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Post by DAlovindood on Sept 8, 2010 22:57:56 GMT 12
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Post by DAlovindood on Sept 8, 2010 23:02:51 GMT 12
‘Heart’ tugs skater to showSeptember 8, 2010 - By ANDY GRAY Tribune Chronicle BOARDMAN - Since winning the Bronze medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics, Joannie Rochette has performed with Stars on Ice and at other skating exhibitions.
However, her performance next month at the Covelli Centre has a special significance for her.
In addition to pairing championship figure skaters with pop artists for a program that will be taped for national broadcast on NBC, ''Skate from the Heart'' is designed to increase awareness about heart disease.
As anyone who watched the Olympics will remember, Rochette's mother died of a heart attack at age 55 just two days before Rochette had to skate in the women's short program.
''This one I really feel motivated to do because it is raising awareness of heart disease,'' she said. ''I feel I'm doing something toward it.''
Rochette was at the Ice Zone Tuesday for a news conference to promote ''Skate from the Heart'' at the Covelli Centre Oct. 10.
Rochette will be joined by Olympic Ice Dancing Silver medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White, 2006 Olympic Silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, three-time U.S. Champion Johnny Weir, 2010 U.S. Champion Rachael Flatt, two-time U.S. Champion Jeremy Abbott, 2010 U.S. Champions Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett, 2006 Olympic Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen and 2007 U.S. National Silver medalist Ryan Bradley.
The program will be hosted by Olympic Gold medalist and skating commentator Peggy Fleming.
The skaters will be performing to live music by the a cappella group Straight No Chaser, former ''American Idol'' winner Ruben Studdard and ''American Idol'' runner-up David Archuleta.
Eric Ryan, general manager of the Covelli Centre said Straight No Chaser has been drawing big crowds on its current tour.
''I'm able to look at ticket sales around the country, and they're really a phenomenon right now,'' Ryan said.
He hopes the group has the same effect in the Mahoning Valley.
''It's important to sell the Covelli Centre out and let the nation see what Youngstown is about,'' Ryan said.
The press conference with Rochette and show sponsors the Mahoning County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Youngs-town State University and The Ice Zone/Youngstown Phantoms was designed to kick off a ''pack the house'' campaign for the event. Tickets range from $43.45 to $98.25 and are available through Ticketmaster.
NBC will broadcast the two-hour show at 4 p.m. Jan. 16, 2011, as counter programming to the NFL divisional playoffs. Ryan said the program also will air twice on the Hallmark Channel, and at least one of those broadcasts will be in prime time.
Rochette said she will be skating to a song by Archuleta, but she didn't know whether she was allowed to say which song. A live singer adds another variable to the performance, but Rochette said it's still not as stressful as competing.
And Rochette, 24, hasn't abandoned competitive skating. She will be skating in a professional competition in Japan right before the Youngstown show, and she hasn't ruled out another Olympic bid.
''I might get bored (with skating exhibitions), need a challenge and I might come back,'' she said. ''I want to keep skating as long as my body holds up.'' source: www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/546688/-Heart--tugs-skater-to-show.html?nav=5021
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Post by DAlovindood on Sept 8, 2010 23:17:36 GMT 12
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Post by DAlovindood on Sept 11, 2010 16:29:32 GMT 12
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Post by DAlovindood on Sept 11, 2010 16:32:08 GMT 12
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Post by DAlovindood on Sept 17, 2010 17:33:59 GMT 12
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Post by DAlovindood on Sept 17, 2010 17:37:36 GMT 12
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Post by DAlovindood on Sept 17, 2010 17:39:46 GMT 12
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