FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: April Thibeault, AMT PR 212.861.0990 ▪ [email protected] Ice Theatre of New York Honors Olympic Silver Medalist Paul Wylie and Choreographer Lar Lubovitch at its Annual Benefit Gala and Performance Listing Information: Ice Theatre of New York Annual Benefit Date: Monday, October 26, 2009, at 7:00 PM Venue: Pier 61 at Chelsea Piers (23rd Street & Hudson River); Performance at Sky Rink | Gala at The Lighthouse (both at Pier 61). Train C/E to Eighth Avenue Tickets: Benefit $350 and up | Performance only $25/$15 seniors & students Purchase: Contact Ice Theatre at 212.929.5811 or visit http://www.icetheatre.org New York City, NY --- Ice Theatre of New York (ITNY), the nation’s premier ice dancing ensemble, inaugurates its 2009-2010 anniversary season by hosting the company’s annual Benefit Gala and Performance on Monday, October 26th, at Chelsea Pier’s Sky Rink. Festivities include a star-studded benefit honoring both Olympic Silver Medalist and renowned Ice Artist Paul Wylie and one of America’s brightest choreographers Lar Lubovitch, followed by cocktails, dinner and celebrations at The Lighthouse in Chelsea Piers. “Paul Wylie has been a friend of ITNY for many years,” says Moira North, ITNY’s Artistic Director. “He performed with us at the Opening of the new Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers, and he has been an enthusiastic supporter and friend of ITNY and of the artistic skating movement.” Wylie joins an esteemed list of ITNY honorees including Nancy Kerrigan, Vera Wang, Scott Hamilton, two-time World champion Aja Zanova Steindler, and two-time Olympic gold medalist Dick Button. ITNY will also present a Choreography Award to Lar Lubovitch in recognition of his many works for skaters, from pieces for Paul Wylie, John Curry and Peggy Fleming, to the televised ice ballet, The Planets. The International Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award nominee, choreographer/artistic director Lar Lubovitch is currently touring the country in celebration of his 40th year in the business. “In addition to his work for stage, screen and television, Lubovitch has also made a notable contribution to the advancement of choreography in the field of dance on ice,” explains North. “We applaud the priceless contributions he has made to the ice dance community by presenting him with the ITNY Choreography Award.” The Gala Performance is scheduled to feature Lubovitch’s work, Tilt-a-Whirl. In addition, ITNY will premiere a new work by choreographer Douglas Webster, as well as present selections from ITNY’s existing repertory, including La Revolte des Enfants by Alberto del Saz, 2:1 by David Liu, The Dreame by Jacqulyn Buglisi, and Draughtsman’s Contract by Elisa Monte. All of the evening’s proceeds will support ITNY’s New Works and Young Artists Series, an outreach program for public school children in Manhattan and Queens, as well as all of our 2009- 2010 season's artistic programming. Winding up the night will be the presentation of the Ice Angel Award to Chelsea Pier’s Sky Rink in honor of the venue’s long-time support of both ITNY and the art of dance on ice. About Ice Theatre of New York (ITNY) Founded in 1984 by Moira North, Ice Theatre of New York seeks to change the face of figure skating by creating works that integrate the sensibilities of contemporary dance, music and art. Through its performances in both traditional and alternative venues, ITNY presents on-ice dances that challenge the perceptions and conventional definitions of figure skating. ITNY was the first ice dance company to receive dance program funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. In addition to building and performing works of artistic merit, ITNY also reaches out to the next generation of skaters and audiences through its exemplary education, community outreach and training programs. "Since its establishment in 1984, the Ice Theatre of New York has combined the best of ice skating, dance and theater to create cutting edge performances that represent the very best New York's creative community has to offer." - Mayor Michael Bloomberg As the company begins its new season, ITNY will continue its tradition of collaborating with choreographers from both the dance and skating worlds, as well as exploring relationships with artists from theatre, music and new media disciplines. 2009-2010 season highlights include: free performances as part of the City Center Ice Concert Series at Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park and Queen’s World Ice Arena; New Works & Young Artists Series at both Riverbank State Park and Queen’s World Ice Arena to serve city school children; special holiday performances at Wollman Rink, Rockefeller Center, Riverbank State Park, Bryant Park, Chelsea Piers, Winter Festival in Milford, PA, to name a few; and ITNY’s 2010 Home Season at Chelsea Piers (May ’10). http://www.icetheatre.org. # # # .