summer artistic & contemporary figure skating training camp
Save the Date for next year from July 16-19, 2026 in Pleasant Prairie, WI in the Greater Chicagoland area.
Core Body. Core Self. Core Choreo.
This summer artistic figure skating training camp from American Ice Theatre will help skaters develop the “Mind-Body-Movement Connection” in keeping with AIT’s values, with off-ice classes and instruction from a faculty of nationally- and internationally-recognized coaches and choreographers. All skaters at CORE Camp will have the opportunity to work with every faculty instructor over the course of the 3 days.
CORE Camp is an intensive summer artistic training camp for figure skaters in all disciplines, ages 7 and up and levels Freeskate 1+. This summer ice skating training camp will help your skater further develop the mind-body-movement connection.
At CORE Camp Chicago, we are continuing the final Sunday, half-day add-on for young skaters who are particularly interested in choreography and contemporary skating development is our “CORE Camp Cool Down” from 8:30 AM – 12:45 PM for skaters ages 13+ and Intermediate (Pre-Silver) Moves in the Field+ (Skating Skills) only. This will be a special day of additional mentorship for the older CORE Campers!
Please read scroll down on this page for all details and logistics regarding camp this year.
Coaches Info & Registration
Coaches Registration is open & available for either or both of the CORE Camps 2024. Coaches with 4 or more skaters registered for CORE Camp can choose to attend or observe all CORE Camp classes for free. If the coach does not have any skaters attending – or fewer than 4 skaters attending – it is a $50 per day fee to participate.
Schedule at a Glance
See below for a sample CORE Camp schedule. All classes will be divided by age groups and skating level. Each day, we will have small group discussion & artistic expression led by our engaging CORE Camp Counselors. We will provide a space for allowing participants each day to share and connect with their peers in a after their daily classes of body awareness, strength & flexibility, and movement expression!
The daily camp schedule runs approximately from 8AM – 4:30 PM every day, with an option to extend your day by adding private on- or off-ice instruction with our nationally- and internationally-recognized coaches and choreographers. Campers will be separated into groups based on age, and each group will have 2 CORE Camp Counselors assigned to help skaters stay on schedule.
**All age groups will have a limited capacity so please register early!
Sample CORE Camp Group Schedule
*Please Note: this is a SAMPLE SCHEDULE only. All group schedules will be slightly different each day depending on the rooms/spaces we can use as well as leaving additional time for cleaning in between classes.
- 8:30 – 9:15: On-Ice Skating Skills / Core Body Movement
- 9:45 – 10:30: Off-Ice Yoga / Mindfulness
- 11:00 – 12:00: Lunch Break
- 12:30 – 1:15: On-Ice Tricks / Improvisation / Choreography
- 1:45 – 2:30: Modern / Contemporary / Hip Hop
- 2:45 – 3:30: Off-Ice Choreography / Improvisation / Performance Expression
- 3:45 – 4:30: Group Time for Reflection & Exploration
The final full day of CORE Camp (the 3rd day), will culminate in a skating showcase in the afternoon for skaters to perform a final artistic ensemble and demonstrate the concepts learned for their parents. The CORE Camp Showcase also offers a platform for emerging choreographers to display their work. Select skaters from Quest for Creativity may be invited to perform in an additional number choreographed by these young choreographers.
Add-ON “CORE CAMP COOL DOWN” – Option for CORE Camp Chicago
This option is available at CORE Camp Chicago and to skaters ages 13+ and levels Intermediate (Pre-Silver) Moves in the Field+ (Skating Skills).
- These “Cool Down” Campers will have the opportunity to express themselves in a profound way through specialized and more individualized movement sessions.
- We will continue additional mindfulness and movement techniques as a final morning for the CORE Camp Chicago Campers to connect their minds and bodies, move through their improvisation, and skate deeper intention.
- This added “CORE Camp Cool Down” event will be on Sunday, July 20 from 8:30 AM – 12:45 PM.
- This add-on costs $75 on the Entryeeze registration, and your skater must be over the age of 13 and have passed Pre-Silver Skating Skills (Intermediate Moves in the Field) prior to Camp.
- This morning will be an incredible space for this group to bond with each other emotionally as well as experience the ice together in a more intentional and open way.
- These additional classes will offer young skaters the opportunity to have more direct and personal artistic mentorship training with some of American Ice Theatre’s faculty, counselors, and choreographers.
