Get Tickets to Festival Showcase
Sunday, June 14, 2026 | Boston, MA
5:30-6:10p | Open Level Community Skate Class | Warrior Ice Arena
6:30-8:00p | Professional Contemporary Skating Showcase | Warrior Ice Arena
On June 14, start the evening with a contemporary skating class open to all ages and levels, then stay for a showcase featuring professional artists, Olympians (Gabriella Papadakis & Jeremy Abbott), and emerging choreographic voices from around the world.
Core Camp
There’s still space to join us for our annual artistic skating summer camp!
July 16-19, 2026 | RecPlex Arena | Pleasant Prairie, WI
Summer Virtual Series
Join AIT for our FREE Virtual Summer Series — 3 Tuesdays dedicated to ballet, creative conversations, and mindfulness + mental health practices for skaters.
June: Ballet for Skaters with Vladimir Tchernov
July: Creative Exchange — bring YOUR ideas, inspirations, works-in-progress, questions, and creative sparks for an open community conversation moderated by Garrett Kling
August: Mindfulness & Mental Health Practices with Alyssa Jones
Can’t make it live? Recordings will be sent to all registrants.
Save the Date! Adult Weekend Skateaway
September 18-20, 2026 | Rockville, MD
Registration coming in July!
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.
LOOKING BACK
un:learning
Photos by Victoria Stanbridge
Thank you to everyone who joined us for un:learning, American Ice Theatre’s 2026 full-length professional company production. Produced and directed by Kate McSwain and Garrett Kling, un:learning invited audiences to examine the stories, assumptions, and patterns we inherit—and what becomes possible when we choose to question them.
The production brought together 31 professional company performers from across North America, including artists from Cleveland, Minneapolis–St. Paul, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, and San Francisco. Through innovative choreography, powerful storytelling, and a wide range of artistic voices, the cast created a compelling exploration of growth, transformation, and self-discovery on the ice.
We are deeply grateful to our performers, creative team, volunteers, supporters, and audience members who made this production possible. un:learning was a celebration of artistic risk-taking, community, and the unique power of contemporary skating to spark reflection and connection.
AIT Professional Company Performers
Cleveland: Corey Carbone, Vee Harmon, Emily Kovalcik, Katie Lepis, Elizabeth Misson, Chloe O’Brien, Rin Reikowski
Minneapolis-St. Paul: CB Baga, Grace Boezinger, Cameron Claire, Garrett Kling, Liz Letohla, Elise Little, Meredith McCormack, Loren Olstad, Maisie Stover, Jenna Valleen
Boston: Brittany Ballard, Taryn Brandt, Kyla Dolan, Cheri Donnelly, Dawn Dupere, Toby Evett, Johanna Geary, Jimmy Morgan, Natalie Robb, Gillian Robidas, Kristina Ruiz, Natalie Schoonover
Chicago: Nora Klein Toronto, CAN: Vlad Tchernov
San Francisco: Jeremy Abbott
You can purchase the entire performance on-demand – filmed by On Ice Perspectives!
Totally 80’s Show
presented by Boston Landing & New Balance Development
On March 28, American Ice Theatre partnered with Boston Landing to present The Boston Landing Skate Spectacular: Big Hair, Iconic Hits – A Tribute to the ’80s at Warrior Ice Arena in Boston, Massachusetts. The high-energy performance celebrated the music and style of the 1980s, drawing an enthusiastic audience of more than 600 attendees.
The show featured performances by Jamie Chandler, Vlad Tchernov, Jeremy Abbott, Corey Carbone, Gillian Robidas, Lauren Gizinski, Zoey Janusz, Lina Ramirez, David Oliveira, and Gretchen Donlan, showcasing a dynamic mix of athleticism, artistry, and entertainment. Following the performance, more than 100 community members took to the ice for a free Learn to Skate session, creating an opportunity for audiences to experience the joy of skating firsthand.
