Improv-Ice: A Conversation with Choreographer and Creative Director Lea Ann Miller
The Improv-Ice live show taping is quickly approaching, and we thought it only made sense to find out from Creative Director and Choreographer, Lea Ann Miller, her thoughts on this unique and fun show that features the band Styx. The live show is set for Thursday, December 15, 2011, at 7:30 p.m., at the BI-LO Center in Greenville, SC, and tickets are still on sale. NBC will broadcast the show nationally as part of the Pandora NBC Skating Series on Sunday, January 15, 2012.
1) Since the skaters receive their music the day of the show, how do you prepare for a show as spontaneous as this? Choreographer Lea Ann Miller (center) with John Kerr & Charlie White
The fun is seeing how each skater is able to take their repertoire and adjust to the music. They all panic at first and then do so much better than they thought they could do. I love seeing the skaters that say, “Oh, I can’t choreograph,” come up with such great programs. Focus has to be there. If a skater panics and stops listening to the music, they can lose it pretty fast. The best advice I can give the skaters is to keep a good sense of humor about the concept and smile…it helps you to relax!
2) How do you choose the music for each skater?
I told the cast that their first number will be from iTunes Top 50. The second number will be a Styx song. The skaters know all of the song titles, just not which one I will pick for them!
3) Do you have time to choreograph the opening and closing numbers of the show?
The opening of the show is a “competition-style” warm-up. Styx will play as the skaters warm-up their jumps like a real competition! I will help to choreograph the finale but with so little time, it is all about being organized and giving each skater what I call a “step-out.”
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Countdown to Caesars Tribute II: A Tribute to the Ladies of the Ice
It’s time for the next Pandora NBC Skating Series live show and this time, it’s all about the ladies when figure skating comes to Atlantic City in Caesars Tribute II: A Tribute to the Ladies of the Ice! The show starts at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday, December 3, 2011, at Boardwalk Hall; it will also air nationally on NBC on January 1, 2012, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. ET.
The all-ladies cast for this show includes world-class and timeless skaters: Olympic champions Shizuka Arakawa, Sarah Hughes and Tara Lipinski; two-time Olympic medalists Nancy Kerrigan and Irina Slutskaya; Olympic silver medalists Sasha Cohen and Elizabeth Manley; Olympic bronze medalist Joannie Rochette; world champions Miki Ando and Yuka Sato; world bronze medalist Nicole Bobek; and French national champion Laetitia Hubert. (Cast subject to change.)
The show will also honor Olympic gold medalist Peggy Fleming.
As part of the celebration, US Figure Skating will host Skate Fest, an opportunity to join the cast members on the ice. You can learn more about and register for Skate Fest on the US Figure Skating website.
Information about the show can be found here.
Angel Ilagan, VP of Marketing for Pandora, V-Log
Disson Skating is thrilled to have Pandora as a sponsor for this year’s Pandora NBC Skating Series. VP of Marketing for Pandora Angel Ilagan spoke with us ahead of Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice to fill us in about how he thinks Pandora and figure skating go well together, his favorite Pandora charm from the holiday collection and who is his favorite figure skater.
Video shot by Sarah McClurg
Be sure to catch the next Pandora NBC Skating Series telecast when Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice airs on NBC next Sunday, November 27, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. ET! Check your local listings!
Tune-In Alert: Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice
TUNE-IN ALERT
Show: Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice
Date: Sunday, November 27, 2011
Time: 4:00pm – 6:00pm ET
Where: NBC (Check your local listing for channel information)
Skaters:
Brian Boitano
Ekaterina Gordeeva
Michael Weiss
Yuka Sato
Kimmie Meissner
Rachael Flatt
Steven Cousins
Naomi Lang & Peter Tchernyshev
Doug Razzano
Musical Guest Stars:
Mannheim Steamroller
David Archuleta
TV Hosts:
Kristi Yamaguchi
Chip Davis
Follow Disson Skating:
Facebook – Disson Skating
Twitter – @DissonSkating
To talk about the shows on Twitter – #PandoraNBCSS
Michael Weiss’ Funny “Unforgettable Moment” at Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice
Three-time U.S. national champion Michael Weiss had a funny “Unforgettable Moment” during the Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice live show at Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix on November 12, 2011.
Watch it here:
It wasn’t Michael’s fault; we shortened the ice on him. Michael is a two-time world bronze medalist, two-time Olympic team member and truly a good sport for letting us put this up on YouTube. Thanks, Michael!
You can catch Michael–and the rest of the Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice cast–when the show airs as part of the Pandora NBC Skating Series this Sunday, November 27, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. ET. (Check your local listings.)
