Christmas on skates

Forty-five men, women and children roller skaters of all ages, including several world champion skaters, will perform their holiday show twice this year.

By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 14, 2001

Skaters and Christmas go together like ice cream and apple pie.

That's why the Florida Skating Academy plans its biggest roller skating show of the year near the biggest holiday of the year.

The fourth annual version, coming Sunday, is A Sizzling Hot Christmas -- a theme that seems prescient considering the recent weather. The show features 45 skaters of all ages, including a return appearance by 2000-2001 World Dance Champions Adam White and Melissa Quinn.

"We're doing two shows this year," said Angela Serini, publicist for the show. "Last year we had 500 people in here. It was too crowded -- you couldn't see that good. So we decided we would do the two, and everybody would have better seats."

The shows are at 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes before each show for open seating. Each show will have seating for about 300 people.

The show's big number is a colorful dance to the tropical tune, Copa Cabana, which features 35 skater-dancers.

Something new to the show this year will be non-skating excerpts from The Nutcracker Ballet by members of Expressions, the Dance Company. The first is by the nine "Candy Canes," with Alyson Coscia as soloist. The second is "Land of the Snowflakes" by 10 Snowflakes and features dancers Marisa Bertrand as Clara, Kimberly Kerrigan as Dewdrop Fairy, and Christian Hernandez as Cavalier. Sleigh Drivers will be Tiffany Pleickhardt and Rebekah Snyder.

Solos will be skated by show director Dan Littel, the World Champion skater for 1977, 1978 and 1979, and by U.S. champions Dennis Turner and Jo Ann Bertling of Bradenton.

U.S. silver medalist Alex Poland of Sarasota and bronze medalists Nick Rock and Elizabeth Kirby are also featured.

Local skater Brent Bertrand, the 2000 U.S. figures champion and a 2001 national finalist, will also perform, as will 2001 U.S. champions Ethan Rohrs and Caydee Denney of Ocala.

Also featured will be U.S. 2001 gold medalist Ashley Hinton of Auburndale and 2001 U.S. champion Ely Lewin. The 1998 U.S. champion Siobhan Boismer will also perform.

The show is about 2 1/2 hours long, including one intermission, Serini said.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: A Sizzling Hot Christmas

WHERE: SpinSations Family Roller Skating Center, 8345 Congress St., Port Richey

WHEN: 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Doors open 30 minutes before each show

TICKETS: $6 in advance today from 1 to 5 p.m., $7 at the door

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