Adult Weekend Skateaway
Rockville, MD | September 19-21, 2025
Registration closes September 1
A retreat-style weekend skating getaway for adult skaters to connect, create, and collaborate. This fall skating weekend retreat with American Ice Theatre will give adult skaters the space away to take ownership of their innate creativity by being open to, and accepting of, their whole selves. In line with AIT’s Core Values, the Skateaway offers a getaway for skaters to view themselves as authentic and integral contributors of the artistic skating community.
Upcoming AIT Seminars
AIT Boston
AIT Boston will hold their Summer Seminar on Saturday, August 23 from 2:00-4:30pm at Somerville Ice Arena. This seminar is for skaters ages 8+ and levels Freeskate 1+. This seminar will be led by AIT Boston Director Kate McSwain and Assistant Director Gillian Robidas.
AIT Cleveland
AIT Cleveland will host an energizing and inspiring summer seminar on Sunday, August 24 with special guest Amber Kruse, a certified Pilates instructor and figure skating coach. Skaters will explore strength, flexibility, and body awareness exercises designed to enhance their performance and prevent injury. The seminar will be structured to combine off-ice training with on-ice practice, giving participants a comprehensive approach to movement, alignment, and skating technique. Skaters will explore strength, flexibility, and body awareness exercises designed to enhance their performance and prevent injury.
AIT Cleveland Director Elizabeth Misson will lead the on-ice instruction which will build directly on the off-ice work, allowing skaters to translate their newly discovered movement principles into edge quality, flow, and expressive skating.
Held at the Cleveland Skating Club, this seminar will provide a wonderful opportunity for skaters to connect with AIT Cleveland, expand their skills, and experience the unique blend of contemporary movement and figure skating artistry that AIT is known for.
Columbia, MD
This seminar offers an immersive day of training, featuring 6 Ways of the Spine™ body awareness, skating skills (edges, power), performance and expression techniques, storytelling, tools for improvisation, and choreography skills. Skaters will be grouped into an Adult Track (ages 18+) and a Youth Track (ages 8+), with six total hours of on- and off-ice instruction. This seminar is recommended for skaters at Freeskate 1+ level, participants should be comfortable with forward and backward crossovers, 3-turns, c-steps, and 1-foot spins.
Built on trust and creative exploration, the seminar takes place without an audience until the final on-ice “grand finale” session. All instruction will be led by AIT Faculty Members: Kate McSwain (Co-Executive Director), Jacqueline Benson (Co-Vice President), and Cameron Claire (AIT Minneapolis Assistant Director). Private lessons with Kate McSwain and Cameron Claire will also be available on Monday morning, September 1, with sign-up following seminar registration.
AIT Boston: 6 Ways of the Spine Celebration
The 6 Ways of the Spine Celebration will take place on Saturday, September 6 from 6:00 pm to 7:50 pm at the McVann O’Keefe Skating Rink (511 Lowell St, Peabody, MA 01960). This special two-hour seminar, open to skaters ages 16+ and levels FS 1+, focuses exclusively on exploring full-body movement through AIT’s 6 Ways of the Spine™ movement philosophy. Led by AIT Boston Director Kate McSwain, AIT Boston Assistant Director Gillian Robidas, and special guest artist and AIT Co-VP Jacqueline Benson, participants will engage in a variety of edge exercises and movement explorations designed to deepen their understanding of how the body moves.
St. Louis, MO
Join us to learn 6 Ways of the Spine ™ core body movement, tools of expression, artistic performance exercises, and choreography skills along with a fun contemporary skating combo! All skaters ages 8+ and levels Freeskate 1+ are welcome to join. Faculty includes AIT Co-Executive Director, Kate McSwain.
Coaches & Adults Summer Series
Final Zoom on Tuesday, August 26
Thanks to everyone who has joined us for the free summer Coaches & Adults Summer Series! Our final installment “Choreo Tools for Solo Dance” will be on Tuesday, August 26 from 8:30-10:00pm featuring Olympian, Technical Specialist and Coach, Brooklee Han, alongside Garrett Kling and Kate McSwain.
If you missed our other summer series classes, you can check them out on our YouTube channel! We had Angela Como teaching “Ballet for Figure Skaters” in June and Elin Schran leading “Sock Flow” in July.
