March 14, 2001
Skaters showcase skills
Twin Bays Skating Club presents ice show
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
It is an evening of grace, beauty and skill all rolled into one entertaining package.
Every spring for the past 23 years, the Twin Bays Skating Club ice show highlights the achievements and athleticism of its members in a glittery showcase of acts. This year’s show, scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at Centre Ice, will be no different.
More than 100 skaters will perform 37 numbers, with dazzling costumes, elegant choreography and elaborate props centering around this year’s theme: Seasons.
“The rink is totally transformed for the show, it doesn’t even look like a rink,” said Wendy Gaines, a parent volunteer who is helping put on the show. “We gel the lights and put up black curtains and have professional lighting and sound.”
For the skaters, the show is an event they look forward to all year.
“To a lot of the kids, this is the highlight of their whole year of skating,” said Lisa Ulrich, a volunteer helping to coordinate the show.
As the solos, duos, teams and small group numbers practiced together last Saturday afternoon at a dress rehearsal, anticipation ran high for evening shows. As they worked out the kinks in the program and adjusted to skating in costume and in order, skaters eagerly awaited their moment in the spotlight.
“It is all so fun, being with your friends in the show and having fun,” said Brittany Noble, 12, after practicing her solo number. “It is an adrenaline rush, being able to show your friends and family what you can do and how you have improved over the year.”
Pine Kokpa, 14, of Suttons Bay has been skating just three years. Despite starting his skating career later than most, he will be performing in his third show, part of a quad number with three other female skaters.
“I like skating, it is both artistic and athletic,” he said.
Putting on the ice show is as highly choreographed a task as any of the numbers. Committees of parent volunteers begin meeting with Twin Bays Skating Club coaches in September. Led by choreographer Melody Champion and other coaches, they chose a theme and then look for music and acts to finalize the program. The coaches group the kids according to levels to make the show flow, mixing together acts featuring skaters as young as six along with the adult synchronized team.
The older skaters have a more active role in choosing what to perform.
“A senior class has done some choreography themselves for the past three years now,” Champion said.
The parent volunteers are the backbone of the program. They put together everything from music, costumes and programs to tickets and decorations. More than 80 volunteers will help out during the shows, taking tickets, helping with parking, ushering and helping out in the locker rooms.
All the hours and months of work, wonder and worry begin to fade when the lights dim and the music for the first number begins. Watching the skaters glide through their numbers is compensation enough for their enormous efforts.
“It is a lot of work for the parents but we know how much it means to the kids,” Gaines said. “The kids just loving doing the show; in the locker room, their faces are just glowing, beaming.”