"Skate for the Heart," is a high-energy show that brings top music and figure skating talent together to raise awareness of heart disease. The live show is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Sears Centre Arena, Hoffman Estates.
Other Olympic, world and national figure skating champions will perform with Lysacek, Agosto and Belbin in "Skate for the Heart" including 2009 U.S. Champion Alissa Czisny, 2009 U.S. Pairs Champions Rockne Brubaker and Keauna McLaughlin, 2009 U.S. bronze medalist Caroline Zhang, 2008 U.S. National Champion Mirai Nagasu, three-time U.S. National Champion and 2008 World bronze medalist Johnny Weir and 2009 U.S. National Champion Jeremy Abbott.
Entertainment/Jive Records artist, Jordin Sparks rose to fame as the winner of the sixth season of American Idol. With the success of her platinum self-titled debut album by the end of 2008 Jordin won an American Music Award for Favorite Artist- Adult Contemporary Music, an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist and a Teen Choice Award for Choice Music "Hookup" song. She also received a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals" as well as two nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards for "Best Female Video" and "Best New Artist." Sparks joined other notable music artists in performances at the Commander-in-Chief's Inaugural Ball hosted by President Barack Obama.
Sixteen-year-old singing sensation Charice Pempengco, whose powerful voice reduced Oprah and Ellen DeGeneres to tears during appearances on their shows, has performed with legends Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion. Pempengco was recently praised by Josh Groban when she shared the stage with him, Michael Buble, Katharine McPhee and others during a concert in Las Vegas. This talented teen from the Philippines was discovered on YouTube and is working with legendary producer David Foster.
The four gentlemen of Honor Society have been winning the hearts of young fans across the country with slick pop vocal harmonies, ripping guitar solos and big beats. The band has been part of one of the biggest tours of the summer when they shared the stage with Jordin Sparks as the opening artists on the North American leg of the Jonas Brothers World Tour 2009.
The spunky five-girl group KSM is moving up the ranks of teen stardom as they make appearances with pop stars the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, Honor Society and many more. The energetic teens was a special guests on the Demi Lovato Summer Tour. KSM will release their debut album this fall.
Tickets range in price from $30 - $187 and are available at Sears Centre Arena Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlet locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 1.800.745.3000. Visit www.dissonskating.com or www.searscentre.com for more information.
Skate For The Heart: 2009 Fact Sheet
7:30 pm
Saturday, September 19
Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates
Call 1-800.745.3000
Visit www.dissonskating.com or www.searscentre.com.
ABOUT TANITH AND BEN from www.usfsa.org
The most successful U.S. ice dancing team ever, Belbin and Agosto have won five U.S. championships, four World medals and the 2006 Olympic silver medal… Have medaled at every event at which they've received a placement but one (2008 World Championships) since the start of the 2005-06 season ... Their second-place finish at the 2005 World Championships made the duo the highest-placing U.S. ice dancing team in 30 years and the first U.S. dance team to medal at the competition in 20 years ... Were awarded perfect 6.0s for presentation in the free dance at the 2005 U.S. Championships ... Overall at the event, they were awarded 14 6.0s, placing them third in the record books for the most 6.0s at the event ... With their silver at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, they became the highest-placing U.S. dance team in history and first Olympic medalists in 30 years ... Were awarded the SKATING Magazine 2005 Readers' Choice Skater of the Year Award ... Headlined the Spring 2006 Marshalls SkateFest in Detroit ... Featured in a two-page spread for Marshalls in the March 10, 2006, issue of US Weekly ... Starred in an Acuvue Oasys commercial for contact lenses ... In February 2005, Belbin and Agosto organized and skated in Skate Aid for Tsunami Relief, an ice skating show to benefit the tsunami relief fund for Southeast Asia that raised $40,000... … Claimed the silver medal at the 2002 Four Continents Championships and at the 2002 U.S. Championships but were unable to represent the United States at the 2002 Olympics due to Belbin's holding Canadian citizenship
Belbin, originally from Canada, moved to the United States from Kirkland, Quebec ... Began skating at age 2 1/2 because her mom was a skating coach ... Participated in CanSkate, Skate Canada's learn-to-skate program ... Was previously coached by Paul Wirtz in Canada ... Had five dance partners before teaming up with Agosto ... Has worked as a "Good Morning America" correspondent and Ford NY model ... Has a passion for broadcast journalism and fashion, and wants to become a national news correspondent or a television host after her skating career ... Would like to meet Anderson Cooper because she "admires and respects him and the career he has built for himself" ... Hobbies are camping, hiking with her dog, shopping and roller blading ... Listens to all kinds of music except country, hard rock and gangsta rap ... Is an advisory board member for Figure Skating in Harlem and an honorary board member for Pennies in Action ... Has one brother, Lucas ... Mother is a designer and has designed some of her daughter's skating costumes ... Biggest life-defining moment was the passing of her grandfather ... Named ESPN.com Page 2's "Hottest Female Athlete."
Agosto is originally from Chicago; moved to Detroit in June 1998 to skate with Belbin ... Graduated with honors from Groves High School in June 2000 ... Hobbies include playing the guitar (including blues and Flamenco), scuba diving, horseback riding, rock climbing and mountain biking ... Also loves to go Salsa dancing ... First concert ever was the Chicago Symphony Orchestra ... Best Halloween costume was as the X-Men's Wolverine ... Got his first voice gig recording the voice of a villain in an upcoming video game; has always wanted to be the goofy voice of some cartoon character ... Loves apple cider and Super Mario Brothers.
2010 Season Notes
OD Music: Moldavian folk dance
FD Music: Giulio Caccini's "Ave Maria" performed by Sumi Jo and "Amen" from Gioachino Rossini's "Stabat Mater"
Costume designer: Michelle Belbin
Goals for 2009-10: Win the Olympics
SKATE FOR THE HEART LINEUP
Evan Lysacek
2009 World Champion
Two-time U.S. National Champion
Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto
2006 Olympic Silver Medalists
Four-time World Medalists
Five-time U. S. National Champions
Sasha Cohen
2006 Olympic Silver Medalist
Two-time World Silver Medalist
Alissa Czisny
2009 U.S. National Champion
Caroline Zhang
2007 World Junior Champion
2006 Junior Grand Prix Final Champion
2009 U.S. Bronze Medalist
Mirai Nagasu
2008 U.S. National Champion
2007 World Junior Silver Medalist
2008 World Junior Bronze Medalist
Johnny Weir
Three-time U.S. National Champion
2008 World Bronze Medalist
2008 Grand Prix Final Bronze Medalist
2001 World Junior Champion
Jeremy Abbott
2009 U.S. National Champion
2008 Grand Prix Final Champion
Rockne Brubaker & Keauna McLaughlin
Two-time U.S. National Champions
2007 World Junior Champion
