black ice synchronized skating team

For the 06 / 07 season, black ice evokes the carefree spirit of Ginger Rogers as they skate a light and lively short program set to It Had to Be You , as sung by the golden voice of Harry Connick Jr.

The program opens with moves-in-the field performed with black ice’s signature speed and ease. The skaters effortlessly transition from amazing backward spiral 135 degrees into the team’s trademark whip outside spread eagles. The third move of forward outside 135 degree spirals exemplifies their incredible flexibility and graceful strength. The animated diagonal block step sequence, which includes brackets, twizzles, counters, and a spectacular opening choctaw, is punctuated by hops and skips reminiscent of the many sparkling dance routines that Ginger Rogers performed with her renowned partner, Fred Astaire.

The no hold step sequence begins with a long forgotten sound of a record skipping that confuses the skaters. The record finally catches and the program continues to a cheerful close.

The last element is executed with a nimble circle step sequence and a traveling circle within-a-circle made even more difficult by being executed in a no-hold. black ice's love for skating and for performing is brought to life in this refreshingly buoyant short program.

For the 06 / 07 season, black ice injects their latin dance inspired long program with a refreshing sense of flirty fun.

The night begins as the team struts into the smoky party, each stroke of their blade confident and unmistakably black ice. The hair, the dress and the look is hot, but all they want to do is dance to the latino mix. The crowd parts as the skaters search for the perfect dance partner. They sweep into the opening element, moves-in-the-field, with electrifying speed. Flitting from formation to formation, the team flies into imaginative group lifts. A sizzling diagonal block step sequence filled with brackets, twizzles, rockers, counters, and choctaws showcases black ice’s distinctive depth of edge and sureness of step.

The latin music slows to an alluring rhumba and the skaters slide into a captivating traveling circle followed by an intricate circle step sequence that pulses to the music. The tempo picks up with the latin beat in an impossibly tight block of deep outside crossrolls.

As the program concludes with dazzling movements-in-isolation including impressive group lifts and sparkling Charlotte spirals, it is clear that a party is twice as intoxicating when black ice is invited.

For the 05 / 06 season, black ice senior skates to the timeless ballad ‘My Way’ as performed by Il Divo, showcasing them as a team that has grown immensely in both elegance and power.

Opening with moves-in-the-field, the skaters move seamlessly from fast spread eagles to flowing inside-to-outside spirals and ending with impressive Bielman spirals. The difficulty of the stirring no-hold step sequence, which includes rockers, counters, and double twizzles, is masked by the poise with which it is performed. The speed and finesse with which the skaters execute the angled spread eagle intersection highlights the team's skill and precision. The impassioned music and well choreographed program together provide the perfect accompaniment for the team's deeper and more refined level of skating.

photos 1, 2 & 5 by Mark Jackson www.markjackson.ca

For the 05 / 06 season, black ice senior skates to music from the movie ‘Batman’, wavering between villainy and virtue to deliver a free program that is as thrilling as it is complex.

With a foreboding calm, Batman’s cape unfurls in preparation for a long, dark, and difficult night. The dramatic group lifts drop into a fierce block made even more difficult by a step sequence comprised of rockers, counters, and double twizzles. The original circle is notable for its intriguing choreography. Skating with power and grace, the team slinks through their moves-in-the-field,culminating in a commanding pair lifts. The nohold block highlights the team's excellent skating skill with difficult and inventive footwork and choreography. Ending with stunning moves-in-isolation, the program comes to a close with as much intrigue and intensity as it began.

photos by Mark Jackson www.markjackson.ca

For the 04 / 05 season, the black ice senior team has unleashed a short program that will make the audience think twice about getting on the ice.

The hunt begins as the team executes a commanding outside spread eagle intersection. The skaters' speed and precision cause this extremely difficult element to appear effortless. But before the audience has a chance to recover from this initial attack, the waters once again begin to swirl...

Suddenly, the skaters are slicing through the ice, showcasing outside spread eagles and inside spirals in a powerful series of field moves. The team then moves from a lively three-spoke to a travelling single wheel, prompting the audience to think that maybe the skaters have forgotten the hunt. Indeed, the playful and fluid one-foot rockers in the block reveal a team that is delighting in its sleek power rather than terrorizing the sea. But just when it seems that the danger may have passed, the team strikes once more.

The no-hold block is filled with double twizzles, brackets, and hip twists, all performed with astounding precision. As the block surges to its finish, the skaters whirl to a stop and look back at the audience. Though the program is over, it is clear that the team has only just begun as they sink back below the surface.

In their 04 / 05 long program, the black ice senior team makes it clear that even though Dracula may get all the attention, his brides must be equally feared.

The program begins as the fiercely alluring vampires awaken. Unfurling their wings, the women travel the entire length of the ice with two fast and flowing choctaws. It does not take long for the brides to sight a potential prey and they pursue their victim in a series of intersecting lines. This prey soon proves to be no match for the savage women as they each brandish their catch in striking pair lifts. Intoxicated by their conquest, the fierce hunters dance and spin with surprising grace. But just as the revelry culminates in soaring group lifts and weaving outside spread eagles, the celebration is abruptly interrupted. For while the brides delighted in their success, their beloved daughters were snatched away.

Overwhelmed with yearning, the vampires search for their young through a series of moves including outside spread eagles and outside spirals. It seems as if the women's search is in vain as they complete an outside rocker whip intersection without any sign of their children. Lamenting their terrible loss, the women effortlessly move into a circle-within-a-circle to face the boundless sorrow that awaits them.

Banding together in a no hold block, the women attempt to thwart their unseen pursuers. The step sequence includes double twizzles, choctaws, small hops, brackets, and rockers. Though they suspect that their final hour is drawing near, the women fight until the very end and it is with one last gasp that they surge towards the end of the program.

It is as the music quiets that Dracula's ravishing women, who kill and love with equal passion, soar upon their dying breath.

This fun and lively program will have the audience singing and tapping in the stands. The program’s technical content possesses a high degree of difficulty and allows the skaters to demonstrate their excellent skating skills. The highlight of the circle is a no-hold step sequence featuring rockers, brackets and double twizzles. Superb flexibility is showcased in the moves-in-the-field. With five formations and four field movements, this element is one of the most technically difficult of the program. The intricate steps in the nohold section of the block pose a challenge for each skater as she must perform them while maintaining line-up, timing and unison.

In Greek mythology the Sirens were dangerous and beautiful creatures. With the head of a woman and the body of a bird, the Sirens were sweet-singing enchantresses. Living on a rocky island in the Mediterranean sea, they used their seductive song to lure sailors into the treacherous rocks that surrounded their island, leading them to inevitable disaster.

The free program weaves the story of the Sirens into an alluring tale. Opening Piece: The Sirens bask on their beautiful Greek island. Life seems peaceful and calm, but their hearts ache with loneliness. Second Piece: The Sirens become increasingly restless and start to “hunt” for unsuspecting sailors. Third Piece: The Sirens spot a ship and begin their exquisitely beautiful song in an attempt to entice the sailors to shore. Fourth Piece: The Sirens’ true nature and evil intension is revealed as the sailors unwittingly crash their ship on the rocks and parish. Final Piece: The Sirens are triumphant. Satiated, they rest for the next onslaught.