Performer Biographies
2012 Benefit Gala Performance - Photo by Ms. Li Mann
ALIZAH ALLEN
Alizah, formerly an apprentice member of Ice Theatre of New York, competed in the '96 & '97 U.S. National Ladies Championships. After a long hiatus from the ice, she is proud to perform with Ice Theatre again. She recently received her Ed.M in Psychological Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University. She especially wants to thank her husband, without his love and support she would not be skating and graduating simultaneously!
ELISA ANGELI (Skater and aerialist)
Elisa was born in Milan on December 25, 1979. After a successful career as a competitive ice dancer, she skated shows choreographed by Barbara Fusarpoli and others in Italy and Europe. Elisa began performing with Ice Theatre of New York in its 2005 season and accompanied Ice Theatre on tour in France in 2008 and 2009. She has been a valued company member both as a performer and a teacher. Aside from skating, Elisa is dancing for the Italian dance company, Magma Dance Company, a combination of African and contemporary dance; and has been studying aerial at the Trapeze School of New York. She starred both as a skater and as an aerialist in "Cocktail on Ice" in Italy and recently performed as an aerialist on ice with the Ghiaccio Spettacolo in Italy and Europe.
ALI BLANK
Ali started her 26-year ice skating career in her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. As a competitor, Ali is an internationally ranked skater in both singles and pairs, and is a triple USFS gold medalist. She turned professional at age 18 and travelled the world skating with Disney On Ice. In 2006, Ali starred in the Radio City Rockettes show in New York City as a pair skater. Ali has been coaching at Chelsea Piers for the past 8 years and also coaches at Figure Skating in Harlem, where she was awarded "Coach of the Year" in 2009. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2005, majoring in Fashion Merchandising Management. Ali launched her own custom-designed, screen-printed line of apparel, www.ablankexpression.com, in 2006, and her line is being sold in boutiques around New York City. Ali is thrilled to be performing again with Ice Theatre of New York.
BRENT BOMMENTRE
Brent is from Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania and is an American ice dancer. With partner Kimberly Navarro he is the 2008 and 2009 US bronze medalist and 2008 Four Continents bronze medalist. He previously competed with Allison Sietech, Kirsten Frisch, and Kendra Goodwin. Navarro and Bommentre represented the United States at the World Championships in 2010 before announcing their retirement from competition on May 11, 2010. Brent is excited to be once again, skating with Ice Theatre of New York.
EVE CHALOM - (Ensemble Director/Performer)
Eve is a two time world competitor in ice dancing, has undergraduate degrees from the University of Michigan in English and Philosophy, and is currently working on a master's degree in Dance Therapy from Pratt Institute. She also teaches skating to a large, interesting variety of students. This is her third year working with the Ice Theatre of New York, and she loves having the on ice performance opportunities and getting to work with such a great cast of people! She has also danced in several small modern dance companies in the ten years she has been in New York and loves her hobbies of Contact Improvisation, other types of dance, massage, and yoga.
JOEL DEAR (Choreographer/Performer)
Joel quickly fell in love with skating in elementary school when a section of the school playground flooded and froze over. Joel is a two-time US National Medalist and a four-time US Figure Skating team member. In 2008, Joel joined the Ice Theatre for the French tour and the 2008 Gala. In addition to skating, Joel works as a professional dancer, trained in a range of styles. Joel choreographed "Maybe this Time" last summer for the Young Artist Showcase: a skating choreography competition to nurture and promote creativity in young and aspiring choreographers. His work was shown at Ice Theatre’s 25th Anniversary Gala. Joel has performed in numerous professional ice skating and dance shows around the world including a recent tour with Holiday on Ice in Europe.
MICHEAL DIONYSIOU
Michael is a USFS double gold medalist. A native of New York though he trained and lived in Tampa Bay, Florida - Michael has performed in several productions, including Advanced Entertainment Group; “World Rhythms on Ice” 2000-2004, Disney on Ice International Tour “Mickey’s & Minnie’s Magical Journey” 2004, and Holiday on Ice International Tours “Diamonds” and “Mystery” 2004-2010. As a cast member of “Mystery,” Michael had the pleasure to work with noted choreographer and Olympic Champion Robin Cousins. He was invited to participate as a soloist in “The International Skating Academy” by Holiday on Ice in The Netherlands in 2009. He also took part in the “2006 Dutch Olympic Team Ceremony Show” by Holiday on Ice. Currently, Michael is an instructor at Sky Rink Chelsea Piers and is enthused to be a part of Ice Theatre of New York.
