Aerial Ice takes center stage on NBC’s ‘America’s Got Talent’
Now in its eighth season, the NBC reality
show “America’s Got Talent” had never before seen an on-ice performance group among its participants. Enter Aerial Ice, an ensemble composed of pairs skaters Tosha Hanford and Chris Trefi l, aerialist Angela Kim, ice danc- er-turned-aerialist Joel Dear and two-time U.S. ice dancing bronze medalists Kim Navarro and Brent Bommentre. “I actually put this group
together,” Jill Schulz, executive director of Woodstock Ice Productions and daughter of Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schulz, said. “I grew up skating with Kim Navarro’s mom and I thought, let’s do something that’s never been done.” The group initially performed at the
show’s Los Angeles auditions, receiving a unanimous yes from the four celebrity judges before being sent through the Las Vegas au- ditions straight to the live shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. “A lot of people don’t realize how much
is possible with both arts working together,” Dear said. “Hopefully people will see that it’s possible to do things on ice skates that aren’t possible even in the dance world on the fl oor.” Aerial Ice combines adagio, dance, the-
atre and circus aerial acts on synthetic ice, which is put together just minutes before the troupe hits the stage to perform, a task the
Kwan joins FOX Sports Olympic team
Michelle Kwan will
join FOX Sports as an an- alyst for the 2014 Olym- pic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Kwan will provide expert analysis during fi gure skating events and contribute daily commentary prior to and throughout the Games across all FOX Sports platforms, in- cluding the new FOX Sports 1 network. “I’m thrilled to be a part of the FOX Sports
team,” Kwan said. “FOX Sports is known for being fresh, innovative and fun, and that’s the approach I plan to bring in my role. I want to give fans an in- sider’s look at fi gure skating and the entire Olym- pics experience.” The announcement was made in August
by Rick Jaff e, FOX Sports senior vice president of news.
“There is no bigger name in the sport of fi g-
ure skating than Michelle Kwan, and we are de- lighted to welcome her to FOX Sports,” Jaff e said. “Not only is she the most decorated fi gure skater in U.S. history, but she is also opinionated and in- sightful, and we’re very lucky to have her as part of our Olympic team.”
6 OCTOBER 2013
Aerial Ice members (l-r) are Kim Navarro, Brent Bommentre, Tosha Hanford, Chris Trefi l, Angela Kim and Joel Dear.
skaters agree is a necessary challenge. “It’s good, because we show people that
an on-ice performance can happen anywhere,” Trefi l said. “You just put down a sheet of plastic and you’re set.” “We’ve already expanded the public’s
knowledge of what’s possible on the ice,” Bom- mentre added. “It’s really exciting, especially during an Olympic year when there’s going to be a lot more skating on television. We want to
show how many opportunities skating can give you.”
“It’s very rare that a group that is already
great friends comes together,” Dear continued. “That’s one really nice thing about this group. Any capacity that we can keep performing to- gether, through the show or after the show, is amazing.”
— Mimi Whetstone
HQ Profi le: Lindsay McAllister I am the coordinator of sponsor relations.
My responsibilities include fulfi lling and activat- ing sponsorship contracts, coordinating spon- sorship elements at events and a variety of other marketing responsibilities. I also manage SKATING magazine’s advertising. What do you do in your spare time? I
can mostly be found going to Zumba, loung- ing by the pool and enjoying nights out on the town with my boyfriend and friends. What would people be surprised to know about you? Even though I
work in sports I was voted “Most UNathletic” by my peers in high school and attended the University of South Carolina on a vocal performance scholarship. What do you cherish the most? Having fun with the ones I love. Life is too short
to be boring! What’s your favorite part of the job? I am still fairly new, but so far I really enjoy
interacting with our various sponsors and agencies and getting them excited about their partnership with U.S. Figure Skating. I am looking forward to my fi rst event in October. What’s your ideal vacation? Being somewhere with palm trees, piña coladas,
good food and great company. Tell us about your family. I have one brother with a really charming Southern
name, Rhett, who is 14 years older than me (with no siblings in between). I have a beautiful niece whom I don’t get to see nearly enough and a dynamic duo I call Mom and Dad. Although my parents had me late in life, they keep me young. We can often be found dancing around to the Temptations and other Motown jams and are referred to as the McGriswolds. I live in Colorado Springs with my very handsome boyfriend, our chocolate lab, Votto, and our two cats, Priscilla and Roxanne.
VIRGINIA SHERWOOD/NBC
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