os Angeles Ice Teater (LAIT) is the stan- dard for excellence when it comes to Teatre on Ice.
Te five-time Teatre On Ice champion, LAIT has won every national competition
it’s entered. For LAIT director and choreographer Danelle Cole and her skaters, however, winning is really only secondary to the joy of performance and passion for skating. “Teatre is amazing,” Cole says. “It gives every-
one an opportunity to experience what they want from figure skating. My goal is to keep everyone in the sport they love. Tis is where everyone can be a part of a team and compete nationally.” Teatre on Ice (TOI), known as Ballet on Ice in Europe, is a discipline that’s only been around for two decades, but it’s made a big im- pact on skaters across the globe. Cole founded Los Angeles Ice Teater in 2001 with the assistance of fel- low coach, Jenny Brenson. TOI teams consist of between eight and 30 skaters — LAIT has 25 skaters this year — and are judged on technical merit, art- istry, musicality and originality. Te discipline, a combination of skating, dancing and acting, was officially recognized by U.S. Figure
Skating in 2011. “I have kids that can just do a single loop to [those who compete at] senior nationals,” Cole says. Tis year,
LAIT skaters range in age from 11 to 21. “I try as a coach to make sure everyone is equal. Each skater has some great talent or ability and I make sure I showcase every per- son on our team.” Darian Weiss, 20, the only guy on the team and a former pairs skater, performs three lifts in the team’s free skate. He has been with
LAIT for 10 years and says he enjoys being the only male. “Ice theatre is my way of combining my
two favorite loves,” says Weiss, who has an acting background. Weiss also skates singles at the novice lev- el but says the theatre and singles seasons don’t conflict, so he’s able to focus on both. “Te two really complement each other,”
Coaches Danelle Cole and Jenny Brenson 14 NOVEMBER 2012
he says. “Singles helps with my stamina and making me a stronger, more elegant skater. Teater brings out that theatrical side that boosts up the program components score of singles skating.”