TAYLOR GRANT
Taylor joined the Figure Skating Collegiate Team at Dartmouth while completing her undergraduate degree in psychology, after skating competitively for 12 years. Taylor was a co-captain of the team and led them to three national championships. She was also inducted into the Dartmouth Hall of Fame, "Wearers of the Green," for her performances at the 2004 Collegiate Nationals. After graduating, she skated professionally for four years with Willy Bietak Productions on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines until moving to New York City in July. Currently, Taylor is studying at the Pratt Institute doing a Master's Degree in Communications Design.
MICHELE FORCHIONE
Michele was born in Ohio. She put on her first pair of skates before she was three years old. She was a Junior Ladies Freestyle skater and a Junior National competitor. Earlier this year, Michele was a part of ABC’s Ugly Betty as a skating double. This is Michele’s first year with Ice Theatre of New York and she is thrilled to be a part of this ensemble.
MARNI HALASA
Marni is a USFS double gold medalist and staff professional at Chelsea Piers, has skated with Ice Theatre of New York for special events. Taking what she has learned from performing, Marni currently debuts her iconic rollerblading personality in parades and events all across New York City, as noted by the New York Daily News, New York Post, New York Times and National Enquirer. Other credits include a featured belly dancer for the sequel to the movie, “Sex in the City;” choreographing rollerblading dance scenes for the Disney movie, “Enchanted;" and performing on MTV and the Today Show, where Marni belly
danced on rollerblades and taught Al Roker how to shimmy.
LAUREN HUNT
Lauren is a USFS Gold Medalist with over 16 years of skating experience. She was a US National Synchronized Skating competitor as well as a freestyle competitor. She has coached skating for over ten years, and coached the 2009 Intermediate National Synchronized Skating Champions. She is currently the Skating Director at World Ice Arena, with a successful program that was recently featured on the cover of ISI's Edge Magazine. She is a graduate of the prestigious LaGuardia H.S. of Music and Art for vocal performance, as well as the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, and is currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at The New School. She is also a singer/songwriter and has performed to packed houses at numerous venues throughout NYC, most notably the Cutting Room and the legendary Bitter End. She is thrilled to be making her debut with Ice Theatre of New York.
JESSICA RENÉE HUOT
Jessica is a second year Master’s student in the Piano Performance Program at NYU’s Steinhardt School. She and her ice dance partner, Juha Valkama, are former three time Finnish National Ice Dance Champions and three time World and European Figure Skating Championship competitors. Jessica and Juha both started studying at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall of 2002 and continued skating competitively for two years, including at the 2003 and 2004 European and World Championships. After graduating from MIT in June of 2006, Jessica and Juha, now husband, moved to Manhattan. They performed with the Ice Theatre of New York in the 2006-07 season, and Jessica started performing with ITNY again in 2010. Jessica has also been teaching figure skating regionally and is team coach for the newly formed NYU Figure Skating Team. Additionally, she is an Adjunct Instructor at NYU where she teaches private piano lessons and a piano instructor at the Hoboken School of Music.
DAVID INGS
David has devoted his entire life to the sport and art form of figure skating. Starting to skate at the age of 9, David was a quick study, and soon started getting a reputation for himself as a force to be reckoned with. Recognized as 3 time Scottish Senior Men’s Champion, and 3 time British Senior Men’s bronze medalist, he was also a reserve member of the British Olympic team for the Winter Olympic Games in 1994. Since 1997, David has skated as a principal skater in a number of renowned professional ice shows such as but not limited to; the Hot Ice show in Blackpool, United Kingdom, Holiday On Ice show “Diamonds” around Europe, tours with Willy Bietak for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and, most recently, Phantasialand in Germany. David is new to the United States, having received his Green Card in September of 2010, and has been a full time coach on Staff at Wollman Rink in Central Park NYC since that time. David’s first love is performing, and he is glad that the Ice Theater of NY has allowed him this chance to share his passion with everyone once again.
ALICIA JACKSON
Alicia is originally from Baltimore, MD where she trained as a singles skater and developed an early love for artistic ensemble skating as a member of Rob McBrien's competitive Theater on Ice team. She has performed professionally with The Next Ice Age for several years, joining the company at the age of 18 as both a skater and costume designer. Alicia recently completed her BFA in Fashion Design from New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, and currently has her own business creating custom sportswear and costumes for all levels of amateur and professional figure skaters for competition, theater, and television. She is thrilled to be back on the ice and able to continue her skating career as a part of the Ice Theatre Ensemble!
