Grayson Long, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Eri Lee, Rolling Meadows, IL Eszter Szombathelyi, Budapest, Hungary Sarah Smilowitz, Pittsburgh, PA Lauren Gizinski, Victoria, MN Raegan Arend, Flagstaff, AZ Lizzie Janssen, Chicago, IL Irina Trifanova, Garnet Valley, PA Joanna Lee, Bay Area, CA
Congratulations to our graduates of the Fall 2025 semester of Master Choreography Techniques (MCT)! They include:
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:
Eri is currently based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, is a Novice-level synchronized skating coach and a Ph.D. student in Feminist Studies, with a focus on sport and the Asian diaspora.
“Any experimentation is good experimentation. Before MCT, I always felt a barrier to choreography because of what I had assumed it meant for figure skating — clear, linear storylines and legible, concrete themes. Now, through everything I’ve learned (not only from our wonderful teachers, but also from my fabulous classmates), that barrier is nearly completely broken down. I feel a relieving sense of permission, rooted internally, that invites a kind of movement exploration that feels authentic and exciting in my own body. With the MCT community, I’ve gained a relationship to choreography that feels rich, innovative, and experimental.”
Eszther is a Hungarian National Champion, Guinness World Record Holder and professional skater.
“I got to use things and choreography tools that I never thought I would, widening my toolkit in the process. I could boldly express my creativity, stepping out of my comfort zone, being in a safe place. My confidence has grown in every area, I dare to act and move more boldly, and I can put more extra / interesting things into my work.“
Sarah is a coach and choreographer born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They have been skating since 2002 and coaching since 2014, with a focus and passion for creative expression on the ice.
“Sometimes you have to do what feels “wrong” to find what’s right.”
Lauren is a 23-year-old figure skater and coach originally from Minnesota and now based in Boston. She is a competitive synchronized skater, quadruple U.S. Figure Skating Gold Medalist, and member of the AIT Boston Professional Company.
“MCT taught me that creativity can be accessed through intentionality. Throughout the course of the curriculum, I learned to use core choreographic tools and concepts to create choreography that is both effective and authentic.”
Raegan grew up in a small town in Northern Arizona and began figure skating at age nine. Now a private coach to 12 skaters, she is passionate about teaching and mentoring the next generation of athletes. Outside of skating, Raegan recently graduated from ASU Online with a B.A. in English and is currently pursuing her Flexafit off-ice and personal training certifications, with an emphasis on perimenopause and menopause fitness.
“I have learned with MCT to step out of my comfort zone and break the “skating norms” that often hold choreographers back. This experience was incredibly beneficial and freeing as I am more willing to try something weird or out of the box.I hope I can inspire other choreographers and my own students to be uniquely themselves. I want my skating and my students skating to be a place to let go and express who you really are without fear or judgment. Thanks to MCT, I have been able to embrace this idea and put more love into my skating.”
I hope I can inspire other choreographers and my own students to be uniquely themselves. I want my skating and my students skating to be a place to let go and express who you really are without fear or judgment. Thanks to MCT, I have been able to embrace this idea and put more love into my skating.”
Lizzie is an adult skater and Dance/Movement Therapist.
“MCT really challenged me to be vulnerable in my choreography and take ownership over my movement. It has inspired me to step outside of my comfort zone to try different styles and types of movement in an intentional way.”
Joanna is a National & World Competitor and Athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Site in Colorado Springs. She is working as a coach and choreographer and is currently a UCLA Business Economics Student.
“I’ve been inspired by the endless possibilities of choreography and have discovered a new layer of depth within my artistic voice. I’m working hard to expand my movement palette, and I’m excited to keeping pushing my creativity in new directions! Thank you for a wonderful season of learning!”
Irina competed and tested in Figures, Freestyle and Synchronized Skating. She is a Russian National junior competitor and holds a Master’s Degree in Linguistics from Rostov State University of Education. She has more than 10 years of teaching experience both kids and adults.
In college, Rachel competed at intercollegiate nationals with Cal Figure Skating and now continues skating while pursuing a PhD in microbiology at UW–Madison, where they are also part of the intercollegiate skating team. Rachel is excited to continue developing their choreographic voice and redefining their relationship with figure skating.
“This course successfully transformed my choreographic process from instinctual movement into intentional, high-level design. By diving deep into video analysis and mastering the technical units of time, space, form, and energy, I gained a fluent vocabulary that allows me to confidently structure my pieces and give precise, professional direction to my students.”
Grayson is a Canadian Junior medalist and senior competitor. He is competing on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. He has a passion for telling stories with movement.
