Danell Leyva, 2011 US National Gold Medalist, Gymnastics. Photo courtesy of USA Gymnastics.

FIREWORKS SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT is excited to announce representation of champion gymnast Danell Leyva!

Danell, age 20, is the current US All-Around Champion and the current World Champion in Parallell Bars. His parallel bars performance in October 2011 earned the American men their first World Championship gold medal in eight years. According to the NY Times, Leyva is not only “one of the world’s best gymnasts,” but also “one who could win multiple medals … at the London Olympics.”

As teenagers, Danell’s mother, Maria Gonzalez. and stepfather, Yin Alvarez —Danells’ lifetime coach — were both members of Cuba’s national gymnastics team. Born in Cuba himself, Danell suffered from severe asthma; in 1993, his mother fled the country with two-year-old Danell and his older sister in a desperate search for better medical care for her son. She reunited in Miami with Alvarez, who fulfilled  his longtime goal just two years later and opened his own gym. Young Danell was fascinated by the sport, and soon his career was under way.

In a recent Associated Press interview, Danell said, “I’ll always be proud to have been born in Cuba. I’ll forever be Cuban. But I’m also equally proud to be able to represent the US the way I do, because this is the best country in the world.”

Danell is especially looking forward to fulfilling his lifelong dream of representing the US at the 2012 Olympic Games. Read more about Danell here, and visit his profile on the USA Gymnastics site!

Young Philadelphia-area skaters shine in Fireworks' Holiday Dreams on Ice 2011. Photo courtesy of David Ingogly.

Headliners perform in the opening number of Fireworks' Holiday Dreams on Ice 2011 in Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of David Ingogly.

Cast of Holiday Dreams on Ice with the young skaters in the show. Photo courtesy of Michele Mansoor.

SkatingMagazineBlog.com: Old and new friends nearly 7,000 miles apart gathered in Philadelphia the night before Christmas Eve to watch Johnny Weir headline the second annual Holiday Dreams on Ice, held at University of Pennsylvania’s Class of 1923 Arena.

The three-time U.S. champion and his parents, Patti and John, welcomed more than 60 well wishers from his hometown of Lancaster, PA, who bused into town especially for the show. The Pennsylvanians met 20 of Weir’s Japanese fans visiting from Tokyo for a long holiday weekend in New York and Philadelphia, capped by front-row seats for the performances and a post-event party.

“I’m excited about this show; they literally ran out of printed tickets,” Weir said. “It’s my first time performing in Pennsylvania, my home state, in forever. I’m thrilled so many old friends are here.”

Weir gained standing ovations for an outrageous routine to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and his traditional holiday number “Ave Maria,” highlighted by special designs from Vincent DiGiorgio’s Digital Lighting, who created the Christmas lights for the White House this season.

The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus kicked off the evening with a singing of “Sleigh Ride.”  More than 100 young local skaters hit the ice to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Former Israeli champion Tamar Katz, a student at Penn, skated to Adele’s “Someone Like You,” while 2010 U.S. silver medalist Brandon Mroz offered up two numbers: “Mack the Knife” and “Greased Lightning.”

Read more from the article here, and see the photo gallery here.

Ksenia Makarova, 2010 Russian National Champion.

To purchase products from M∙A∙C’s Glitter and Ice Holiday Collection featuring Johnny Weir, please visit the M∙A∙C retailer near you, or order online from M∙A∙C.

Johnny Weir is the face of the new "Glitter and Ice" holiday collection from M∙A∙C Cosmetics. The collection will debut in 86 countries, with a special kickoff appearance by Johnny in Orlando, FL, on October 22. Photo courtesy M∙A∙C Cosmetics.

NewNowNext.com: Johnny Weir is the face of MAC’s 2011 holiday line, conveniently titled “Glitter and Ice,” and the skater’s ads have just been released. And Johnny, it must be noted, is looking pretty good.

The names of the collection’s colors also reflect Johnny’s skating, including: Going for Gold, Double Spin and Fresh Ice. Then there are some that just reflect the man himself, such as Unconditionally Fabulous.

Read more from the article here.

For more information about Johnny’s appearance on October 22 at Millenia Mall in Orlando, please visit Johnny’s website or click here.

Johnny Weir is the face of the new 2011 "Glitter and Ice" holiday collection from M∙A∙C Cosmetics. Photo courtesy M∙A∙C Cosmetics.

FIREWORKS SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

A limited number of VIP tickets also are available which offer front-row, on-ice seating and access to the post-show VIP Party. The VIP party includes one drink ticket (cash bar thereafter) and hors d’ oeuvres, plus a meet-n-greet with the show’s skaters where attendees will have the opportunity to take pictures and get autographs.

Be sure to “like” Holiday Dreams On Ice’s Facebook page for all the latest show news and upcoming special promotions!

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Holiday Dreams on Ice website.

FIREWORKS SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Johnny will be coming home to Philly on Friday, December 23, to perform for the first time since 2007. Scheduled to join Johnny on the ice are US bronze medalist Ashley Wagner, Skate America bronze medalist Armin Mahbanoozadeh, Junior Grand Prix bronze medalist Samantha Cesario, US silver medalist Brandon Mroz, and three-time Israeli national champion and 2010 Olympian Tamar Katz — plus 100 young “Future Stars”!

Don’t miss this unforgettable holiday experience at the University of Pennsylvania’s Class of 1923 Arena. For more info or to purchase tickets, please visit the Holiday Dreams on Ice website.

Young skaters: Would you like to skate in the show with Johnny and the other stars? Click here to find out how you can be part of the Holiday Dreams On Ice cast!