The event reflected AIT’s commitment to bringing artistic skating to new audiences while building community engagement through accessible and inspiring on-ice experiences.
Skate Against Hate
On Saturday, April 25, American Ice Theatre was honored to perform at the Skate Against Hate benefit show in Stamford, Connecticut. The event brought together skaters, artists, and community members in a powerful celebration of inclusion, respect, and unity, using the art of skating to stand against discrimination and promote acceptance. In addition to performing, American Ice Theatre was grateful to be selected as one of the event’s beneficiaries, with proceeds supporting organizations dedicated to creating more welcoming and equitable communities. The evening reflected many of AIT’s own values—authenticity, innovation, inclusion, and acceptance—and demonstrated how the performing arts can inspire meaningful dialogue, connection, and positive social change.
The event was founded and organized by Audrey Lam-Danback, who created Skate Against Hate as a way to bring people together through figure skating while promoting inclusion, education, and action against antisemitism and all forms of hate. The organization partners with athletes, performers, community leaders, and beneficiary organizations to raise awareness and funds for anti-hate initiatives.
This spring, American Ice Theatre Co-Executive Directors Garrett Kling and Kate McSwain traveled to Winterthur, Switzerland to teach at the 2026 Components Camp, a four-day artistic skating intensive presented by Skate Motion in collaboration with the Contemporary Skating Alliance. The camp brought together skaters of all ages to explore creativity, movement, and performance through a diverse range of on-ice and off-ice classes.
Garrett and Kate shared AIT’s approach to artistic development through workshops focused on choreography, improvisation, movement quality, and the 6 Ways of the Spine™ methodology. They joined an outstanding international faculty that included Maja Luther, Philipp Tischendorf, Malin Shadlich, and Isabelle Ragnarsson, offering participants a rich variety of perspectives on contemporary skating and artistic expression.
Throughout the camp, skaters were encouraged to develop confidence in their individuality, deepen their connection to movement, and discover new tools for creative expression on and off the ice. The experience highlighted the growing international community of artists, coaches, and skaters committed to expanding the possibilities of contemporary skating.
AIT Satellite Updates
AIT Boston
AIT Boston Professional Company: 2 Casts, 5 Shows, 17 Performers
AIT Boston enjoyed an active and inspiring spring season, bringing contemporary skating to audiences throughout the region through performances, collaborations, and community events. Under the artistic leadership of choreographers, Gillian Robidas and Kate McSwain, Boston company members developed and performed a diverse repertoire that showcased the creativity and versatility of American Ice Theatre.
The season included performances in AIT’s full-length production un as well as appearances at the Rockland Ice Show, Colonial Figure Skating Club Show, and North Shore Skating Club Show. Company members also participated in several special events, including the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation’s Scott CARES fundraiser and Skate Against Hate, a powerful event supporting anti-hate education and community-building through skating.
Through these performances and partnerships, AIT Boston continued to expand the reach of contemporary skating while connecting with new audiences and strengthening relationships throughout the New England skating community.
On May 9, AIT Boston welcomed skaters from across the region to the AIT Boston Spring Seminar at Somerville Veterans Memorial Rink. Led by Boston Director Kate McSwain and Assistant Director Gillian Robidas, the seminar offered skaters ages 8 and up an opportunity to explore artistry, creativity, and contemporary movement both on and off the ice.
Professional Company Members include: Lauren Gizinski, Taryn Brandt, Toby Evett, Brittany Ballard, Torie Wojick, Alanna Kubik, Hannah Laird, Natalie Robb, Dawn Dupere, Alexa DerBoghosian, Natalie Schoonover, Zoey Janusz, Eleanor Li, Natalia Gregorio, Kyla Dolan, Meghan LaPointe, and Sadie Lee.