Events in Review
re:member – March 7-9 | Cleveland & Chicago
Photo credits: Victoria Stanbridge
From the quiet flicker of a half-forgotten moment to the vivid rush of an unforgettable experience, re:member explored how memory shapes the human story. Through stops in cities Cleveland and Chicago, AIT brought audiences on a journey through time, feeling, and shared humanity—woven together through the art of contemporary skating.
Produced and directed by AIT Co-Executive Directors Garrett Kling and Kate McSwain, and beautifully captured on film by On Ice Perspectives, re:member was more than a show—it was a living, breathing tapestry of movement, music, and emotion.
A Company of Storytellers
Jeremy Abbott, Jacqueline Benson, Taryn Brandt, Cameron Claire, Toby Evett, Johanna Geary, Zoey Janusz, Garrett Kling, Elizabeth Misson, Jimmy Morgan, Gillian Robidas, and Natalie Schoonover.
Their performances honored the fragments of memory that bind us, the moments that fracture us, and the legacies that carry across generations. Each piece became a chapter in a collective memoir—told not in words, but in edge, flow, and gesture.
Choreography in Many Voices
The evening featured original works by Jordan Bailey, Jacqueline Benson, Cameron Claire, Garrett Kling, Elise Little, Alex Martin, Kate McSwain, Elizabeth Misson, Jimmy Morgan, Chelsea Ridley, and Gillian Robidas. Their choreography fused the precision of skating with the expressive language of modern dance, often blurring the line between athletic movement and raw, emotional storytelling.
A Soundtrack to Memory
Music played an essential role in shaping the performance’s emotional landscape. The program spanned an eclectic range—from the haunting beauty of Slow Meadow and Zoe Keating, to the electric energy of Queen and Kesha, to the intimate intensity of Perfume Genius and James Blake. Each track was a thread, adding color, texture, and rhythm to the memory tapestry.
A Contemporary Skating Experience
At AIT, contemporary skating goes beyond traditional figure skating boundaries. It merges masterful skating skills with the nuance of dance and the authenticity of improvisation. In re:member, this approach allowed our artists to transform the ice into a stage for the heart—exploring not just what we remember, but how memory moves through us.
American Contemporary Skating Festival – June 12-15, 2025 | Boston, MA
This June, skaters from across the country converged in Boston for the American Contemporary Skating Festival — four days dedicated to creativity, community, and pushing the boundaries of movement on ice. Hosted at Warrior Ice Arena, with an energizing opening session at The Track at New Balance, the festival brought together skaters, choreographers, and instructors in an atmosphere buzzing with artistry and connection.
Day 1 presenters: icebreakers led by Kate McSwain and Garrett Kling, Movement as Medicine with Ashley Wyatt, and Tempo with TJ with TJ Carey. Ensemble rehearsals for Sunday’s choreography showcase began, featuring works by YAS Finalists Sarah Brew, Sekar Prasetya, Natalie Schoonover, Ricky Harris Award Recipient Katja Grohmann, and AIT Co-VP Jacqueline Benson.
Day 2 presenters: Gabriel Martinez and Emily Murdach explored physical and emotional contact in Finding Connection Together, while Katja Grohmann reimagined edges by melting the boundaries between ice, dance, and improvisation. The day closed with more ensemble rehearsals.
Day 3 continued the momentum with a lineup of classes that blended technical skill with artistic exploration. Andrew Smith’s Choreo Combo encouraged skaters to turn personal expression into art, while Sean Marshinski focused on building confidence through intentional skating skill practice. Cheri Donnelly’s Moving Parts examined the reciprocal relationship between artist and art, and Alina Ponomarova brought skaters together in Creative Partnered Movement. Joy Thomas rounded out the day with Calculated Figures, offering a fresh perspective on carving edges across the ice.
Day 4 was packed with movement, insight, and community spirit. Off-ice, BB McKain and Oska Renee led Both / And, a thoughtful exploration of gender and creative expression. On the ice, Elin Schran guided skaters through Ice Flow, Jimmy Morgan introduced 3D Skating, and Garrett Kling presented The Body at the Rink where skaters were invited into an experiential improv flipping traditional ways we view ourselves inside an ice rink. The festival wrapped with something brand new — a community Learn to Contemporary Skate class led by McSwain and Morgan, welcoming over 92 participants onto the ice for an unforgettable shared experience.
