Rockingham Times

The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth issued the following announcement on February 8.

DISCLAIMER: The following content wasn't created by, but is being shared by the Chamber Collaborative on behalf of a member.

PORTSMOUTH – Kate Malloy, owner of Purple Finch Events, was voted the winner of the Seacoast Skating with the Stars event that occurred at Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond at Strawbery Banke Museum on Saturday, Feb. 5. The professional skating event, presented by Strawbery Banke in partnership with Ice Dance International (IDI), follows the format of “Dancing with the Stars.” The winner of the event is determined by combining the judges' scores with audience votes.

Despite cold temperatures, more than 550 in-person attendees, in addition to more than 500 live stream viewers, cheered on six local contestants who were paired with IDI professional company skaters. Contestants included Peter Douris, Stephanie Hurd, Evan Mallett, Malloy, Brigham Pendleton, and Martha Stone.

 

Malloy, the owner of Purple Finch Events, a boutique event planning and management firm, was voted the winner in a close race where audience votes made up 40% of total scores. She skated to a short routine with Neill Shelton, IDI cast and professional skater of 11 years. “My love of ice skating was born from Dorothy Hamill’s performance of The Nutcracker on Ice, said Malloy. “It was so thrilling to perform with Neill and the Ice Dance International cast for a live audience.”

 

“Seacoast Skating with the Stars embodies the spirit of Ice Dance International,” said Doug Webster, Ice Dance International executive and artistic director. “The event aligns with IDI’s mission, which is to bring people together and to build community through skating.”

 

“Strawbery Banke is proud to partner with Ice Dance International on this event and to host the company in residence at the Museum during the winter months,” said Lawrence J. Yerdon, president and CEO. “Douglas Webster, who is also the artistic director of Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond, continues to create opportunities to gather outdoors at the Museum and promote ice-skating as a lifetime activity.”

 

Saturday’s event also featured IDI repertory performances, including “Revival,” choreographed by Webster. The company, currently in residence at Strawbery Banke, is performing and teaching throughout New England as well as in New York City. The professional skaters return to the ice at Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. for Winter Dances, an event showcasing a selection of IDI repertory. For more information and tickets, visit IceDanceInternational.org.

 

Support for Seacoast Skating with the Stars comes from the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies; and from a grant from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

About IDI

Founded in 2014 in Kittery, Maine, Ice Dance International (IDI) exists to showcase and promote ice dancing as an internationally recognized performing art form, with the mission to build community through skating. IDI is currently in residency at Strawbery Banke Museum’s Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond and has established a strong presence on the Seacoast and beyond. Over the past eight years, the company has performed in 100+ performances, offered 75 skating clinics, and organized free community engagement programming for nearly 55,000 constituents. Employing a professional company of ice dancers and choreographers, IDI brings ice dance performances of the highest caliber to communities across the US. IDI promotes educational and community engagement opportunities with programs for underserved populations, first skate experiences, clinics for developing skaters, and more. Learn more at IceDanceInternational.org.

About Strawbery Banke

Strawbery Banke Museum, in the heart of downtown Portsmouth, is a 10-acre history museum interpreting history, from Indigenous history to the present day, through historical houses on their original foundations, heirloom gardens, traditional crafts, and costumed roleplayers who share the stories of the families who lived in the authentic waterfront neighborhood of Puddle Dock. The Museum welcomes visitors, members, and schoolchildren for daily programs, exhibits, skating, and signature special events throughout the year. Strawbery Banke Museum is funded in part by grants from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation; the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts & National Endowment for the Arts; the Institute of Museum and Library Services; the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom; the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program. For more information and a complete calendar of events, please visit StrawberyBanke.org.

Original source can be found here.