1984 world champions Underhill and Martini were exciting; their routines were brilliantly choreographed, each beat of music had a move attached. They performed their sultry and steamy routine to When A Man Loves A Woman, and they swept the audience up and into their sexy courtship on blades. While Underhill and Martini were the more passionate side of romance, the newly engaged 1995 world champions Kovarikova and Novotny were sweetness and innocence. Their routine to All I ask of You was filled with many exciting lifts and jumps and a throw triple salchow that was simply breathtaking. Together these two pairs were the perfect synthesis of skating and romance.
The headliners of the evening, Boitano and Baiul performed an interpretation of the George Ballanchine ballet Le Somnabula. Perhaps upset with how much Oksana outshone him in their Nutcracker Pas De Duex, Boitano had Baiul play the part of a sleepwalker, but even asleep Baiul was more animated and emotional then Boitano. This routine showed off Bauil's ethereal gracefullness better then either of her solo numbers and her footwork was incredible.
Heat was provided by World Professional Champion Scott Williams. He was sexy, so steamy that the ice seemed to melt under his feet He has a very dynamic presence and pulled the audience right down onto the ice with him. His skating was loaded with fabulous jumps and sensational, fast footwork National bronze medalist Aren Nielsen was personable and charming. Skating to Recipe For Making Love, he thrilled the crowd with his back flips and triple jumps.
With the men and pairs providing so much sultriness it was up to the ladies to show the elegant side of skating. Elegance in fact is the trademark of Pro-Am Champion Caryn Kadavy who was graceful and lovely slating to Samson and Delilah. 1993 World Champion Rosalynn Sumners skating to All of Me was positively glowing, perhaps thinking of her recent engagement. Sumners was sassy, charming and playful in a number in which she frolicked from man to man. She is the best actress and dancer on ice and she can still do a double axel with great speed and height.
Husband and wife team and 1992 Olympic Gold Medalists Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomorenko seem incapable of performing without props. In their first routine they skated with their hands bound by ropes. In the second act, holding candles, they performed their crowd pleasing rendition of Romeo and Juliet. With the Olympic Champions in the same show it was painfully obvious why the U. S. Champions Renee Roca and Gorsha Sur are only ranked eleventh in the world. Lacking the exquisite speed, stroking and edges of the Russians Roca and Sur could only perform a series of acrobatic lifts and poses in completely vacuous routines.
A Skating Romance was filmed by the USA Cable Network for broadcast later this year.