Congratulations to our graduates of the Fall 2024 semester of Master Choreography Techniques (MCT)! They include:
Tuesday Class
Maxime Hanssens – Ghent, Belgium
Zoey Janusz – Wilmington, Delaware
Nora Klein – Chicago, Illinois
Kiera Yuill – Rockland, Ontario, Canada
Sunday Class
Sasha Bucci – Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Melissa Miller – Eastvale, California
Julia Nance – Asheville, NC
Kristen Perdue – Bellport, New York
Master Choreography Techniques (MCT) is an advanced online certification and training program for both seasoned skating coaches and those looking to specialize in a career as an ice choreographer. Created by AIT Founder Jodi Porter, the class is a mixture of choreographic creation, video lecture, reading and monthly discussion meetings. AIT Co-Executive Directors Garrett Kling & Kate McSwain lead the semester class.
At the end of the semester, each student creates a final capstone project incorporating the choreographic elements of time, space, energy and form.
View the graduates final video projects, get to know their background and hear their thoughts about the course:
Sasha (she/her) is a Sycnhronized Skating coach for Carolina Ice Synchro and Eastern Elite. She is also a doctor of physical therapy.
“This course was everything I wanted and more! The MCT course gave me new tools and vocabulary to take my choreography as a coach and skater to the next level. I feel much more confident in my abilities after taking this course. The MCT course pushed me to explore choreography as part of a broader artistic journey, encouraging me to think in new ways and sparking a deeper sense of creativity within me.”
Maxime is the Founder of Max Impact and is a coach and choreographer based in Ghent, Belgium. She is now a Level II certified AIT Choreographer, completing 6 Ways of the Spine last fall.
“My biggest takeaway from MCT is that everything is a choice – and that there is no wrong or right choice, but rather an effective or ineffective use of choreographic elements.”
Zoey is an American Ice Theatre New Hampshire Professional Company Member, a Team USA synchronized competitor from 2021-2022, and a USFS Double gold medalist. Zoey has performed with American Ice Theatre’s production “re:member” in Minneapolis, Providence, Cleveland and Chicago.
“Through MCT I learned how to create effective and logical creative pieces through refining and building upon my existing choreographic process.”
Nora is a movement artist, choreographer, and full-time skating coach based in Chicago, IL.
She has a B.A. in Peace, Justice, & Conflict Studies from DePaul University.
“MCT gave me a framework from which to focus not on the perceived deficits of my choreographic work, but on the endless possibilities for innovation and intentionality.”
Melissa is a passionate figure skating coach with a strong academic background, holding a Ph.D. in Health Psychology, an M.S. in Sport Psychology, and a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. She is also certified in numerous personal training and group exercise programs, including NASM and ACSM. She is a double gold medalist with US Figure Skating.
“Skating should emphasize the connection between body awareness and emotional expression, allowing skaters to fully embody the music and tell a story or paint a picture, through their movements.”
Julia toured with Disney on Ice for 7 years and is now a coach and choreographer in Greenville, South Carolina. “My philosophy in life can apply to skating as well: “The little things aren’t so little.” Sometimes the little efforts we make can make the biggest difference, and if we are able to touch someone else’s life, even just a little, then that’s no small thing at all.”
“I found where my comfort zone is, and this course helped me to push outside of it! I learned many new techniques and concepts that have helped me to grow my choreography skills and expand on new ideas.”
Originally from New York, Kristen has 25 years of skating experience and is now a choreographer, instructor and skating director based in San Diego, CA. She is classically and commercially trained as a violinist, guitarist and singer. She has a BA in Music Therapy, a MS in Family and Human Development, and a PSA Master Rating in Group.
“Through the Master Choreographic Techiniques course, I have been able to put vocabulary and terminology to the way I skate and teach choreography, expand my boundaries of physical and emotional expression, and have come to acknowledge that I have known what to do all along, I just needed to acknowledge my point of view.”
Kiera is a Provincial Champion of Canada and is a Coach, Adult Skater, and Choreographer based in Rockland, Ontario.
“My experience has taught me not only the technical aspects of choreography but also how to use them creatively to transform movement into art. Having a space to play, create, and be inspired is incredibly freeing as a coach.”
