablo Neruda poetry being read over the music - sounded like Julia Roberts.
Rosalynn skated her second number to "After All These Years" her solo from SOI sung live by Anne Cochran and the OEB Symphony. This is so beautiful up close but am I the only one who thinks that her costume is see-through?
Katarina followed with "Rescue Me" sung live by Bell Book and Candle. I really think that Kat could just smile and skate laps and the audience would explode...me included! She looked so happy and free. This is not a favorite program of mine but I really enjoyed it this evening. Strong double axel and (flip?).
Surprise guest Scott Hamilton was next. A tremendous response from this full house and a partial standing O. He was introduced by Peggy with a glowing speech and came out and said "Thank you Peggy - you read that just like I wrote it".
Tara skated her 2nd number to Taylor Dane's first hit "Tell It to My Heart". Once again very strong skating. Seemed a bit sparkless to me though. Maybe she was worried about skating well with her injury. She shouldn't have been, she was solid.
To everyone who thinks that "Time to Say Goodbye" has been overused, you must see Kristi skate to it. Kristi and this music go together. The music is so expressive and Kristi used all the nuances to showcase her beautiful positions, arms and hands. She did fall once, but also landed a double axel and 3flip.
The check presentation came next. This event raised $225,000. for breast cancer. I have to say that I was honored to be present at this event. Not only was I treated to a night of great skating but I learned about breast cancer, and how I could contribute to the cause. I was moved by examples such as Peggy, Scott and KTUV's Faith Fancher (extremely moving speech) as well as dozens of survivors that were invited to stand during the show. It was amazing to see all these brave people who have battled and continue to battle this disease.
The show ended with Kristi, Katia, Katarina, Rosalynn and Tara skating to West Side Story's "Somewhere" sung by the Piedmont Children's Choir and OEB Symphony. They were all dressed in white dresses and skated individual spots as well as an awesome spiral sequence where they crisscrossed around each other.
After the show they were presented with huge bouquets of pink roses by the teeniest little ballerina skaters I have ever seen. I hung around and watched them posing for pictures. On the other side of the arena some children began chanting "Tara" and to Tara's credit she did skate over and even began to sign autographs for a line that was growing by the minute. Someone finally went to rescue her and she spent a little time on our side before she was practically dragged backstage.
This was a wonderful show and experiece. Thanks you for allowing me
to experience it! Don't forget to buy those stamps!!!
Anna