American Ice Theatre: Press Releases

Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Porter to work with Redwood City Ice Theatre
September 1, 2009

American Ice Theatre Director Jodi Porter joins the coaching staff at Nazareth Ice Oasis.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Skating stars to perform with American Ice Theatre
March 10, 2008

American Ice Theatre, a dance on ice company based in the Bay Area, will perform “Sunset Tango” and “Latin Dance Explosion.” Sunday, May 4, 2008. The program will be presented at Shark’s Ice Center at 1500 South 10th Street in San Jose at 1:30pm. This one-time premier event is fun for the whole family. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the AIT website: http://americanicetheatre.org or through Artsoplolis.com. General Admission is $24 for adults and $17 for children under 12 years old. VIP Seating with a Reception is $44. American Ice Theatre (AIT), led by Artistic Director and choreographer Jodi Porter, is an ensemble of nationally recognized and accomplished figure skaters from around the Bay Area. AIT will be dancing on ice to a celebration of Latin music with “Latin Dance Explosion” as well as an AIT favorite, "Sunset Tango". Guest starring in the production will be Olympian Beata Handra, 2008 National Competitors Amanda Dobbs and Dennis Phan as well as the Golden State Synchronized Skating Team.

“Sunset Tango” and “Latin Dance Explosion” combine music, dance and figure skating in a full-length show including special non-skating guests: singer sensation Manuel Romero and salsa dance champions Enrique Jarquin and Lucy Yoo. “Sunset Tango” is a 30-minute series of Tango pieces woven together in a story-line exploring the trysts and turns of relationships. “Latin Dance Explosion” is a musical celebration of Latin rhythms from Regge-tone to Rumba. The coincidence of the performance date and ‘Cinco de Mayo’, as well as the Latin ‘flavor’ of the program will be a family fun celebration on ice.

The 2008 AIT ensemble includes: Ashley Duenas, Cohen Duncan, Rebecca Erb, Billy Kheir, Elizabeth McGlauflin, Lisa Menestrina, Asay Passinsky, Jodi Porter, Elizabeth Handley, and Ben Westenberger

The performance is sponsored in part by Arts Council Silicon Valley and sanctioned by the United States Figure Skating Association. For additional information call Jodi Porter 650.714.4263 or e-mail jporter@americanicetheatre.org.

-AIT-

LISTING

WHO: American Ice Theatre presents
WHAT: “Sunset Tango” and “Latin Dance Explosion”
WHEN: Sunday, May 4th at 1:30pm
WHERE: Shark’s Ice Center, 1500 South 10th Street in San Jose
WHY: A chance to see San Jose’s premiere ‘dance on ice’ company presenting a Latin-themed, full-length ice skating, music and dance program on Cinco de Mayo weekend.
TICKETS: $17 TO $24 with special VIP seating and reception at $44.
HOW TO BUY: www.americanicetheatre.org or through www.artsopolis.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
American Ice Theatre jams at One Hit Wonder in SF!
August 14, 2006

American Ice Theatre, (AIT) San Jose's "ice-dance" company , will present Ice Ice Baby featured as Guest Artists in Thom Mullins, One Hit Wonder. The performance incorporates an exciting new style for AIT, "Hip-Hop Retro" which will feature a hip-hop dancer on stage incorporated into the piece. The event scheduled September 2nd at 7pm and 9pm at the Yerba Buena Ice Center in San Francisco. For ticket information contact: http://32degrees.us/skateout/OHW/tixs.html

Led by artistic director, Jodi Porter, AIT will integrate hip-hop dance on stage while skating in a short on ice jam to the classic Vanilla Ice song, Ice Ice Baby. This AIT ensemble piece consists of former National competitor Rebecca Erb, Gin Lily Chang, Alicia Piscatelli, Julia Stoller, and Artistic Director, Jodi Porter. Come out and see AIT jam!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
American Ice Theatre to perform at SJ Sharks Game
January 13, 2006

Jodi Porter's American Ice Theatre performs for an intermission at the SJ Sharks game, Saturday, February 4th. Game starts at 7:30pm at HP Pavilion.