Scenes from Community Class & performance by Elevate Figure Skating Club. Photos by Janet Liu
CORE CAMP – July 24-27, 2025 | Pleasant Prairie, WI
Photo Credits Rowan Martey
84 skaters came together in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, for CORE Camp — four days of contemporary skating, cross-training in dance, and building community both on and off the ice. With a team of dedicated counselors and faculty leading the way, the camp offered skaters the chance to push their artistry, refine their technique, and connect through movement in a fun, supportive environment.
Skaters rotated through an inspiring range of classes led by an exceptional faculty, blending on-ice skill building with off-ice artistry:
Vladimir Tchernov – Ballet for Figure Skaters and Contemporary; Braeden Barnes – Modern Dance; Jacqueline Benson – Jazz and Contemporary techniques; Garrett Kling – 6 Ways of the Spine; Katie Luburich – Yoga; Salise Martin – Hip Hop; Kate McSwain – Improv Tools; Sean Marshinski – Skating Skills; Alyssa Jones – Mindfulness
Off the ice, counselors Alyssa Jones, Jimmy Morgan, Cameron Claire, Alex Martin, Nora Klein, Gillian Robidas, Grace Boezinger, and Katie Stewart fostered a welcoming, inclusive, and spirited camp atmosphere.
The week culminated in a vibrant showcase choreographed by Jimmy Morgan, Gillian Robidas, Nora Klein, Vladimir Tchernov, Cameron Claire, and Alex Martin. Special performances featured ensemble works by Elsa Wagnon, Callie Haban, and Caroleena Forcione — winners of the 2025 Quest for Creativity — who premiered their own original choreography. The result was a celebration of movement, collaboration, and the creative spark that thrives when skaters come together.
2025 Ricky Harris Award Recipient: IceLab Leipzig
Katja Grohmann & IceLab Leipzig
We are thrilled to announce that the 2025 Ricky Harris Scholarship has been awarded to Katja Grohmann of IceLab Leipzig!
From becoming Germany’s National Junior Champion to competing internationally on the Grand Prix circuit, Katja’s skating journey began in 1993 and has continually evolved. After her competitive career, she studied sports science and trained in contemporary dance at Dance Theatre Leipzig — a combination that would spark a groundbreaking artistic path: fusing dance and skating into a new, expressive language on ice.
Through IceLab Leipzig, Katja has pioneered Contemporary Dance on Ice, translating movement practices from the dance studio to the rink while honoring the unique physics of skating. Her work is dedicated to deep, authentic artistry and expanding the possibilities of performance on ice. Katja is also a Co-Founder of the Contemporary Skating Alliance, further amplifying her vision within an international community of like-minded artists.
The Ricky Harris Scholarship honors a contemporary skating entrepreneur who is advancing this art form in their own region. This year’s $500 award supports Katja’s continued work and includes an invitation to the American Contemporary Skating Festival 2025, where she will choreograph an ensemble piece and teach a workshop.
This recognition celebrates not only Katja’s artistry, but her dedication to evolving what skating can be — inspiring skaters everywhere to explore the limitless space between movement and ice.
Key to Creativity Award: Elizabeth Misson
Congratulations to Elizabeth Misson, the 2025 Key to Creativity Award Winner!
Elizabeth, the Director of AIT Cleveland, has been a shining example of leadership, warmth, and unwavering dedication to American Ice Theatre and contemporary skating. Her kindness, positivity, and can-do spirit were instrumental in bringing our re:member show to life in Cleveland this past March. From securing ice time to being our “boots on the ground,” Elizabeth made it happen with grace and generosity.
The Key to Creativity Award is given to a coach, performer, director, or MCT graduate who supports American Ice Theatre’s vision by empowering and nurturing artistic skating through education, performance, and outreach. Elizabeth embodies this mission wholeheartedly, and we are so grateful for her continued commitment to the AIT community.
