US Olympians Denis Petukhov and Melissa Gregory Announce Las Vegas Ice Skating Extravaganza

As "Skating with the Stars" ends for Denis Petukhov, he sets sights on City of Lights for "LYUBOV"

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Nov 30, 2010, 01:57 ET

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- World-renowned husband and wife Olympic Skating team and celebrity choreographers Denis Petukhov and Melissa Gregory announce today their plans to launch the ice skating extravaganza: LYUBOV (the pronunciation of "Love" in Russian). The show will set up a permanent home in Las Vegas for a 2011 premiere.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101130/NE09285 )

Denis Petukhov is a professional skater on the current ABC hit series "Skating with the Stars" (SWTS), paired with actress Sean Young, who was eliminated from the show last night. His real life skating partner and wife Melissa Gregory, star of 'Champion on Ice,' media commentator and director of the couple's charity Fever on Ice, has spent the last year with Denis finalizing the details for this one-of-a-kind entertainment experience.

The seeds for LYUBOV were planted earlier this year when the pair produced and directed 'Proud Nation,' which sold out a 3,000-person stadium. The event included local children from myriad backgrounds, Olympic and world-class skaters, Cirque du Soleil performers and MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew" dancers.

"Everything we've done in our personal and professional lives has led to this project. LYUBOV is an epic love story for every audience but it's also a very personal story of our journey," says Gregory. "This is not a typical 'ice skating' show but an interactive, sensory experience that will explore the full spectrum of human emotion. In the end, it all leads to love," adds Petukhov.

Using stunning movement, original music, theatre, fashion, gymnastics, cinema, extreme sports and special effects, LYUBOV creates a story of emotional freedom and acceptance of global differences. It is a place where the drama of love and life plays itself out before our eyes.

Producer Diane McNamara leads the development team and is finalizing funding. "This is a family-friendly, entertainment mosaic in the genre of Cirque du Soleil. Considering the universal popularity of figure skating and the extraordinary talent of the international performers attached, this is an ideal opportunity to partner with a project of this scope and entertainment value," says McNamara.

For partnership & investment opportunities, please contact [email protected].

LYUBOV Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgC4OGANtpw

Website: gregoryandpetukhov.com

For interviews with Denis and Melissa, please contact Kathryn Shehade at [email protected]

SOURCE Denis Petukhov and Melissa Gregory