Skating this way means butterflies, not ulcers

Rock music, flashing lights and the ice bathed in color: Welcome to world-class figure skating, without a gold, silver or bronze medal in sight.

What this event lacks in tote boards, judges’ cards and competition it gains in fluid movement from one choreographed performance to another. A&E;’s presentation of “Stars on Ice 2003” (at 9 tonight) is an opportunity to be wowed by some of the world’s top figure skaters.

It’s especially fun to watch Scott Hamilton, who absolutely owns the ice, obviously having a good time. The former Olympic champion works a few handshakes with rink-side fans into the act --imagine that in competition -- then whips back into the spotlight to perform a gravity-defying back flip.

Between performances, pairs of skaters take turns, in sessions recorded before the program, confessing to having pre-performance jitters and remarking how much they enjoy performing in the absence of competition.

Skaters introduce skaters and the audience is treated to exceptionally well-choreographed, athletic performances by Kurt Browning, John Zimmerman with Kyoko Ina, Katarina Witt, Alexei Yagudin and others.

Skaters are allowed to perform unconventional numbers. For example, Anton Sikharulidze and partner Elena Berezhnaya, 2002 Olympic pair champions, skate-dance to “Jailhouse Rock” and a medley of other Elvis Presley tunes.

The show ends with a raunchy, rockin’ cowboy number and a group finale that will entertain figure skating devotees and those who normally watch only during the Olympics.