reflections
ON ICE
Spring Show Is Source of Joy for Skaters, Audience BY ANNA SWARTZ A Long-Awaited Event
T
hree years is a long time to wait for your favorite annual event as a figure skater – Reflections on Ice. Just ask Molly Schelosky, who is a coach and choreographer who also skates in the show. “After cancellations of our last two shows due to Covid, all [of us] were incredibly excited to get back on the ice and perform for the audience,” Schelosky said. “The show was filled with great music and over 100 skaters ready to debut what we had been working on for weeks! It felt amazing to be able to perform in front of a big crowd again to celebrate all our hard work.” The 50th anniversary of the Reflections on Ice show, titled “Night at the Museum,” was held at Civic Arena on May 13-15. A total of four performances were held over the weekend. Based on the 2006 movie of the same name, which starred Ben Stiller, the show boasted participating skaters ranging in age from 3 to 63. According to Schelosky, the skaters come from the St. Clair Shores Figure Skating Club, members of the learn-to-skate program and synchronized skating teams from the area. In addition to the open-to-the-public shows, a special dress rehearsal show for the developmentally disabled is held on Friday morning. Shorewood Kiwanis coordinates invites and provides snacks for attendees at the show.
Behind the Scenes with the Director
Claire LaDue has served as the director of the Spring Ice Show for 15 years. She grew up in England and competed there before joining Disney on Ice and touring all over the world. She met her husband in the U.S. and directed at two rinks before coming to the Civic Arena. “I immediately knew that this would be my home due to the camaraderie amongst the coaches,” she says.
“AFTER CANCELLATIONS OF OUR LAST TWO SHOWS DUE TO COVID, ALL [OF US] WERE INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO GET BACK ON THE ICE.” -MOLLY SCHELOSKY
26 the shores
Planning the behind-the-scenes aspect of the show is a six-month project for LaDue, who picks out and orders 250 costumes for the occasion. The ones she can’t find to fit her theme, she has made. She also picks and edits about 75 songs total for the music in each number. Skaters are then grouped together by age and levels. That’s usually 30 acts, she says. Coaches, including LaDue, then choreograph the numbers. LaDue’s daughter Sophia is a senior this year, and she had her first solo in the show. “I’ve been watching her since she was three. It’s her favorite time of year.” “The ice show is very special for the skaters and different from competing because they don’t have to do their hardest elements and land jumps and [focus on] rotating all their spins. They seem to become more comfortable as the weekend progresses, and they really start to shine.” Schelosky, who played Marie Antoinette during the show, shared LaDue’s sentiment: “It was so much fun. After spending a whole year competing by yourself, [doing] something with other people was just an amazing feeling.”
Shorewood Kiwanis’ Involvement
That incredible feeling was shared by the audience as well. The crowd of 400 with developmental disabilities who attended the dress rehearsal on Friday morning greatly enjoyed the show, says Shorewood Kiwanis member Dave Rutter. He, along with fellow Kiwanian Lori Grimsley, were the volunteers who spearheaded the annual involvement of their organization this year. This includes coordinating attendees with local organizations, greeting guests, escorting them to seats and giving them goodie bags. “This is the highlight of their year – even more than birthdays and Christmas,” Rutter said. “They really love it. It works great for both sides, for the skaters and the patrons. It’s been a very good arrangement for 50 years and brings them joy.” Shorewood Kiwanis also gives a cash donation to the St. Clair Shores Figure Skating Club to contribute to the cost of renting a wheelchair ramp/platform that holds 10 wheelchairs side by side. This roughly five-foot by 40-foot platform was placed on the north end of the rink, giving a birds-eye view. The Kiwanis also placed an ad in the show’s program, to help support the St. Clair Shores Figure Skating Club. Rutter explains how helping the skating club fits perfectly into Kiwanis' mission of helping children: “It incorporates physicality with art, and it teaches life lessons. When you’ve landed a jump, you’ve fallen 100 times before that.”
