Parker Pennington Presents 'The Dream Show'

by Joanne Vassallo Jamrosz, special to U.S. Figure Skating Online

Parker Pennington poses with skaters at auditions for "The Dream Show." (Photo courtesy of Parker Pennington)

As a young skater, Parker Pennington was featured in the cast of "Scott Hamilton and Friends." Pennington remembers what it was like sharing the ice with his idol, and he wants other young skaters to experience the same thing he did.

To that end, Pennington, a U.S. champion at four different levels, will bring "The Dream Show" to the Alice Noble Ice Arena in Wooster, Ohio, on Saturday, Aug. 6. "The idea of performing on the ice or stage with your idol is something we feel is necessary for kids, as we believe they need role models not only to look up to but to be close to and learn from," Pennington said.

The show is part of a series called Skate Dance Dream, which, according to the website parkerpenningtonproductions.com, is "dedicated to giving kids the chance to chase their dreams by performing and learning from the stars."

Skaters joining Pennington include U.S. men's silver medalist Richard Dornbush, international ice dancers Lynn Kriengkrairut & Logan Giulietti-Schmitt, and Gev Manoukian and Jessica King from FOX's hit show "So You Think You Can Dance."

"We plan to showcase a variety of different skating and dancing styles and performers, and everything from classics to new pop music," Pennington said.

Also part of the festivities is a free open skate at the show's completion. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own skates, and rentals will also be available.

The best part of the show, according to Pennington, is that no skater will be left behind.

"This is a great thing for skating because it offers the kids a chance to have fun while learning and performing with some of the best skaters in the nation," he said. "We feel that improvement and growth in skating will take place when people can see that a show experience with the stars can yield a lot of reward."

Pennington performs at "Skaters Care" in April. (Photo courtesy of Parker Pennington)

Pennington held auditions for the show in late June, and strongly encouraged skaters to come up with a program of their own.

Chloey Gentry, 11, will perform a solo. A pre-juvenile skater and a member of the Wooster Figure Skating Club, Gentry is looking forward to displaying her skating talents.

"I was really excited to hear I was selected for a solo in 'The Dream Show'," Gentry said. "I cannot wait. It should be very exciting, and I'm sure I will have a lot of fun."

Cami Burkhardt, an intermediate skater from the Mentor Figure Skating Club, also will be on the ice with Pennington and his guests.

"I'm looking forward to being a part of the show, skating with the guest skaters and dancers, and meeting a lot of new people," Burkhardt said.

The show offers the skating and dance community the chance to come together for the love of skating and dance.

"I am looking forward to seeing the kids," Pennington said. "I want to see that they are having a great time and, in turn, I and my Skate Dance Dream team will then feel truly accomplished. We need to do our part to help keep skating moving forward."

For information about "The Dream Show," visit www.skatedancedream.com.