ICE CAPADES


could be part of and not be intimidated by. It was fun.” Kawahara, who enjoyed a solid competitive skating career


in Canada, auditioned for the Ice Capades at age 17 after a talent scout discovered her. She immediately was given a solo number and did understudy work for one of the prominent principal skaters. “I loved performing and skating for the Ice Capades (1972–80),”


Kawahara said. “I became known as the dramatic, emotional skater and I also did light humor, so I was able to explore the theatrical side of my skating, which I loved.” As a choreographer, Kawahara wanted to create shows that


would highlight that type of skater. She worked for Bob Turk, who was the producer and director of Ice Capades. “After I left the show, he invited me back to choreograph a pro-


duction number for the opening of the Ice Capades,” she said. “That was my fi rst big opportunity to have 45 skaters at my disposal to do a Beatles medley, so that was really exciting.” Later on, she teamed with Willy Bietak and eventually choreo-


graphed and directed shows for the Ice Capades. She went on to work with many skating greats, such as Peggy


Fleming and Scott Hamilton. Her fi rst Emmy came in 1997 when she choreographed Hamilton’s TV special titled “Scott Hamilton Upside Down.” The award meant a lot to both Kawahara and Hamilton, as they had spent many years working together during Hamilton’s pro- fessional career. “I never went to the Olympics so it was like my Olympic medal, winning the Emmy for that TV special,” she said. Her Emmy for the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2002


Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City was another crowning mo- ment. “It was two years of my life working on that project (titled ‘The


Fire Within’),” Kawahara said. “It was an opportunity for me to use all of my knowledge, from arena production work to stars shows to ice stage work and television specials.” Forty TV cameras brought the ceremonies to billions of people


globally. “It was a great experience and so exciting to use everything with-


in my brain,” Kawahara said. Coming back for the reunion, she said, is amazing. “Time kind of stands still when you do show work, and with the


new generation of show skaters and the old generation of show skat- ers, we have such a common base that we all draw on,” she said.


Ice show tradition runs deep in Patterson family Ice Capades alums Julie Patterson and her sister, Lisa, attended


the re the r union not only for themselves, but also f, but also for their mother, whoor their mother, who couldn’t make it because of heart issues. e w t looking for some of her f


Ice Capades alums Julie P eunion not only for themselv


ouldn “We went looking for some of her former roommates and show mer r es and sho erson and her sist , Lisa, a


Starbuck and Shelley relish Ice Capades experience While JoJo Starbuck and Ken Shelley enjoyed a stellar compet-


itive career together in the early 1970s — they won three U.S. pairs titles, competed at two Olympic Winter Games and won two World bronze medals (Ken also won the 1972 U.S. singles title) — being part of the Ice Capades was truly a childhood dream come true. As 7-year-olds in California, Starbuck and Shelley skated in shows


and recitals together in a tiny studio rink before embarking on their competitive careers. “When we met, I was a tomboy and loved theater, too,” Starbuck


said. “So I would put on plays in the garage and build sets, do make-up and create costumes; I’d make the neighborhood kids be in the shows and invite the parents to come watch. “And when I met Kenny, he was doing the same thing in his ga-


rage across town in Downey, California. So when we joined Ice Ca- pades, it was amazing because there was a real costume department. They were making our costumes, the incredible scenic department was making sets and special eff ects, and there were the choreogra- phers, directors and live musicians. We had a full orchestra in every town. It was a childhood dream come true.” Starbuck and Shelley were part of the East Company, which was


SKATING 25


75 YEARS


people that she toured with,” Lisa said. “It was great for Julie and me to meet those ladies last night and put them in contact with our mother. Hopefully our mom can make the next reunion.” Julie and Lisa are in the middle of three family generations of


ice show performers. Their parents, Jane Tinsley and Clem Patterson, who hailed from Regina, Saskatchewan and Victoria, British Columbia, toured in the Ice Cycles shows in the 1950s. Julie, who is the vice president of programming and skating at


the Ice Dens in Scottsdale and Chandler, Arizona, joined Ice Capades in 1983 and fi lled many roles until the show’s fi nal performance in 1997. “I was a chorus skater fi rst and a principal skater for nine years and then became performance director, so I really had a taste of every- thing,” Julie said. Lisa was with the Ice Capades in 1984–85. She was the under-


study to one of the principal soloists. “There was a fl ying component of the show and I got to audition


and fl y over the top of the audience, so that was fun,” Lisa said. Their older brother’s daughters, Tara and Shawna Patterson, have


been involved with Disney on Ice. Tara is now in her 12th year with the company and is the performance director. Shawna spent fi ve years with Disney. When looking back on their family’s time with the traveling ice


shows, Julie and Lisa agree it’s the friendships that develop that are most meaningful. “You are on the road nine straight months and you really become


a family,” Julie said.


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