Skating lineup promises cool performances

Olympic gold medalist Apolo Anton Ohno made frequent references to folding in his training for speed-skating competition with his training for "Dancing with the Stars." How does an Olympic skater train while performing full time?

Tanith Belbin knows.

With skating partner Ben Agosto, she has won numerous medals, including a 2006 Olympic silver medal in ice dancing. She is one of the top skaters in "Champions on Ice" Saturday at the Everett Events Center.

Every year, skaters who have had the best results and won titles are invited to tour with "Champions on Ice."

Olympians are invited, guaranteeing performances by great athletes such as Sasha Cohen, Victor Petrenko, Surya Bonaly, Rudy Galindo, Evgeni Plushenko, Johnny Weir and pairs skaters Qing Pang and Jian Tong, Rena Inoue and John Baldwin, Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov, and Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat.

They're skaters "who have had tremendous success and built really big names in the sport," said Evan Lysacek, 2007 U.S. champion and two-time world-championships bronze medalist, who skates in the show.

"Champions on Ice" is a blend of show business, ice dancing and the athletic leaps and turns these skaters are known for, done in solos, pairs and teams. The entire cast appears for the big opening and closing ensemble numbers.

The artistic side "makes figure skating so unique," says Belbin. It's a blend of athleticism and performance, a chance to present a full package as a competitive skater.

"This is a good chance for us to learn not only how to perform better under different circumstances ... but also to learn from the other cast members," she said. "Because all these skaters have something unique to offer. All together, it makes a great show with a lot of variety."

Dan Hollander provides comedy acrobatics, Irina Grigorian skates with hoops, and there are even male pairs skaters. The comedy acrobatic team of 210-pound Vladimir Besedin and 150-pound Oleksiy Polishchuk predates the skating-spoof movie "Blades of Glory."

There are skating purists who want the lifts and triples, who want the "Ave Maria" classic, balletic performances, but there are also people who like to push the music forward.

"Frankly, we're two of them," Belbin said. She cites Rudy Galindo, who dances to "Dreamgirls" in the show, as an example as well.

"I think the show and the programs that we have — and Rudy is a great example — really has the potential to break people's image of skating and really banish some of the stereotypes that are attached to it," Belbin said.

She and partner Agosto ice dance in hip-hop moves with music by Justin Timberlake. Belbin and Lysacek have worked with MTV choreographer JT Hornstein, and speed and momentum transform the street moves on ice.

"Skating has the opportunity to take what people are used to seeing, and to put it in a whole new light," Belbin said. "I don't think that we've nearly touched the tip of the iceberg with all that we can do."

"We always said that's one of the best parts about skating, about being a part of a sport that has no limit," she added.

After the tour ends in June, Belbin and Lysacek will take two weeks off, then start training for the next competitive season. It includes the grand-prix circuit of international competitions starting in October, with nationals in January and world championships in March.

Diane Wright: 425-745-7815 or dwright@seattletimes.com