Ice Skating

"Phantom of the Opera" star Davis Gaines and 1976 Olympic champ Dorothy Hamill are pairing off. On the ice, that is. But not in any arena-seating, popcorn-eating, ear-blasting, cartoon-promoting spectacular for kids. No, Gaines won't be wearing skates. Instead, "Broadway on Ice," an ambitious new production that will begin its first 14-city national tour Nov.

This year, a number of skating shows are coming to the Southland, including: * Fifth annual "Star Spangled Ice" show, July 6 at 8 p.m. Starring and choreographed by 1980 Olympic champ Robin Cousins, with national amateur competitors and guest stars. At the Blue Jay Ice Castle rink near Lake Arrowhead. Benefits the Foundation for International Ice Skating Advancement. Tickets: $175 for rink-side seating, cocktail reception and gala dinner; $30 for reserved seating; $25 general admission.

8 pm: Swing Dance those holiday calories away to the swingin' sound of the Dino Martinis, the Calgary-based, seven-piece jump ensemble that makes its first L.A. appearance tonight. Need to brush up on your steps? Free dance lessons will be offered during the first hour. * The Dino Martinis, The Derby, 4500 Los Feliz Blvd., 8 p.m. $7. (323) 663-8979. All day: Movies If you're lucky enough not to be cooking today and you're neither a parade nor football fan, there's a slew of new movies to see.

Valley skaters take note: The ice machine has cometh. Constructions crews used cranes to lower into place an enormous "ice plant" that will keep the surface of the Valley's newest rink cool and smooth even as temperatures outside reach into triple digits. The rink is part of a $2.5-million, 50,000 square-foot roller- and ice-skating center under construction on the Van Nuys Boulevard site of the former Panorama Bowl.

In a region where the word "development" is usually uttered with contempt, builder Stephen Fish has found an unlikely ally in Olympic skating superstar Oksana Baiul. With the help of the Ukranian-born Baiul and her reputation, Fish has persuaded this town's approximately 25,000 citizens to allow him to do what under ordinary circumstances would be unthinkable--build a giant ice-skating complex.

Santa Clarita Valley's first ice skating facility will open today for public sessions and lessons. Ice Station Valencia has an Olympic-size figure skating rink, a regulation National Hockey League-size rink and a 600-square-foot studio rink for private lessons. The two-story, $12-million facility includes a restaurant and a banquet room. The facility offers skating lessons for children as young as 2, as well as hockey leagues.

As Olympians gather for Friday night's opening ceremonies in Nagano, Japan, the stars are aligned for the ice-skating industry to score a perfect 10 in the sports marketing game. Figure skaters Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski hope to skate rings around the gold and silver medals, while five-time U.S. men's champion Todd Eldredge is expected to challenge Canadian Elvis Stojko for the gold.