Theatre On Ice How to Form a Team 1
HOW TO START A THEATRE ON ICE TEAM Overview Theatre On Ice competitions are an exciting new aspect of the sport. Theatre On Ice skaters don t lose their identity as a skater, but are able to enhance their identity as a team member. Clubs will benefit from an increase in membership by attracting new members and retaining current members. Many skaters who would historically leave the sport when they no longer have the time to devote to traditional competitions may find Theatre On Ice fits their needs well. The added publicity a Theatre On Ice team generates for the club is also beneficial. Skaters, both competitive and noncompetitive, will learn and grow on a theatre team. Best of all, a team is a great way to draw club skaters together and increase club spirit. What is Theatre On Ice? Theatre On Ice is a form of competitive figure skating which combines the grace of figure skating with the excitement of theater and dance. Teams consist of between eight and 24 skaters. (Basic Skills levels have a maximum of 20 skaters.) Solo skating is discouraged, but is permitted in limited amounts if it enhances the overall performance. The free skate programs are judged on the basis of technique of performance and artistic mark. The CE is judged on the choreographic and technical marks. There are several Theatre On Ice teams and Theatre On Ice competitions around the country. For a list of Theatre On Ice competitions, check the U.S. Figure Skating website, www.usfigureskating.org, and go to programs, then to Theatre On Ice. Theatre On Ice must be meaningful and use symbolism: one must bring the audience to feel emotions through simple suggestive elements. Theatre On Ice must also express imagination and give shape to abstract images and to body gesture. THEATER ON ICE BENEFITS TO THE CLUB: Increases membership and retention Generates interest for beginning skaters Keeps those who choose to not individually compete involved with your club Involves more parents Provides the club more publicity and community presence Raises money for the club Provides club unity Teams consists of various ages and abilities Older skaters inspire younger skaters THEATER ON ICE BENEFITS TO THE SKATER: Gives the skater more confidence when performing at both competitions and shows Gives the skater a chance to develop the dramatic side of their skating Gives the skater a chance to be part of a team while continuing to use their technical skills Gives the skater a chance to travel both locally and internationally Gives the skater a chance to make new friends both in and out of the club Gives the competitive skater a chance to relax while performing and competing Brings an emotional spirit into the skaters competition and show skating 2
HOW DO YOU START? Your coaches, team manager or Theatre On Ice committee should organize an informational meeting for any interested skaters and their parents. The coaching staff should explain the concept of Theatre On Ice and the plans for your team. Expectations and responsibilities of the team members and their parents should also be covered. Simple Steps 1. The first step is for a club s Board of Directors to organize an enthusiastic committee to oversee the team, and determine a team manager. It is recommended that the club Board of Directors, with the committee and the team manager be responsible for selecting a coaching staff, fundraising, arranging ice time, making or obtaining costumes and sets, setting and enforcing team policies and rules, setting and collecting fees, making arrangements for team travel, exhibitions and competitions, and acting as a liaison between the parents, club, and the coaches. 2. The coaching staff will be the single most important aspect of starting a new team. The coaches must be creative, enthusiastic, dedicated and experienced in choreography, the technical aspect of skating, and be willing to build a team. Due to the involved choreography more than one coach is suggested. Coaches with experience in Theatre On Ice competitions will be difficult to find, but most coaches have experience doing shows. The coaches must be willing to learn and attend Theatre On Ice seminars, either domestically, or internationally. The most important qualities to look for are the ability to select a theme and music, choreograph a theatrical performance on ice, communicate with skaters, and have the enthusiasm to promote the Theatre On Ice concept. 3. Teams must be registered as a Theatre On Ice Team with U.S. Figure Skating. All members of a team must be U.S. Figure Skating members in their own right. Therefore this is an opportunity to grow and retain club members. Your club may want to implement a special membership for Theatre On Ice team skaters. All levels and ages of skaters may be incorporated together into one team. Levels include preliminary, open, novice, junior, senior, adult and special olympics/therapeutic skating in addition to the Basic Skills Theatre On Ice 1-4 program. 4. The team manager, or coaching staff, with the approval of the Board of Directors and Theatre On Ice committee should draw up a contract of rules for attendance, conduct, dress, fundraising responsibilities, etc., which carefully outlines the expectations and responsibilities of each team member. Consequences for violating these rules should be spelled out. Both the skater and their parent should sign this contract. It is up to the coaching staff, team management and the committee to enforce these rules. Be firm, the team will be much happier and more successful if rules are followed. HAVING A TEAM UP AND RUNNING! Once a team has been formed, it is a good idea to have a meeting of all parents. Everyone needs to volunteer time to help out on some aspect of the team. Subcommittees should be 3
