summer artistic & contemporary figure skating training camp

RecPlex Ice Arena | Greater Chicagoland | Thurs-Sat, July 20-22, 2023

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 the live, in-person 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.

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 AM – 12:00 PM for skaters ages 13+ and Intermediate MIF+ 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 now open & available for CORE Camp 2023. 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 4 groups based on age and each group will have 2 CORE Camp Counselors assigned to help skaters stay on schedule.

**All 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 on Saturday, July 22, 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 may be invited to perform in an additional number choreographed by these young choreographers. Guest artists will be announced closer to the camp date!

Add-ON “CORE CAMP COOL DOWN” – Optional

This option is available only to skaters ages 13+ and levels Intermediate MIF+

• We will continue additional mindfulness and movement techniques as a final morning for the CORE 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 23 from 8 AM – 12:00 PM.
• 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.
• These “Cool Down” Campers will have the opportunity to express themselves in a profound way through specialized and more individualized movement sessions.

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 PSA Master-Rated and AIT-Certified choreographers, CORE Camp also features top-notch faculty, including nationally- and internationally-recognized coaches and choreographers.

CORE Camp 2022’s faculty list included:

• Garrett Kling: Improvisation Techniques Instructor. AIT Co-Executive Director / PSA Master-Rated & AIT-Certified Choreographer
• Kate McSwain: Improvisation Techniques Instructor. AIT Co-Executive Director / PSA Master-Rated & AIT-Certified Choreographer
• Molly Olson Poniatowski: Storytelling & Theatrics in Movement Instructor. AIT-Certified Choreographer / Director of AIT Chicago
• John Mucko: Storytelling & Theatrics in Movement Instructor. Master-Rated Choreographer / Director of AIT Grassroots Development
• Angela Como: Ballet for Figure Skaters Instructor. Certified Instructor of Ballet for Figure Skaters / Authentic Vaganova Methodology for classical ballet
• Chelsea Ridley: Hip Hop Instructor. Professional Skater with Disney On Ice
• Lauren J. Williams: Yoga Instructor. Certified Yoga Guide, Writer, and Figure Skater
• Ellie Roescher: Mindfulness Instructor
• Sean Marshinski: Skating Skills and Edge Class Instructor
• Joey Millet: Six Ways of the Spine, Edge Class, and Tricks Instructor. Assistant Director of AIT MSP / AIT-Certified Choreographer
• Jordan Bailey: Contemporary Movement Instructor. Director of AIT New York City / AIT-Certified Choreographer

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 in-person, live CORE Camp skaters:
  • Early-bird registration: $340 by midnight CT on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.
  • Regular registration: $400 by midnight CT on Monday, May 1, 2023.
  • Late registration: $485 until Saturday, July 1, 2023 (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 $175/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 area include:

• Chicago O’Hare (ORD) – 45 minutes
• Milwaukee (MKE) – 35 minutes
• Chicago Midway (MDW) – 90 minutes

Camp is held at the RecPlex Ice Arena in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.

• Camp Rink Address: 9900 Terwall Terrace, Pleasant Prairie WI, 53158
• Camp Rink Phone: 262-925-6754 (Office) | 262-925-6755 (Front Desk)

Hotel & Room Block for 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.

• Book your room now for CORE Camp 2023. You MUST book with the group rate before Tuesday, June 20, 2023.
• The special group rate for CORE Camp event at the Fairfield Inn is $144/night.
• The group rate is open from Wednesday, July 19 – Sunday, July 23.
• The group rate dates available for booking will expire after Monday, June 20.
• Breakfast between 6:30-9:30 AM daily IS included in this room rate.

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 recipient will receive free registration for 3-day CORE Camp this upcoming summer in Pleasant Prairie, WI from July 20-23, 2023.

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: Monday, May 1, 2023

Refund Policy

Full refunds are NOT available.

We will give a refund (minus the $75 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 Thursday, July 20. 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.