Thank you, Elizabeth, for all that you do—and congratulations on this well-deserved honor!
MCT Graduates: Fall 2024 & Spring 2025
Congratulations to our graduates of the Fall 2024 & Spring 2025 semesters of Master Choreography Techniques (MCT)!
Fall Semester: Maxime Hanssens – Ghent, Belgium ; Zoey Janusz – Wilmington, Delaware; Nora Klein – Chicago, Illinois; Kiera Yuill – Rockland, Ontario, Canada; Sasha Bucci – Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Melissa Miller – Eastvale, California; Julia Nance – Asheville, NC; Kristen Perdue – Bellport, New York
To learn more about these graduates check out our blog post.
Spring Semester: Jan Alderman, Guildford, UK; Sandra Edo-Terradas, Greensboro, NC; Emelyn Haynie, Indianapolis, IN; Jade Lee, Boston, MA; Christie Kievit, Carmel, IN; Amy Pisoni, San Francisco, CA; Morgan Perrine, Ravenswood, WV
To learn more about these graduates, check out the blog post.
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.
YAS Season 2025
A New Season, A New Format, and a Star-Studded Event
It arrived in April—Young Artists Showcase (YAS) 2025—bringing fresh choreography, world-class talent, and a new season format to the ice. This season, our selection committee chose three finalists to be selected as our winners, receiving the top prize. Our 2025 Finalists were: Sekar Prasetya – Sacramento, CA, Sarah Grunnah Brew – Ogden, UT, Natalie Schoonover – Ipswich, MA.
The Selection Committee had the challenging task of narrowing down a talented applicant pool to just three finalists. Those finalists then took on a series of creative challenges, collaborating with “Star Skaters” to bring their visions to life on the ice including Jeremy Abbott, Polina Edmunds, and Maé-Bérénice Méité. Throughout the season, the finalists’ work was evaluated by an esteemed panel of weekly judges: Simone Grigorescu-Alexander, Jenn Edwards, Audrey Weisiger. Our rotating guest judges were: Adam Blake & Doug Webster, Adam Rippon & Maja Luther and Philipp Tischendorf, David Wilson & Kurt Browning and Alissa Czisny, Renee Roca & Katherine Hill and Ben Agosto.
From bold storytelling to unexpected creative risks, YAS 2025 inspired audiences and showcased the future of skating choreography. Challenges streamed live every Saturday at 12:30 PM ET on AIT’s YouTube Channel throughout April, offering viewers a front-row seat to the creative process.
To review the entire season & explore highlights, visit the link below.
2025 Quest for Creativity
Winners of the 2025 Q4C – (L) – Ensemble piece by Elsa Wagnon; (M) Callie Haban; (R) – Caroleena Forcione’s choreography skated by Sabrina Li
This May, choreographers from across the skating world came together for Quest for Creativity 2025, American Ice Theatre’s annual virtual choreography competition for skaters under 21 years of age. The event brought an inspiring mix of artistry, innovation, and performance to the ice—no travel required. Skaters and choreographers submitted original works online, allowing audiences and judges to experience the full range of creative storytelling happening in our sport today.
This year’s competition featured a talented roster of creators in two categories:
Solo Category:
Annika Swalley, Liane Dunlap, Piper Linn, Stella Moore, Meredith McCormack, Jonathan Wood, Lauren Olsted, Nadia Pressnall, Adrianna Silicato, Atticus Burgess, Katarina Suemnig, Caroleena Forcione, Callie Haban, Elsa Wagnon, Mira Glaser, Dayo Ellefson, Raina Parette, Annie Long
Ensemble Category:
Elsa Wagnon, Ana Pichanick, Meredith McCormack, Callie Haban
In the Solo Category, first place resulted in a tie between Callie Haban and Caroleena Forcione, with Lauren Olsted earning third place. In the Ensemble Category, Elsa Wagnon claimed first place, while Meredith McCormack took the runner-up position.