Private Lessons at CORE Camp – Optional
During online camp registration, you may advance purchase two, 30-minute private lessons for $120 under “Practice Ice” on the EntryEeze registration form. Instructor requests will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests for the type of private lesson (i.e. skating skills, choreography, MIF, off-ice yoga, etc.) are available during registration as well. Additional private lessons may be available for purchase at $120/hour after May 1st. Private lessons not purchased in advance and requested during the live event will only be scheduled only as available and will cost $150/hr.
CORE Camp Faculty
Directed by USFS Master-Rated and AIT-Certified Choreographers, CORE Camp also features top-notch faculty, including nationally- and internationally-recognized coaches and choreographers.
CORE Camp previous faculty lists included:
- Garrett Kling: Improvisation Techniques / Ice Dance / Showcase / Choreography / Skating Skills / Theatrical & Expression Skills Instructor. AIT Co-Executive Director / PSA Master-Rated & AIT-Certified Choreographer
- Kate McSwain: Improvisation Techniques / Ice Dance / Showcase/ Choreography / Skating Skills / Theatrical & Expression Skills Instructor. AIT Co-Executive Director / PSA Master-Rated & AIT-Certified Choreographer
- Angela Como: Ballet for Figure Skaters Instructor. Certified Instructor of Ballet for Figure Skaters / Authentic Vaganova Methodology for classical ballet
- Chelsea Ridley: Hip Hop & Tricks Instructor. Professional Skater with Disney On Ice
- Alyssa Jones: Mindfulness Instructor
- Sean Marshinski: Skating Skills and Edge Class Instructor / Technical Skills for private lessons
- Jordan Bailey: Contemporary Dance Movement / Choreography Instructor. Director of AIT New York City / AIT-Certified Choreographer
- Da’Rius Malone: Professional Modern Dancer & Instructor.
- Jimmy Morgan: Improvisation Techniques / Showcase / Choreography / Skating Skills / Theatrical & Expression Skills Instructor
- Jacqueline Benson: Improvisation Techniques / Showcase / Solo Dance / Choreography / Skating Skills / Theatrical & Expression Skills Instructor
- Cameron Claire: Improvisation Techniques / Showcase / Choreography / Theatrical & Expression Skills Instructor
Want to be part of the CORE Camp contemporary skating community and learn from world-renowned choreographers, dancers, and coaches? Join us!
CORE Camp Fees
- For CORE Camp skaters:
- Early-bird registration: $400 by midnight CT on March 15, 2025.
- Regular registration: $485 by midnight CT on May 1, 2025.
- Late registration: $550 until July 1, 2025 (or until we are at full capacity).
- For coaches and choreographers:
- Discounted tuition of $50/day for coaches and choreographers.
- Free tuition for coaches who bring 4 or more skaters to the in-person camp
- Can’t attend the full 3-day, in-person camp and want to drop-in for 1 day?
- Daily rate is $195/day.
Please Note: registration fees cover class tuition only and do not include room and board or private instruction. Options are available on EntryEeze to add lunch for a small additional fee of $10 per day.
Travel & Accommodations
Nearby airports serving the Greater Chicagoland area include:
- Chicago O’Hare (ORD) – 45 minutes
- Milwaukee (MKE) – 35 minutes
- Chicago Midway (MDW) – 90 minutes
CORE Camp Chicago is held at the RecPlex Ice Arena in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.
Hotel & Room Block for Chicago Campers
Need accommodations for camp? We have a block of rooms reserved at the Fairfield Inn – Kenosha, which is just a 5-minute drive to the rink.
- Fairfield Inn Kenosha ($149.00 per night)
- Must book group rate to receive the discount before June 30, 2025
Bipoc CORE Camp Scholarship Award
AIT annually offers the BIPOC CORE Camp Scholarship Award for our artistic figure skating summer training camp. Applicants are asked to complete the registration form below and send an essay entry describing their creative dreams & goals. The BIPOC Scholarship Award recipients will receive free 1 registration for 3-day CORE Camp next summer in Pleasant Prairie, WI in 2025.
Eligible applicants must:
- Identify as Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color (BIPOC)
- Be age 21 and under
- Passed level requirement of Freeskate 1+
- Registered by the deadline: May 1, 2025
Refund Policy
Full refunds are NOT available.
We will give a refund (minus the $100 service fee) with a doctor’s note for injury anytime prior to CORE Camp or with a positive COVID test result within 5 days prior to the start of Camp. If your skater becomes sick during the dates of CORE Camp, we will give a pro-rated refund. Please DO NOT send your skater to Camp sick.
For any other reason, refunds are not available.
