‘YOUR MOMENT’ Schroeder plays Cinderella to claim National Solo Dance junior title by BRENDA GLIDEWELL
Olympic ice dance great Sergei Ponomarenko, recommended that she jump into the brand new Solo Dance Series sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. So in February 2011, Schroeder’s mother
w
registered her daughter for the series. And the rest they say, is history. At the inaugural National Solo Dance Championships (NSDC) in Colorado Springs, Colo., in the fall of 2011, Schroeder earned the bronze medal for silver solo dance and, more sig- nificantly, rediscovered her passion for skating. At the 2012 NSDC, again in Colorado
Springs in late September, the California teen turned into Cinderella for her junior free dance. As she took the ice, Schroeder was remind- ed of her catchphrase for the season: “Cinderella, this is your moment!” Dressed in a light-pink-and-gold sequined
dress, she transformed the gown in the middle of a spin into Cinderella’s blue dress, astounding the audience and judges alike. Her free dance showcased strong skating skills, solid edge work and graceful choreography that included the iconic scene in which the clock strikes midnight at the ball. Schroeder, 17, and a member of the Skating
Club of San Francisco, also claimed victory in the pre-gold pattern dance, performing the Paso Doble. “Winning both the free dance and pattern dance is completely surreal,” said Schroeder, who trains at Sharks Ice in San Jose, Calif. “I am grate- ful that everything came together for me this year and that I had the opportunity to participate in the Solo Dance Series. I have met so many won- derful skaters who I can call my friends through participation in the series, and feel so lucky to have this memory.”
Hope Schroeder transformed as Cinderella during her winning junior solo free dance.
hen injuries and illness put a dag- ger into the skating career of Hope Schroeder, one of her coaches,
Great turnout for NSDC
Te second NSDC boasted 216 compet- itors vying for medals in 12 divisions at the World Arena.
Te NSDC is the culminating event of the
2012 Solo Dance Series, which began in Novem- ber 2011 and ran until late August. Tis year’s series featured the addition of solo free dance, which helped to double participation from the inaugural year. Te 2012 series had 450 solo pat- tern dancers, 270 solo free dancers and 76 series competitions. “It was absolutely amazing to see so many
skaters involved in ice dancing,” said Mary-Eliz- abeth Wightman, chair of the Program Develop- ment Committee. “I was excited about the quali- ty of skating throughout the event. As one parent said, ‘Tere wasn’t one skater there that didn’t de- serve to be at a national event.’” Te Broadmoor Skating Club hosted the NSDC event.
‘Staying involved’ Taryn Jurgensen, a junior studying chemis-
try and pre-med at New York University, made the most of her first appearance at the NSDC. Te former singles skater won the senior free dance and placed fifth in the gold pattern dance. “I love solo dance,” said Jurgensen, a mem-
ber of the Pasadena FSC. “It is such a great way to keep skaters involved and participating in our sport. Te series was wonderful and I feel so honored to have won the free dance event. Tere were so many great skaters here …wow!” Jurgensen’s free dance, set to a mixture of samba, rhumba and cha-cha music, contained solid edge work, dance skills and high-energy choreography. In addition to participating in the Solo
Dance Series, Jurgensen skates on the university’s intercollegiate team. “Tese programs (solo dance and intercolle-
PHOTOS BY WENDILEE W. LASSITER College student Taryn Jurgensen emerged with the senior solo free dance title.
giate skating) have provided me with an avenue to continue skating and truly enjoy my involve- ment in the sport during my collegiate years,” she said.
Gold pattern dance champion Stephanie Pe-
ters of the Glenwood FSC also felt honored and fortunate to compete at the NSDC. “NSDC was such a fun experience,” said
Peters, 19, of Highland, Ind. “I am thankful for the opportunity to have competed here and I am so pleased that I was able to do so well. Tis was a great, great event!”
‘What’s next?’
With a second Solo Dance Series season in the books, the Program Development Committee is planning for next season. Te 2013 Solo Dance Series will run from Jan. 1, 2013 to Aug. 18, 2013. For more information, contact U.S. Figure Skating Programs Director Brenda Glidewell.
PODIUM PHOTOS OF ALL THE WINNERS WILL BE POSTED ON
skatingmagazine.blog.com 10 NOVEMBER 2012
NSDC PARTICIPANTS Pacific Coast section
23 in free dance, 37 in pattern dance Midwestern section
28 in free dance, 49 in pattern dance Eastern section
34 in free dance, 45 in pattern dance
PHOTOS BY NORMAN HAYWARD (
BIGMANWITHACAMERA.COM)
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