It's Showtime!   by PJ Kwong

Sometime in late fall or early in the new year, you may have been handed a participation form from your club, indicating that there would be an ice show produced by the club as a way of showcasing club talent.  Lots of clubs have an annual show, while others opt for a 2-year rotation.  Either way, one thing that is a for sure is the fact that even with the ton of work for parents, Ice Shows or Carnivals as they are sometimes called, create lifetime memories of fun times for the skaters who participate.

Here are some things to be considered when deciding whether or not to have your skater participate.  There is a cost associated with participating, which goes to offset the “hard” or “fixed” costs associated with mounting any production.  Things like, coaching (choreography) costs, rental/purchase or creation of costumes, any special lighting, the booking of any guest skaters, printing of programs, etc… a HUGE undertaking to be sure.  The good news in the case of your Club’s show is that everyone is on the same page in wanting your child to have the best experience possible!

Once your skater has decided to join in, he or she will be assigned to a group or groups, usually put together by age and ability.  There will be rehearsals scheduled which may or may not coincide with your regular skating times, and there will usually be a dress and/or production rehearsal in the week before the actual performance(s).

What can you do to help?  All kinds of thing…keep in mind that in making this event happen, volunteers are required in all areas from helping with props and costumes, to getting advertising for your programs, helping with catering, stage managing, and the list goes on.  I know from experience that the best way to have the most fun with your child is to get involved with enthusiasm!  You have some great ideas that you would like to share them…as coaches, we are always looking for new ways to re-invent the wheel…. keep in mind though, that although some of your ideas may work well in some areas this is an area in which your coaches have some expertise, so don’t be worried if they don’t take your advice…believe me when I say they appreciate the input and the feedback!

Once your show has taken place, it might be fun considering taking your show skater to see a how like Stars on Ice or The Champions on Ice.  Although it will feel much grander, your skater will have the satisfaction of knowing that everything the “big guns” are doing in their show, he or she has just experienced for himself or herself at the club level.

PJ Kwong, creator and author of “Edgework”, International skating announcer, skating coach and Mom, is writing a series of articles for our newsletter and website.  Be sure to check our last month’s issue from our Archives and watch for next month’s article.

If you have a question or topic that you would like more information about, or would like to see us talk about in our newsletter, please don’t hesitate to email us at info@dresswright.com.

Time to pack your skate bag ready for the big Ice Show Weekend!  Here are some essentials to plan for:                                                                     Tights – most clubs do not provide skating tights for their skaters, or if they do, you might want a back up pair (just incase there is last minute “surprise”).  And some young skaters have never had tights!  Plan ahead to get a pair of footed, suntan colour skating tights in the right size for you skater.                                                               We recommend one of three styles:  Style 3345 is a good medium weight tight, (best price)  Style 3395 is a heavier/warmer tight, and style 3310 is nice microfiber tight.

Clean skates – means freshly polished with new laces.

Skate guards – a MUST.  It’s really important to have “hard” skate guards for walking in the dressing rooms and around the outskirts of the arena (behind stage).  It’s I important for safety and it also protects the blade.

Lingerie – we talked about it in last month’s newsletter, but it’s worth repeating this month.  Mondor have 2 great one-piece teddies, soft silky feel, with adjustable straps.  Great and easy all-in-one lingerie to wear under all your ice show costumes.                         

And don’t forget, we have clear straps to add to your current lingerie.             

Getting the Boot!

Many of you will be starting to think about new boots for spring training.  I’m always impressed with the dedication and commitment of companies to continued product improvement, so am pleased to link to a letter that we received recently from Jackson Ultima Skates, detailing their new partnership with the University of Delaware.  A great deal of the project focuses on the “ability to analyze new concepts and designs and gather real data that will help to improve performance and reduce the injuries associated with traditionally manufactured equipment.”

Good Luck, Skate Hard – ‘tll next time!

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