Rotary Program: 1-25-06

Program Chairperson: Donna Damron

Speaker(s): Amy Alter, Field Marketing and Sales Manager with Field Entertainment

Today is opening day for our “Disney on Ice” show at the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center, featuring Mickey & Minnie, Pinocchio, and Jiminy Cricket, as well as characters from Mulan, Toy Story, and The Lion King. Donna asked Amy Alter, Field Marketing and Sales Manager to introduce two special guests from the show to talk to us about their upcoming performance. She introduced skaters Natasha Kuchiki and Jamie Loper, who have been at home on the ice almost all their lives.

Natasha began skating before she could walk and toured with her parents on the Ice Capades circuit for four years before living in Los Angeles. She earned acclaim as one-half of an internationally recognized pair with her partner, Todd Sand, highlighted by three U.S. National Championships, a bronze medal in the 1991 World Championships, and a sixth-place finish in the 1992 Winter Olympics. She turned professional with the Ice Capades and then joined Field Entertainment in 1998. In 2000, she joined Disney On Ice, performing in The Jungle Book, Tarzan, and The Lion King. She says that she loves performing because she is “able to reach the crowd and pull them in, so that they understand the role I’m playing.”

Jamie Loper has been skating since he was eleven years old, after seeing his friends do it, and learned to love it. Soon he was skating in open sessions at the rink in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. Then he began to train seriously under Coach Rick Stengle and went on to compete successfully in the prestigious U.S. National Championships. Jamie was awarded second place in the Eastern Regional Competitions three years in a row and earned gold medals in freestyle and Moves in the Field from the U.S. Figure Skating Association. From these accomplishments, Jamie made the transition to a professional skating career in 1996 by becoming a member of the Disney On Ice cast. When he is not skating, Jamie enjoys weightlifting, basketball, and hockey. He also believes in the value of a good education as he was a Pre-Med major at the University of Delaware and plans to complete his degree when he retires form professional skating.

When Jamie and Natasha came to the podium, they just made themselves available for questions from the audience. After several interesting questions about their previous performances, competitions, and how well they have worked together, they thanked the Rotary Club for having them as guest speakers today. Amy reminded us of the times of the performances at the Exposition Center, on Wednesday night at 7:00 P.M., three shows on Saturday at 11:00 A.M., 3:00 and 7:00 P.M., and two shows on Sunday at 1:00 and 5:00 P.M. - JMC