AIT Boston Junior Company – Residency Weekend
AIT Co-Vice President, Jimmy Morgan, choreographed the AIT Boston Junior Company 2026 season piece over the weekend of May 30-31. The Junior Company will perform the piece on Sunday, June 14 at the Festival Showcase. Our 4 AIT Boston Junior Company performers this season include: Meaghan Richards, Nyla Hughes, Hailey Gagnon, and Nicole Pinheiro.
AIT Boston Spring Seminar
AIT Boston’s Spring Seminar was on May 9 in Somerville, MA. We enjoyed skating together doing 6 Ways of the Spine led by Gillian Robidas and learning that “everything goes with everything” when it comes to choreography! We learned a combo and skated it to 3 different pieces of music, making each one feel like its own. Then we guessed which song Director, Kate McSwain, choreographed it to originally!
AIT Cleveland
AIT Cleveland had a vibrant spring season filled with performances, educational programming, and community engagement. Led by Cleveland Director Elizabeth Misson, the company featured professional performers Rin Reikowski, Katie Lepis, Chloe O’Brien, Corey Carbone, Emily Kovalcik, Elizabeth Misson, and Victoria (Vee) Harmon. They performed their company piece “Encore” by the music of Miley Cyrus.
AIT Cleveland Winter Seminar
In March, AIT Cleveland hosted its Winter Seminar at Rocky River Hamilton Ice Arena, welcoming skaters for an evening of movement exploration, edge work, and choreography. Participants learned a group piece choreographed by Elizabeth Misson that was later performed during Act II of AIT’s full-length production un:learning, giving local skaters a unique opportunity.
AIT Cleveland Spring Seminar
The momentum continued in April with the AIT Cleveland Spring Seminar at North Olmsted Recreation Center. The event featured a 6 Ways of the Spine™ Edge Class and Choreography Combo led by Misson, as well as a special guest workshop, Musical Figures, ReJoySing, taught by renowned skating artists Joy Thomas and Frank Singley. Through movement, music, figures, and creative performance exercises, participants explored new approaches to skating artistry, edge quality, rhythm, and expression.
AIT Minneapolis-St. Paul
AIT MSP Spring Seminar
The AIT Spring Seminar featured guest artist Kjerstyn Hall, a coach, choreographer and YAS Finalist based in Duluth, MN. She taught a fun contemporary combo to the skaters, as well as an edge class. They had improv with AIT MSP Director, Garrett Kling.
AIT MSP company performed at the “un:learning” debuting their company piece “a dawning.” Performers include Maisie Stover, Jenna Valleen, Seebie Baga, Liz Lehtola, Meredith McCormack, Loren Olstad and Elise Little. The AIT MSP trio performed their piece “Clear Blue Morning” consisting of Little, Cameron Claire and Garrett Kling.
Photos by Victoria Stanbridge
Save the Date for their Summer Seminar – Monday, August 17 at Bloomington Ice Gardens with special guest artist Eri Lee! Registration to come out in July.
YAS/Q4C Roundup
Another exciting season of the Young Artists Showcase (YAS) and Quest for Creativity (Q4C) has come to a close! These programs continue to provide emerging choreographers with opportunities to develop their artistic voices, receive feedback from esteemed international judges, and create innovative work that expands the possibilities of contemporary skating.
We invite you to explore the following pages to meet this year’s judges, finalists, and winners and to learn more about the inspiring work created throughout the competitions. The 2026 YAS finalists – Amy Pisoni from San Francisco, Meryl Shackett from Lincoln University, PA and Mia Potter from Chapel Hill, NC- will bring their creative journeys to the ice at the American Contemporary Skating Festival Showcase on Sunday, June 14, in Boston, where they will premiere ensemble works developed through the competition process. The showcase will serve as the culmination of months of artistic exploration and collaboration and will be professionally filmed by On Ice Perspectives.
Meanwhile, the winners of Quest for Creativity will take the next step in their choreographic development this summer, earning the opportunity to create original ensemble works at the 2026 Core Camp in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. We congratulate all of this year’s participants and look forward to seeing how their artistry continues to grow in the years ahead.
