![\"Melissa](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/thumbnail_jjt-redcarpet-0562.jpg-Melissa-Laurie-Samantha-e1508262977683.jpg\")
<\/a>Melissa Ethridge and Laurie Hernandez.<\/p><\/div>\n
It was\u00a0taped at UCLA\u2019s historic Pauley Pavilion, which made it that much more special to me, since I was friends with many of the athletes who competed there in the late \u201990s.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think I had been back there in at least ten years, and the memories just came flooding back. The feeling of walking into that building is one I always cherish.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0funds raised by Jump, Jive, and Thrive<\/em> will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.\u00a0 To highlight that situation, several famous cancer survivors participated, including singer Melissa Etheridge<\/strong>\u00a0(whose singing and guitar playing I was really impressed with) and Olympic athletes Shannon Miller <\/strong>and Scott Hamilton<\/strong>, with the latter two hosting the festivities.<\/p>\n The very beginning of Le Petit Cirque’s performance, before it really got going. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n The show combined gymnastics, music, and dance, three of my favorite branches of the arts, so I was especially enthralled by it all.\u00a0 Thomas is a skateboarder, so he was impressed with all the athletic accomplishments on display that evening.<\/p>\n There were many<\/em> highlights in the two-hour presentation, but my favorite was a special showcase by Cirque du Soleil\u2019s youngster division, Le Petit Cirque<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0They really wowed me. As with all TV tapings, some portions had to be done over, and I was sooo hoping that their number would be one of those, because I wanted to watch them again and again, but, of course, being Cirque members, they nailed it in one take. Darn.<\/p>\n Karen Salkin and Mark Ballas, at a previous meeting. Photo by Jeanine Anderson.<\/p><\/div>\n And, since Mark Ballas<\/strong> became My New Best Friend a few months ago, (even though he may not even be aware of still holding that coveted title, since we were both too busy to even say hi at the pre-show festivities that night,) I really enjoyed his lovely singing<\/em> duet (as opposed to dancing<\/em>, which he is more known for,) with his beautiful bride, BC Jean.\u00a0 (Their duo moniker is Alexander Jean.)\u00a0 They treated us to two numbers, one upbeat and one ballad, each as appealing as the other.<\/p>\n Lindsey Stirling and Dave Koz.<\/p><\/div>\n And then he introduced his current\u00a0Dancing With The Stars<\/em> \u00a0partner, electronic violinist Lindsey Stirling<\/strong>, who played her stunning rhinestone-encrusted violin, which was actually just strings on an outline!\u00a0 She played with saxophonist Dave Koz<\/strong>, while my former New Best Friend, Olympic gold medalist Nastia Luikin<\/strong> did a gorgeous gymnastic routine.\u00a0 I really don\u2019t know how these ladies who have retired from the sport, (forty-year-old Shannon Miller did a routine, as well,) are able to still have such beautiful athletic skills!\u00a0 It\u2019s unbelievable.<\/p>\n As the evening went along, in-between the\u00a0entertainment, we heard uplifting personal stories of surviving cancer from several of the participants, including one tiny little gymnast, who could not have been more than seven years old. That one really got to me.<\/p>\n The fun closing number. Laurie Hernandez is on the front right, with the little girl on her back. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n And, because UCLA\u2019s Women\u2019s Gymnastics coach (and cancer survivor,) Valorie Kondos Field, was involved, we were treated to plenty of tumbling, which I love. To the delight of the crowd, many of the numbers featured Olympic gold medalist (and\u2014more importantly in this town!–Dancing With The Stars<\/em> champion) Laurie Hernandez<\/strong>, who is really beloved for her darling and ebullient personality. I especially enjoyed a piece all the gymnasts did while former The Voice<\/em> contestant Judith Hill<\/strong> sang, which I believe will be the closing number on the telecast.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>