World renowned figure skater Sasha Cohen, winner of the silver medal at the 2006 Torino Olympics, graced “Ice at Santa Monica” last week in celebration of the city’s holiday ice skating rink.
In addition to local folks who encircled the rink to watch Cohen’s elegant performance, almost 100 children from one of Starbucks local community partners, P.S. ARTS, were hosted by the national coffee chain.
Cohen donated her time and performance fee for the event in support of P.S. ARTS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring arts and music education to schools. “I love P.S. ARTS,” the young skater said as she removed her skates. “When I went to school I took music, art, and theater, and it helped me to develop self confidence and to expand my world. I think it’s essential to make people aware of how important the arts are to a child’s development.”
Rushing off to LAX to catch a plane to San Francisco, Cohen will be on a world tour until the middle of May.
The ice rink, made possible through a partnership between the Bayside District Corporation and Starbucks, is open to guests until January 6, and the $10 admission fee includes skate rental.