formed to work on costuming, fundraising, travel arrangements, sets, etc. Teams should strive to be self-supporting even if they exist within an existing U.S. Figure Skating member club. Coaching staff should make decisions about costuming and scenery. Costuming and scenery is an enormous task. One or two costuming chairpersons should work with the coaching staff. The chairpersons take the ideas from the coaches and spread the work out among their committee. The scenery committee functions in much the same way. The member club also needs to decide who owns and maintains the costumes and sets. Fundraising is another enormous job. The team manager needs to make sure there are a sufficient number of fundraisers planned, make sure they have a lead person for each event and make certain all team members are fulfilling their fundraising obligations. Team policies need to be developed regarding travel. When traveling by car the team should decide if drivers will be reimbursed, or travel at their own expense, and whether the team will be making all the arrangements or just assisting in arranging rides. When traveling to a destination needing an overnight stay; decide whether the chaperones expenses will be covered. Make sure whatever arrangements are made, the skaters and their parents have them in writing. The team should obtain a parent authorization for each skater for medical or other emergencies and medical information of each skater, including known problems and insurance information should be kept on hand. Make sure, if you are traveling out of the country, you have the appropriate documents (including parental permission to leave the country). Practices: Regularly scheduled practice ice is important to maintain team cohesion and unity. Off ice practice can be very effective when working on certain sections of the number, as well as presentation. Attendance, punctuality and attentiveness are essential elements of a team. Many teams require a contract with the skater specifying a commitment to practices and the team. The team should have long and short-term goal for the season. Hopefully in the long term the team will aim to enter the national Theatre On Ice competition. However, short term goals such as smaller competitions, shows and exhibitions are suggested. Write to the clubs in your area and ask to be a guest skater at their club show or to exhibit at their competition. The experience is great for your team and it gives Theatre On Ice more exposure. Inquire if your community has any festivals in which you could participate. Keeping the skaters motivated throughout the year is best accomplished by giving them goals to work towards. Try to get input from the skaters for the theme each year. If you can keep an ongoing discussion about new themes, it really gives the skaters a sense of ownership in the number. It is good idea to have a team leader or captain, whether appointed by the coaching staff or selected by the skaters. This skater (or skaters) should have the respect of the other skaters and be their spokesperson. They should also be able to run the opening drills in the absence of the coaches, and help keep the practices running smoothly. It also helps team unity to schedule several team meetings/parties throughout the season. It gives the skaters a chance to get to know each other, and helps build team spirit. CREATING THE NUMBER Creating the number is quite a challenge. First, the number must have an original story line or theme. Then you need to find appropriate music to express the theme. Take the time and money to have the 4
music done well. The choreography can be quite involved since there frequently is more than one group doing different steps on the ice at the same time. Occasionally there is a need for a single skater to perform a specific role, but their skating should also be incorporated with the rest of the team. Usually the most effective parts of the number are when the largest number skate together. Remember the whole concept is ensemble skating. Moves in the Field are easily adapted. Jumps done in unison or sequence can be very effective, but since each skater must adapt their jump to other skaters, be careful about difficulty. Spins can easily be incorporated into the number. Creativity should be used to incorporate right and left handed skaters. Numbers from clubs shows are easily adapted to this form of competition. Remember you are creating an entire picture. The music, costumes and choreography must all be used to create a picture which expresses the theme. CONTACT INFORMATION For additional information, please contact the following: National Vice Chair for Theater on Ice Lauren Whittaker skatejudge@gmail.com Theatrical Skating Committee Chair Roland Bessette rolandb7@gmail.com U.S Figure Skating, Figure Skating Programs Manager Gia Witmer Gwitmer@usfigureskating.org 5