AIT will be presenting a short classical dance on ice inspired by Dennis Nahat's Romeo and Juliet playing at the Center for the Performing Arts March 9-12th. The piece will be choreographed by Ballet School Director Lise la Cour. Skaters for the piece include Artistic Director, Jodi Porter, nationally recognized and accomplished figure skaters from around the Bay Area: Rebecca Erb, Lisa Menestrina, Alicia Piscatelli, Jennifer Pruitt, Julia Stoller, and principal skater David Green.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
American Ice Theatre to perform at Downtown Ice Opening
November 3, 2005

American Ice Theatre, (AIT) San Jose's ice dance company is presenting "Maria's Dream" in celebration of Ballet San Jose's The Nutcracker and "Pie Jesu," a contemporary piece set to the music of Charlotte Church. The performance will conclude the entertainment for the Downtown Ice Grand Opening presented by the San Jose Downtown Association Friday, November 25, 2005. The event scheduled to begin at 5pm sharp and is located at the Circle of Palms in downtown San Jose.

Led by Artistic Director, Jodi Porter, AIT will integrate ballet on stage with a short introduction of the Nutcracker character Maria by Ballet San dancer, Patricia Perez. As Maria falls asleep she dreams of magical snowflakes and the Nutcracker Prince who come alive on the ice as they glide, turn and leap to the beautiful music of Tchaikovsky. Pie Jesu, a signature piece of AIT was expanded this year to include six ice dancers who will bring the Christmas spirit to life. The AIT ensemble creates a magical experience through the art of dance on stage and ice. The AIT ice dancers consists of former National competitor Rebecca Erb, Gin Lily Chang, Lisa Menestrina, Alicia Piscatelli, Jennifer Pruitt, Director, Jodi Porter and principal skater Justin Dillon. The cast will be joined by Ballet San Jose Nutcracker characters who will be available for pictures. A special treat for the whole family!

Coming up! AIT will be performing Sunset Tango Thursday January 5th and 12th. Don't miss FREE family entertainment in downtown San Jose!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dance on Ice closes Dance Week
in San Jose
April 4, 2004

American Ice Theatre (AIT), led by Artistic Director and choreographer Jodi Porter, is an ensemble of nationally recognized and accomplished figure skaters from around the Bay Area. AIT will be presenting a new work at "Dance on Ice" entitled "Sunset Tango", that includes dancers from Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley. Guest starring in "Sunset Tango" will be 2001 World Champion and Olympian Maurizio Margaglio (Currently skating a professional career with partner Barbara Fusar-Poli in Italy) and former star of "Tap Dogs", dancer Anthony Lo Cascio. "By incorporating performing artists, I hope to blur the lines between art and sport," says Porter." These are true cultural athletes." Marina Klimova, three time Olympic Medallist and World Champion (with partner Sergei Ponomarenko) is a special guest choreographer collaborating on a section for ice-dancers.

Performing Artists for "Dance on Ice 2004" will include American Ice Theatre, Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley, SDT Bay Area Dance, as well as skating ensembles from Logitech Ice Center-San Jose, Fremont, and Redwood City. "We hope to make this an inclusive event that broadens both the skating and dance communities." The festival is free for participants and spectators as well.

AIT performers include: Allison Best, Gin Lily Chang, Kristina Feliciano, Michael Kass, Bilal Kheir, Lisa Menestrina, Alicia Piscatelli, Jodi Porter, Jennifer Pruett, and Julia Stoller.