Countdown to Musselman’s Apple Sauce presents Brian Boitano Skating Spectacular
You’ve seen Brian Boitano skate in two of the Pandora NBC Skating Series shows already (Hilton HHonors and Progressive present Rain – A Tribute to the Beatles on Ice, and Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice [which airs on NBC next Sunday, November 27 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. ET]), and you’ll see him host Improv-Ice next month. Here’s your chance to see him skate and host a show all at once!
Brian brings his new theatrical skating show to South Bend, IN, and the campus of the University of Notre Dame this Sunday, November 20. The show will start at the new Compton Family Ice Arena at 5:00 p.m. and makes for an entertaining show.
Alongside Brian on the ice will be a cast of world-class figure skaters: two-time world champions Elena Leonova and Andrei Khvalko, world bronze medalist Caryn Kadavy, eight-time British champion Steven Cousins, three-time U.S. champion Michael Weiss, reigning U.S. champion Ryan Bradley, 2008 U.S. champions Kim Navarro and Brent Bommentre, and “So You Think You Can Dance” competitor and skater Gev Manoukian.
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A Day In The Life: Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice Media Day w/ David Archuleta
Ever wanted to know what goes into a media day before a Pandora NBC Skating Series show? David Archuleta, who will be performing in Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice at Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix on November 12 (Tickets are still available!), was recently in Arizona to talk with local media about the show, and Grand Canyon University’s Jamie Santiago wrote this for us to give us the inside look into David’s day!
A Day with David Archuleta
By Jamie Santiago
How many people get to say that they spent the day with an American Idol superstar? Not many, but I just became one of them. My Friday started off like any other, except I was tasked with the a very special job…I would be a media escort for none other than the 2008 American Idol runner-up David Archuleta. He was in town, after all, to promote his appearance in Gilbert AZ the next day. We picked David up at terminal 4 of Sky Harbor Airport and with one back pack and a suitcase; we were on our way!
First stop…The Arizona Republic and NBC Channel 12 studios on East Van Buren in downtown Phoenix. David asked if he could change his shirt, which I thought was sweet because he already looked great, but of course I told him it was okay.
David’s first interview was with AZ Republic reporter Ed Masley. Following the interview, David gladly signed an autograph for the reporter’s daughter on his notebook.
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Tune-In Alert: Paul Mitchell Fashion on Ice
TUNE-IN ALERT
Show: Paul Mitchell Fashion on Ice (part of the Pandora NBC Skating Series)
Date: Sunday, November 13, 2011
Time: 4:00pm – 6:00pm ET
Where: NBC (check your local listing for channel information)
Skating Cast:
Sarah Hughes
Sasha Cohen
Meryl Davis & Charlie White
Joannie Rochette
Johnny Weir
Alissa Czisny
Jeremy Abbott
Ryan Bradley
Sinead & John Kerr
Fashion Designers:
Betsey Johnson
Gilles Mendel (for J Mendel)
Musical Guest Star:
Aretha Franklin
Show Hosts:
Karolina Kurkova
Tara Lipinski
Follow Disson Skating:
Facebook – Disson Skating
Twitter – @DissonSkating
To talk about the shows on Twitter – #PandoraNBCSS
Countdown to Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice
We hope everyone was able to catch our first Pandora NBC Skating Series telecast, Hilton HHonors and Progressive present Rain – A Tribute to the Beatles on Ice, yesterday! Our next telecast is this coming Sunday, November 13, when NBC shows Paul Mitchell Fashion on ice.
Before you tune in Sunday, don’t forget that our next live show, Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice, is this Saturday at Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, AZ. The show starts at 7:00, and tickets are still on sale!
We have an all-star cast set for this show, headlined by Olympic champions Brian Boitano and Ekaterina Gordeeva. Joining them on the ice will be world champion Yuka Sato; U.S. national champions Michael Weiss, Rachael Flatt, Kimmie Meissner, and Naomi Lang and Peter Tchernyshev; British champion Steven Cousins; and Arizona resident Douglas Razzano.
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Holiday Moments on Ice: David Archuleta Q & A
Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice is coming up quickly, and Disson Skating caught up with David Archuleta to talk about the show and holiday season. The show is set for November 12, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. at Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoeniz, AZ, and tickets are still on sale. NBC will broadcast the show nationally as part of the Pandora NBC Skating Series on November 27, 2011.
1) What is your favorite childhood memory of the holidays?
One of my favorite memories was when we would go to some of the hospitals as a family and put on performances for everyone with our Santa hats on.
2) You recently announced you’re My Kind of Christmas Tour. What makes performing holiday music special for you?
What makes it special for me is the spirit of the season. Everyone’s spirits seem to lift, and the music is a lot more meaningful and impactful.
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