The judging panel included Ian Lorello (he/him), a professional skater with Holiday on Ice and Disney on Ice, professional choreographer, and former Team USA competitor for 10 years. He is the Co-Owner of The Next Ice Age Academy and a company member with The Next Ice Age, Ice Dance International, and Disney on Ice. Laura Seal(she/her) is a professional skater with Holiday on Ice and Disney on Ice, professional choreographer, and Co-Owner of The Next Ice Age Academy, who has also performed with The Next Ice Age, Ice Dance International, Rand Productions, and Disney on Ice. Simone Grigorescu (she/her) is an international and professional choreographer for both competitive skating and ice shows around the globe, and a regular weekly judge for AIT’s Young Artists Showcase online event. Cara Hagan (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist, choreographer, and educator who serves as Associate Professor and Program Director for the MFA in Contemporary Theatre Performance at The New School, as well as the Executive Director of Dance on Camera, which connects the worlds of dance and film; she is also a standing member of the Young Artists Showcase Selection Committee.
To review the entire 2025 online competition & explore highlights, visit the link below.
6 Ways of the Spine – Spring 2025 Cohort
Congratulations to our Spring 2025 Cohort! Our Summer cohort include Kelly Annese, Maé-Bérénice Méité, Rebecca Cacioppo, Nora Klein and Gabrielle Dignitti. Learn more about these graduates at this blog post.
6 Ways of the Spine™ is AIT’s core body movement philosophy, and this advanced, online AIT certification and college-level training course for figure skating coaches and choreographers as well as professional figure skaters. It offers comprehensive training in 3-dimensional movement exercises and cutting-edge teaching tools for expanded expertise in the field. With this certification, coaches & skaters will improve their teaching methods for skating skills combined with core body movement.
Contemporary Skating Alliance
Maja Luther & the Digital Skating School
Our dear contemporary skating colleague, Maja Luther, is launching the Digital Skating School — a dedicated online space designed especially for adult skaters to develop their skills at their own pace, using somatic-based concepts. The first digital course launches this fall. Learn more about Maja’s method here and get access to the free Masterclass here. Enjoy!
AIT Satellite Updates
AIT Boston
A new era has arrived for AIT Boston as Gillian Robidas steps into her role as Assistant Director this summer, bringing her choreographic talent, leadership vision, and infectious positive energy to the team. She’ll be guiding the Boston location into its next chapter while keeping the creative momentum strong. And yes—Jimmy Morgan remains an essential part of the core crew, continuing in his role as Co-VP and supporting the Boston squad throughout the season.
Photo Credit: Janet Liu
AIT Boston Professional Company
The AIT Boston Professional Company brought an evocative new work to the ice this season, choreographed by Kate McSwain and performed by Toby Evett, Hannah Laird, Dawn Dupere, Alanna Kubik, Torie Wojick, Taryn Brandt, Kristina Ruiz, Tessel van Schaaik, Brittany Ballard, and Natalie Robb. Set to BLUE by Billie Eilish, the piece explored the delicate ebb and flow of breath—flowing, swimming, and floating through its rhythms, with moments of breath held, stolen, gasped, and released. This piece was performed in April at the North Shore Skating Club Spring Club Show, in May at the SK8 to Elimin8 Cancer – Ice Show at the International Skating Center of Connecticut alongside Scott Hamilton and other Olympic, World, and National Champion figure skaters, and in June at the American Contemporary Skating Festival Showcase.
AIT Boston Junior Company
This season, the AIT Boston Junior Company has been guided by AIT Co-Vice President Jimmy Morgan, who brought fresh vision and playful curiosity to the group. His new piece, Never Odd or Even, asked performers — Ella Clontz, Molly Krupat, Meaghan Richards, Nyla Hughes, Natalia Gregorio, Nicole Pinheiro, and Zoe Wynn — to explore symmetry, reversals, and unexpected shifts in perspective.
The choreography’s central question was simple yet intriguing: If you watched this in reverse, would you still get it? With clever structures and mirrored movement, Jimmy challenged both skaters and audiences to consider how meaning changes when viewed from another angle — and whether balance can truly exist between opposites.
AIT Boston & New Hampshire Professional Companies: Corporate Showcase at Warrior
On Thursday, June 5, the AIT Boston and AIT New Hampshire Professional Companies joined forces at Warrior Ice Arena for a special corporate showcase. Over the course of 1.5 hours, the two companies performed five dynamic contemporary skating pieces back-to-back, giving event planners from across New England an inside look at how ice skating can transform a corporate event into an unforgettable experience.
