by Jacquelyn Thayer
This year’s Margaret Garrison Ice Show and Awards Ceremony — held annually since 2010 in memory of the long-time vice president of the Skate Canada Central Ontario Section — took on added import, marking 60 years for the section. And at the direction of Marijane Stong, this commemoration was one of musical cue, group numbers featuring artists such as Michael Jackson and the Beatles carrying the audience at the Brampton Powerade Centre through the decades.
The eclectic dance production, choreographed by Mariposa School of Skating Director of Dance David Islam and featuring 11 couples, took a particularly unique approach in interpreting music and era alongside its traditional moments of partner-swapping among elite duos and occasional incorporation of some familiar dance patterns.
“I was supposed to focus on a popular music genre but I asked if I could go with a more specific theme that transcended a few decades of rock music,” said Islam. “Hence the idea for ‘Forever 27’ — music of artists who all died at the age of 27! Amy Winehouse [“Rehab”], Jimi Hendrix [“Hey Joe”], Janis Joplin [“Cry Baby”], Jim Morrison [“Light My Fire”] and Kurt Cobain [“Smells Like Teen Spirit”].”
The process of wrangling a collection of couples for a day-of choreography session is one to which Islam has grown accustomed over years of the show, relying on something of a “formula,” in his word.
“I’m also working with talented skaters and have two senior teams who listen to instructions, have experience with my formula, help with the younger teams when needed and are great role models in what is [a] long day where teams are learning a couple of numbers under a time crunch,” he said. “There is a certain math that goes along with this type of number. I’ve done numbers involving six, eight, nine and even 12 teams. But 11 is a prime number that does not lend itself to balanced blocks and formations. In light of the hundreds [or] thousands of volunteer hours put into a production of this type, it is but a small headache for the choreographer. And it is a testament to the depth of dance talent we have in COS.”
Indeed, dance held prominence over the course of the show, with solos from couples including World team members Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, unveiling a new lyrical approach with a piece to Ella Fitzgerald’s “Reaching for the Moon,” and Alexandra Paul and Mitch Islam, with a romantic number to an acoustic version of Seal’s “Love’s Divine” crafted with Kelly Johnson in the week post-Worlds.
But much of the spotlight was reserved for younger achievers, including two of Mariposa’s national medalist couples. For Lauren Collins and Shane Firus — junior silver medalists in their debut season together — a number to “Say Something” presented an opportunity to build their connection and showcase their skating skill. “We hadn’t done a contemporary program together and thought that it would be fun to try,” said Collins. “We both really like this version of the song and thought it would be the right vehicle to use.”
The team described the pace of their first year together as a something of a blur, expressing happiness with the season overall despite battle with minor injuries. “For this coming season we are really looking to expand our skating capabilities and have a strong showing in our first season of senior,” they said. “Our programs this year are by far harder than either of us has ever had and we feel that by pushing ourselves, we will have the best chance for success. We know we have a lot of work to do on these programs, but we are looking forward to the challenge.”
The show — a first-time appearance for Firus, who previously skated for the BC/Yukon section — was a fitting and fun transition event for the two. “We made so many great memories with many of our fellow skaters,” said Collins. “What really stood out to us was that this was our first show together and solo performance. It was also great for some our friends and family to come watch.”
The show was also a chance to celebrate the conclusion of a successful leap from pre-novice to novice for Ellie Fisher and Parker Brown, who earlier this year picked up national bronze and Canada Winter Games silver. “It is always such an honor to be with so many talented skaters,” they agreed. “We love being all together and seeing all of our friends as well as the opportunity to perform.”
A performance to “Falling Slowly” from Once — inspired by a trip for Brown’s family to see a production of the musical — drew out a new sophistication for the young team, just 13 and 16. “This piece is very different from what we usually skate to so we thought it would be a nice change of pace,” they noted. “We are trying to create a more mature feel to our skating as we get older and develop.”
And with an ever-changing landscape in the novice and junior fields, Fisher and Brown, who express pride in their recent accomplishments, are also ready to tackle a new venture. “We feel we have grown so much and look forward to new challenges,” said both. “We plan on going junior this upcoming season, which will be a lot of work, but we think it is an important step for us to take.”
Also representing Mariposa with their third straight appearance in the show were 2014 novice silver medalists Hannah Whitley and Elliott Graham, skating in multiple group numbers. “We like seeing everyone from COS again and skating together in the ice show,” both agreed. “It’s a great way to know people by spending a whole day with them and having an opportunity to show off what COS skaters can do!”
Their initial season at the junior level included the excitement of a first international appearance (JGP Croatia Cup) and a solid top five finish at Nationals. “We did better than we predicted heading into the season as a new, young team. We were a bit intimidated at the beginning with skating with the more experienced junior teams — we have always looked up to them as our mentors, so it was a little bit strange to be stepping on the ice and warming up with them but exciting at the same time.”
The two now seek to continue improving their skills on the junior level, armed with their second free dance from Ann Arbor’s Yasa Nechaeva and Yuri Chesnichenko and a short dance from coach Kelly Johnson.
Pairs was represented on the night by novice silver medalists and siblings Olivia and Mackenzie Boys-Eddy, who train in Brampton and whose upbeat, trick-heavy number to “Uptown Funk” was an audience favorite. Sitting out the show at last minute, however, were World team members Lubov Iliushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch, initially slated to skate their “I Put a Spell on You” exhibition. A minor accident for Moscovitch in a stroking class in the week before the show unfortunately took the skater temporarily out of commission: after a misstep and fall with a hand behind his back, he “broke off a chip of bone from the middle joint on [his] middle finger,” he explained, thus limiting his ability to carry out key pair elements like lifts and throws.
“Of course it is not the best thing to happen but we will get through it,” he said. “At this time we are busy choosing new music, doing choreography for new programs and putting some ideas on the table. We are doing all of our off-ice training as well. In conclusion, I would say that we have no worries for the season.”
Iliushechkina, though, retained the chance to participate in her first COS show, skating in the Team Elite group number to selections from Funny Girl in addition to picking up the Standing Ovation Bursary Award for the team.
“COS supports Dylan and I a lot and I’m happy to have a chance to show my gratitude and skate in this great event,” she said. “I really enjoyed it. Also being presented with an award makes me proud of the job which we’ve done so far with our coaches and people who helped us along the way. It means our efforts and results are appreciated by others which is the best prize.”
The show, of course, also provides a stage for the youngest skaters of all, from the smallest STARSkate champs who demonstrated their musicality to Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel” — perhaps giving a glimpse of tomorrow’s elite ice dance field — to the CanSkaters showing off their developing fundamentals.
But, as new member Iliushechkina observed, the main takeaway of the show may perhaps come in what it means for those diverse participants, all levels linked by a common thread.
“I was very impressed with how the show was run,” she said. “I’m happy to represent COS and be a part of the section. I met all of the skaters and people involved within COS and I think celebrations like that make people feel more together, unified and create friendships. Being with the COS team and doing the show makes me feel more and more Canadian.”