American Ice Theatre

AIT CLEVELAND: Company History

AIT Cleveland was founded in 2021 by current Director, Elizabeth Misson. Elizabeth is an AIT-certified choreographer through the Master Choreography Techniques course and was the 2021 Ricky Harris Scholarship Recipient. In its inaugural year as an AIT trial satellite location, AIT Cleveland held four seasonal seminars featuring many special guest artists including Kate McSwain, Garrett Kling, Franklyn Singley, and Jacqueline Redenshek. Now, as a full-time location, AIT Cleveland continues to grow throughout the greater Cleveland area with seasonal seminars, adult seminars, and local performances.

AIT Cleveland also debuted a professional company piece entitled “Pieces of Glass,” choreographed by Elizabeth Misson. The piece was performed to the music entitled “Escape!” by composer, Philip Glass, from the Motion Picture Soundtrack of “The Hours” and was inspired by the works of Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, and John Curry. The company performed at the Brooklyn Ice Show in April and at the 2022 Virtual Professional Skaters Association US Open.

AIT CLEVELAND Seminars & Classes

  • Date: Thursday, August 6
  • Time: 6:15 – 8:15pm
  • Location: Cleveland Skating Club – 2500 Kemper Rd, Shaker Heights, OH 44120
  • Registration Fee: $40
  • This seminar is for skaters ages 8+ and levels FS 1+

Join us for the AIT Cleveland Summer Seminar, The Power of Pause, led by AIT Cleveland Director Elizabeth Misson.

In skating, we often focus on movement, but what happens when we embrace stillness? The Power of Pause explores how moments of silence, suspension, and breath can transform choreography, deepen artistry, and create unforgettable performances.

Through guided movement exploration, breathwork, and creative exercises, you’ll discover how intentional pauses can enhance movement quality, presence, musicality, and emotional connection. Learn to harness the expressive potential of stillness, creating contrast, tension, and release that allows every movement to carry greater meaning and impact.

The seminar will also include a 6 Ways of the Spine™ edge class, exploring how spinal movement and dynamic edge quality can support more expressive, efficient, and connected skating.

Whether you’re a performer, competitor, coach, or creative skater, this seminar offers fresh tools to enrich your artistry and expand your choreographic vocabulary.

Join us—we can’t wait to skate, explore, and create with you!

Register Here

For additional information on upcoming seminars and classes, check out our Cleveland events on the AIT Calendar as well!

AIT Co-CEO’s Kate McSwain and Garrett Kling teaching at the inaugural AIT Cleveland Summer Seminar

AIT Cleveland Upcoming Performances

If you’re interested in having us perform at your rink or club show, reach out to us at cleveland@americanicetheatre.org.

AIT Cleveland Performance Company

Perform with AIT Cleveland

  • Join us! To apply to be an AIT Cleveland Company member for the upcoming season, please fill out the interest form. *Requirements: Must be 17 years old and have passed USFS Junior Moves in the Field for Professional Company. For all requirements please read our AIT Performance Company webpage.
  • Our mission is to bring artistic contemporary skating performances to the Cleveland area by performing in a variety of venues such as winter carnivals, club shows, and outdoor lakes. AIT Cleveland is not a competitive USFS ice theatre team.
  • AIT Cleveland Company members will learn 1-2 choreographic pieces to perform throughout the season. Rehearsals are on an as-needed basis depending on the performance schedule
  • Review additional information regarding AIT Performance Companies.

AIT Cleveland Repertoire

  • 2024:
    • “For Difficult Women”
      • Choreographed by Elizabeth Misson / Music by Stephan Moccio / Video by On Ice Perspectives
      • AIT Professional Company Performers: Elizabeth Misson, Chloe O’Brien, Emily Kovalcik
  • 2023:
    • “Morning Light”
      • Choreographed by Elizabeth Misson / Music by David Tolk / Video by On Ice Perspectives
      • AIT Professional Company Performers: Elizabeth Misson, Chloe O’Brien
      • The full 2022-23 AIT Cleveland Performance Company: Marissa Diaz, Kaelynn Higgins, Anastasia Migyanko, Elizabeth Misson, Chloe O’Brien, Giulia Paolino, and Alyson Pekkola.
  • 2022:
    • “Pieces of Glass”
      • Choreographed by Elizabeth Misson / Music: Escape! by Philip Glass / Video by On Ice Perspectives
      • AIT Professional Company Performers: Marissa Diaz, Vivian Gabbard, Kaelynn Higgins, Anastasia Migyanko, Elizabeth Misson, Chloe O’Brien, Giulia Paolino, and Alyson Pekkola 

If you are interested in joining the Cleveland Performance Company, please fill out this interest form and we will get back to you!

Contact us for more details!

AIT Cleveland Seminar Participants

Support AIT Cleveland

  • We welcome any level donations to support our education and performance initiatives for skaters in the Cleveland area. Please consider donating through our Support page or by directly making a PayPal payment to info@americanicetheatre.org.