It’s showtime by LEXI ROHNER
for audiences, individually and in groups, at annual rink and club holiday ice shows. Their enjoyment is different than it is under the pressures of competition. Below are snap- shots of adult skaters in holiday and winter shows. Join them next time!
PACIFIC COAST The Redwood Empire Ice Arena in Santa
Rosa, California, is a special place. It’s home to Snoopy, one of the most iconic, animated winter sport characters in history, as well as the Peanuts museum showcasing Charles Schulz’s legacy. Redwood Empire Ice Arena is also known for its longtime annual ice shows. The public’s enthusiasm for the shows
remains strong, long after the death of Schulz on Feb. 12, 2000. Top skaters such as Scott Hamilton, Robin Cousins, Dorothy Hamill and many others have performed here, alongside countless locals, including Bay Area adult competitors Maureen Weinstein, 55, and Dianne Miller, 39. “I returned (to the shows) 25 years lat-
er, when my youngest daughter wanted to skate,” Weinstein, a child competitor for 10 years, said. Miller always had skates growing up in
Chicago. “The audience energy is so motivating,”
said Miller, in her third year of shows. “It’s fun to wear old professional show costumes. Two years ago, I wore one of (British choreogra- pher) Karen Kresge’s.” Show tickets are so popular that people
camp out for hours to buy them. Any club member is welcome to participate in the shows.
The Alaska Association of Figure Skaters
presented its “Holly Jolly Holiday Show.” Bren- da Wittman, a 44-year-old masters intermedi- ate competitor, performed with higher level teens in a Grinch number, as well as solo. It was her third show since moving to Alaska.
Coffee club members at Las Vegas Ice
Center, including Allison Raub, performed an adult group number during the holidays. Raub, 31, began skating in early 2016 as a new way to have fun, while being challenged. “I love it,” Raub said. “When I’m on the ice,
I’m in the moment.” Nina Peterson, 64, has performed in
club and rink shows for 13 years. She found her way back to skating at age 50, after a
44 FEBRUARY 2017
childhood involved in the sport. This year, 15 adults ages 24 to 74 and others participated in Winter Solstice with the Kingsgate Skating Club in Kirkland, Washington. Meg Navarro, 50, a former actress, said she loved the crowd, while Kyle Adams, 24, enjoyed his first show after only 13 months on the ice.
MIDWEST The Berendzen family in Santa Fe, New
Mexico, enjoys performing together in club ice shows. Tammy, 44, Joel, 55, and daughter Anissa, 9, command the ice with their charis- ma.
“At 18 months, we started because I
could do this with Anissa,” Joel said. “I was a nonexpert and she could see daddy learning something new.” Tammy, who has spina bifida and uses a
wheelchair, has been club president for more than four years. “I’ve chaired the last six shows and a
coach repeatedly said I should be in one,” Tammy said. “I heard about this year’s Footloose group finale and realized it was time I had some fun.” Joel recalls Annisa’s first show and dec-
laration, “I’m going to be in a show, and I’m going to win it.” He said, “Skating in shows is perhaps the most unlikely thing I’ve done, therefore one of the most valuable. My favor-
Joel Berendzen is Lord Business in the club’s The Lego Movie production, with wife, Tammy, and daughter, Anissa.
Brenda Wittman (front row), and the cast of the “Holly Jolly Holiday Show”
Holiday ice shows offer sheer enjoyment Adult skaters find freedom performing
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