April 26, 2011
By Scott Kindberg (skindberg@post-journal.com)
Lindsay Marzec was only 8 years old in 1990, so her memory of her first Excellence On Ice experience is a little foggy.
What she does remember, however, is that the Allen Park Ice Rink was packed, she was performing to an "Around the World" theme and she was dressed like a "little girl from Russia."
"I skated around the rink, but I don't think I did much,'' she said with a laugh.
Suffice it to say she's done plenty since.
Now 29, Marzec is a gold medalist and former ice show star, who has been a part of the Jamestown Skating Academy coaching team for the last 11 years. She also has the distinction of performing in every Excellence on Ice since she made her debut more than two decades ago.
America's most spectacular community ice show returns to center ice at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena on May 7 for two performances at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. The show will feature Jamestown's figure skating stars, including national competitors and touring professional performers.
Not surprisingly, Marzec will be performing and coaching, too.
"I think I get more nervous than the skaters,'' she said. "I still get excited and have butterflies in my stomach. I like the performing a lot and I like watching our skaters perform. There's so much audience involvement, so they feed off that involvement. There's not the pressure with their friends and family there."
Marzec, an English teacher at Frewsburg Central School, has played plenty of roles in her years with Excellence On Ice. She's skated to disco music, Michael Jackson numbers and even played the role of Marilyn Monroe.
"I was a senior in college," Marzec recalled, "and I was told that they needed 'a Marilyn.' It was finals time, so it was pretty crazy, but it came together and I had fun with that."
"Through the year's we have come to count on Lindsay more and more for help with Excellence on Ice," said Lenel van den Berg, co-director of The Skating Academy and choreographer of the show. "Her choreography brings great energy and excitement to the production."
Having fun seems to be a recurring theme for skaters and spectators at Excellence On Ice.
Marzec said those who attend the performance for the first time expect a "typical recital, but they're blown away by the talent we have here and the professional lighting and setting."
"A lot of our skaters are now starring in ice shows around the world, so it shows the quality of our ice show.''
This year's theme, "A Night of Awards," will feature music and productions from the Academy Awards, Grammys and Tonys.
"We tell them all the time to 'smile big,''' Marzec said.
Smiles won't be hard to come by when the JSA students hit the ice for their two performances.
"It always comes together,'' Marzec said. "They're talented kids with dedicated parents. We started practicing once a week two months ago, but the last four weeks we've been giving it a big push.''
"It's a great comfort for Lenel and myself to have Lindsay on our team when it's show time," said Kirk Wyse, Co-Director of The JSA. "Whatever the issue, we can always count on her."
VIP seating will once again be featured at the JSBIA. Flooring material will be placed around the perimeter of the ice floor and tables adorned with linens, hors d'oeuvres, wine, and soft drinks. With six seats per table the spectator becomes part of the show. The arena seats will be utilized for reserved seating. Concert-style lighting will be provided by APG of Fredonia.
VIP on-ice tickets are $30 and reserved arena seating tickets are $10 or $12.
The box office at the JSBIA is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
To reserve tickets by phone, call the Excellence on Ice ticket line at 484-2624 or reserve tickets online at www.JamestownArena.com . Excellence on Ice, "America's Most Spectacular Community Ice Show." is sponsored by The Post-Journal, the Warren Times Observer, Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Wegmans, and SE-93.
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