KEVIN SIDWELL
Kevin is excited to be skating with the 'creative' Ice Theatre of New York for a second season. Kevin has performed all over the world in ice shows with Disney On Ice for 5 years. He also performed lead roles in exhibition shows in London, Oxford, and Birmingham, England; and in a live Christmas television ice show in Frankfurt, Germany. He competed nationally in the UK in many competitions in free, pairs, and dance. He also competed in three World Synchronized Skating Cups for the nationally selected Great Britain senior team, and internationally and nationally with local Junior and Senior Synchronized teams. He loves coaching figure skating, is a keen tennis player, and a big soccer fan.
JAMIE SILVERSTEIN
Jamie is delighted to be joining ITNY for it's home season! Jamie is a US Olympian (Ice Dancing) and some of her competitive highlights include: 1999 Junior World Champion, US World Team Member, 2-time US Senior National Medalist, and US Junior and Novice National Champion. Jamie is also a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Cornell University and a registered yoga instructor (RYT 200). Off the ice, Jamie currently works as a program manager and yoga therapist for an eating disorder recovery center. Jamie also developed BEyoga (Body Empowerment Yoga), a program that benefits eating disorder recovery, which she has brought to in-patient treatment centers and ED conferences in NY.
MICHAEL SOLONOSKI
Michael is a native of Allentown, PA and is a 2010 graduate of Drexel University with a bachelors degree in Architecture. He began skating at age 15 and his career highlights included 4 U.S. National Collegiate medals, a U.S. Jr. National bronze medal, and being a senior international competitor for the United States. Having skated professionally for one year, Michael joined Holiday on Ice's European production "Festival" last fall. He plans to return this November for the 2nd year of the tour.
WENDY WILKE
Wendy toured the world with Disney on Ice "Beauty
and the Beast", "Princess Classics," and "Russian Ballet on
Ice". She skated, danced and acted in films, television and
commercials such as "Blades of Glory", "Days of our Lives",
"Mercedes," "Maybelline" and "AT&T". Some of
her choreography credits include “GAP”, “ABC Sports” commercials, “Be Good
Johnny Weir” promo, “Brian Setzer Orchestra” music video, and “General
Hospital”. Wendy was also the on-set acting coach for the long running TV
series “7th Heaven”. As a dancer she performed for Disney musical theatre shows
“Musical Moments of Disney,” “Anamazement” and “Winter Wonderland” at Disneyland
and internationally. Special thanks to Mom and Dad
inspiring creativity and creating the opportunity to make skating a reality.
GREG WITTROCK
Greg is an experimental theater artist who uses the mediums of ice skating, masks, dance and sculpture to explore, communicate and characterize the human condition. A distinguished artist in the worlds of ice skating and dance, Greg was selected as a dance and movement instructor for the Cirque Du Soleil, has worked as an ensemble member of the Ice Theater of New York and has opened for Cyndi Lauper. He appears in the documentary film “Dances of Ecstasy”. Greg’s masks, characters, and choreography work is featured in the rock video, “Down to the Sea”, for U.K. recording artist Tim Booth. With a B.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University in Communication Arts and Design, Greg has exhibited his papier mâché celebrity sculptures to critical acclaim at numerous New York venues. His design talents have led to a pictorial feature in Spin magazine and award-winning art direction for various music labels and writers, including Gabrielle Roth’s music label Raven Recording.
SARAH ZANOLLI
Sarah is a New York City-based skating coach and performer. She holds a USFS gold medal and has performed with the Ice Theatre of New York since 2010, skating in ice shows at venues such as Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center; on synthetic ice at the Jacob Javits Convention Center and the gay pride parade; and on roller skates at various public and private events. Sarah has a BA in Education Studies from Eugene Lang College, The New School for Liberal Arts and has taught high school English. In addition to coaching at Wollman Rink in Central Park, Sarah is a seamstress and freelance costume designer.
APPRENTICE BIOGRAPHIES
DANIELLE AND ALEXANDER GAMELIN
Danielle and Alexander Gamelin are 18-year-old brother and sister twins
from Merrick, Long Island. They are the 2010 Eastern Sectional Ice
Dance Silver Medalist and U.S. Figure Skating Championship
competitiors. Since Devember 2008, in between training and competition,
Danielle and Alex have performed frequently with Ice Theatre. The
experience has enabled the twins to further develop their performance
skills and has offered them the unique opportunity to bring figure
skating to elementary school children throughout greater New York City
as part of the ITNY Outreach Program.