This showcase highlighted the power of contemporary skating as live entertainment — versatile, innovative, and able to adapt to a wide variety of events. From gala receptions to large-scale conferences, AIT demonstrated how the ice can become a stage for artistry and performance that goes far beyond traditional skating shows.
By presenting at Warrior, AIT emphasized that corporate shows on ice are not just possible — they’re extraordinary. For companies and planners looking to wow their audiences, contemporary skating offers a fresh, exciting option that merges the thrill of athleticism with the creativity of the performing arts.
AIT Cleveland
AIT Cleveland performed at the Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer Celebration on Ice Show on Thursday, December 12 at the Cleveland Foundation Rink in Public Square. AIT Cleveland is directed and choreographed by Director Elizabeth Misson and company skaters performing include Chloe O’Brien, Victoria Harmon, Marissa Diaz, Emily Kovalcik, and Elizabeth Misson. Photo by Don Gerda of Cleveland Clinic.
The AIT Cleveland Professional Company had an exciting and dynamic season, bringing contemporary skating to audiences in both Cleveland and Chicago. The company performed a piece titled Dance, choreographed by Elizabeth Misson, which celebrated the liberating and expressive power of movement—sometimes, you just have to dance it out. Set to American Requiem/Riverdance by Beyoncé, the piece blended intricate footwork, emotional expression, and compelling on-ice artistry.
The Cleveland cast at the re:member show for Dance included Victoria Harmon, Katie Lepis, Elizabeth Misson, and Chloe O’Brien. Later, the piece was presented at the American Contemporary Skating Festival, with a cast featuring Vee Harmon, Chloe O’Brien, Emily Kovalcik, and Elizabeth Misson.
AIT Minneapolis-St. Paul
AIT MSP will hold their summer seminar on Monday, August 18 featuring Co-VP Jimmy Morgan leading combo with the participants, alongside AIT MSP Leadership team Cameron Claire and Garrett Kling leading 6 Ways of the Spine and improv.
Photo by Mark Walentiny | Skaters from the AIT MSP Spring Exhibition
AIT MSP Professional Company
AIT MSP Professional Company rounded out their season with performances at the Southern Minnesota Figure Skating Club in February, the AIT MSP Spring Exhibition in March, and the Adult Nationals Figure Skating Opening Ceremonies in April. AIT MSP company includes Cameron Claire, Seebie Baga, Robin Van Amber, LorRae Portner, Sage FIlmore, Isabelle Desens, Grace Boezinger and Maisie Stover.
AIT MSP Junior Company
The AIT MSP Junior Company ensemble performed at the AIT MSP Spring Exhibition with a piece called “Change Your Perspective,” choreographed by Isabelle Desens and performed by Riya Juriasingani, Lucy Koschinska, Nadia Pressnall, and Saanvi Rangarajan, explored the interplay of light and dark, demonstrating how each defines and gives meaning to the other. Set to a medley by Travis Lake and Florian Seraul, the piece illustrated the delicate balance that shapes our perception of reality, inviting audiences to see the world—and movement itself—from a new perspective.
Photo by Jennifer White
AIT MSP also performed at the Ice Dreams Show in July, featuring Olympian Gracie Gold and Ashley Cain. The MSP Trio of Garrett Kling, Cameron Claire, and Elise Little skated to a piece entitled “715 Creeks” by the Nor’Easters.
AIT New Hampshire
Photo by Victoria Stanbridge
AIT New Hampshire closed in June 2025 due to Gillian Robidas moving to Boston. The company did perform at the re:member shows in Cleveland and Chicago as well as the AIT Boston Corporate Show and the American Contemporary Skating Festival in June.
They presented a moving piece exploring empathy and shared experience, choreographed by Gillian Robidas. Set to folk faer andlit by Hildur Guðnadóttir, the work invited audiences to witness how we see ourselves reflected in each other’s experiences, combining evocative movement and music to create a deeply emotional and resonant performance. The company consisted of Alexa DerBoghosian, Gillian Robidas, Natalie Schoonover, Lydia Waldo, Sadie Lee, and Kyla Dolan.