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Showcase Makes VEC Happiest Place On Earth

Local skaters invited friends, family and community members to be their guest during Glasgow's Disney on Ice at the Valley Event Center on March 5. With a myriad of songs including classics such "When You Wish Upon A Star" and newer Disney songs including "Let It Go," skaters of all ages showcased what they have been working on.

The show started out with the Beauty and the Beast Overture with skaters Ava Budde, Blakely Burleson, Dylon Fisher-Murch, Ella Gilchrist, Arrow Henry, Kate Parks, Leshia Stutheit and Aiden Wixson followed by Be Our Guest from the Beauty and Beast which showcased all of the skaters. Jorden Mix, Tessa Stutheit, Madison Beardshear, Finley Tatafu, Toni Williams and Kate Parks all performed solos during the hour long performance.

In addition to solo performances, skaters paired up for duets including Jorden Mix and Toni Williams who performed to "Everybody Wants to be a Cat" from the movie Aristocats, Amelia Odom and Kila Tatafu performed to "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid and Cheryl Solmonsen performed a set pattern dance with Kim Girard as her skating assistant to "Once Upon A Dream" from Sleeping Beauty. The show ended with all the skaters coming out to Mickey Mouse Club March and then audience members were able to rent skates and join the performers on the ice.

Other skaters who performed during the showcase were Isla Gilchrist, Dawson Hamlett, Katie Kuhlmann, Avleen McAllister, Ziva Mix, Ava Odom, Emmalynn Schaefer, Hailey Vigil, Amelia Odom, Kila Tatafu, Dylon Fisher-Murch, Laurel Hamlett, Maddyson Kolpin and Charlotte Miller.

All the skaters were part of the Glasgow Learn to Skate program which is run by Hi Line Skating. The program was created by US Figure Skating and USA Hockey. Their motto "Learn to Skate / Learn to Skate Better" offers classes such as basic skills, adult as well as skating skills for hockey. This season there were 80 skaters in the November/December session and 94 skaters in the January/February session with classes led by Girard, Lori Dailey and Parks. The students who participated in the showcase only had five times on the ice for their routines following the January/February session.

"All of the kids really pulled it together. They worked really hard," exclaimed Girard.

After the show, audience members had the opportunity to skate with the performers and a drawing was done for a six-week lesson, of which Caradee Mulder won.

"I do the drawing as a way to give the opportunity for someone to try the program who wouldn't otherwise participate," explained Girard.

Parks has been with the program since preschool and has contributed a lot to the program, not only as a student but also as a teacher to the students. "She did some of the choreography and really helped the performers," stated Girard.

Parks was also really proud of the hard work the students put in. "I think the show went by too quickly but everyone performed their best and had fun. It was really sad to think this was my last performance but I plan to come home next year for it!," said Parks. Park will be graduating from Glasgow High School this spring with plans to attend Utah State University in the fall. She has been part of the program since November 2009 and is grateful for the experiences she has had over the years.

"I am thankful that I was able to contribute to the Learn to Skate program. It helped me become a leader and develop better teaching skills. My love for skating has grown and I love all my time on the ice," explained Parks. Luckily her college town has a year-round rink so she will continue her love and passion of skating during this next journey of her life.

Anyone interested in being a part of the program for next session, registration will begin in early October.

 

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