"Dance on Ice 2004" is co-presented by Logitech Ice as a part of Bay Area Celebrates National Dance Week. The event is scheduled May 2, 2004, 10:30am-12:45pm at Logitech Ice Center, 10th Street in San Jose, California. For additional information call Jodi Porter 650.714.4263 or e-mail Jodi Porter

Event Sanctioned by the USFSA, hosted by the Peninsula Figure Skating Club.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Jose Stealth "Spy Girls"
New Dance Team named
January 7, 2004

Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley ballet dancers Erin Duffy, Jennifer Fitzgerald, Tiffany Glenn, Erena Ishii, Ali Meijer, and Dalia Rawson will help kick off the season home opener for the San Jose Stealth, a new professional Lacrosse Team. "The Spy Girls" dance team will provide pre-game and intermission entertainment for the club. Director Jodi Porter, who also serves as Associate Director for Ballet San Jose School, had this to say. "This is a way for our performers to incorporate dance into sporting events as a way of attracting new audiences and expanding people's awareness of ballet as entertainment AND as athletics. You can't believe how strong these women are and how well they move...they are true 'cultural athletes'! They bring a discipline and a dynamic element to sports that is fresh and powerful." The Spy Girls will make their debut on Saturday, January 10th at HP Pavilion, 7:30pm.

Porter (herself a choreographer and a former professional skater) also leads American Ice Theatre (AIT), which includes local professional and competitive skaters Allison Best, Gin Lily Chang, Kristina Feliciano, Billy Kier, Nicholas Roby, and Julia Stoller. The company, which combines ice skating and dance, will perform a preview of Ballet San Jose's upcoming romantic comedy, Coppélia for San Jose Shark's "Family Night" (Sharks vs. Minnesota) on Saturday, January 24th at HP Pavilion, 7:30pm. Skaters are trained in ballet in the studio before beginning to work on the ice. Porter aims to integrate the technical elements of dance while making it fun and entertaining for both the skaters and the crowd.

American Ice Theatre also gives an "Encore Performance" at Downtown Ice, the outdoor ice rink located next to the Marriott Hotel on Market Street on Sunday, January 18th at 5:30pm. AIT will perform their celebration of Ballet San Jose's Coppélia and several other pieces including Illumination and Celebrate, a fun send-off for the outdoor ice rink which is scheduled to close on January 20th. The performance is free to the public.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Downtown Ice 2003 Opens with a Performance by American Ice Theatre
October 30, 2003

American Ice Theatre, a new ice ballet company based in San Jose, is set to open Downtown Ice 2003 on Thursday, November 20, 2003.

American Ice Theatre (AIT), led by Artistic Director and choreographer Jodi Porter, is an ensemble of nationally recognized figure skaters from around the Bay Area. Choreographer for the Opening of the Exhibition of Champions at the XIX Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake and holding a degree in Modern Dance from the University of Utah, Ms. Porter's vision is to transform the worlds of skating and dance by merging the two art forms together.

AIT's skaters are required to attend modern dance class, given by Ms. Porter. The performance pieces are set and rehearsed in the studio for many hours long before the company takes to the ice. "The result is a new art form unique to both dance and ice skating, and American Ice Theatre hopes to be a pioneer, setting the stage for 'ice ballet', for lack of a better term" says Ms. Porter.

As part of the Downtown Ice 2003 Grand Opening, AIT will perform a Holiday Medley including a new work from Ms. Porter entitled Illumination, for at trio set to Pie Jesu. As well, AIT will perform a tribute to Dennis Nahat's The Nutcracker. Mr. Nahat is the Artistic Director of Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley.

Performers will include Ms. Porter as well as former national competitor Kristina Feliciano, Allison Best and Nicholas Roby. The cast will be joined by Ballet San Jose's Mouse King for pictures with the kids. A special treat for the whole family!

Downtown Ice 2003 is presented by Knight Ridder and produced by the San Jose Downtown Association, and opens Thursday, November 20, 2003 at 6PM, and is located on the corner of Market and Viola Streets. (Adjacent to San Jose McEnery Convention Center.) For more information visit http://www.sjdowntown.com, call Jodi Porter 650.714.4263 or e-mail jporter@americanicetheatre.org.

Photos available upon request.

-AIT-