2014 N ATIONAL SOLO DANCE S ERIES FINAL BON VOYAGE! by TROY SCHWINDT Recent college graduate Taryn Jurgensen em-
barked on a worldly adventure this month when she boarded Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Sea as one of its ice show performers. But before the 22-year-old California native
sailed away, she bid bon voyage to her competitive skating career by winning the senior combined
Taryn Jurgensen Sarah Zhang
gensen, who graduated from New York University in May with a degree in chemistry and will now take at least two years off while she performs on the cruise ship. “I loved doing the (solo dance) series and this is my third year here. I felt like this was the way to say farewell to my competitive career.” Jurgensen, who hails from Pasadena, Calif.,
was one of 248 skaters who earned the right to compete at the National Solo Dance Series Final. To qualify, skaters must vie in at least two of 80 series events held (Jan. 1–Aug. 17, 2014) nation- wide. Tis year, 504 skaters participated in the series. Points from those competitions are totaled and qualifiers determined. For her Arabian-style free dance, Jurgensen beautifully blended her artistry and skating skills as she flowed freely over the ice at the Broadmoor World Arena. Her exquisite costume, complete with detailed headpiece and other accessories, helped to sell the performance. “Every year for the free dance, I have done
something different,” Jurgensen said. “For my first one, I did a salsa, rhumba number that was fun, really out there; my second was also fun, but it started with some blues and jazz. For this one, I wanted to do something ethnic or tribal. Having a real steady drum beat gave me a lot of opportunity to really dance and have fun.” Jurgensen developed the program with her
coach Peter Kongkasem. “He’s on the ice with me as I’m skating and we just kind of feed off each other,” Jurgensen said. “I like to put my own interpretation on it because if I get a program and there’s something I’m not com- fortable with, it takes away from me being able to fully perform, because I’m thinking about it all the time. So I try and take what all my coaches have given me and put a little bit of myself in there so I feel comfortable.”
As far as her immediate future, Jurgensen will
perform on the cruise ship to Hans Christian An- dersen stories. She will play the main character in the story titled “Te Red Shoes.” “It’s a really exhausting number; when I’m
done I’m wiped out,” she said. “I’ll do a solo num- ber and group numbers.”
12 NOVEMBER 2014
event at the fourth annual National Solo Dance Se- ries Final, Sept. 18–20, in Colorado Springs, Colo. It was her third consecutive senior title at the event. Sarah Zhang, also from California, placed second and Colorado’s Jessica Williams finished third in the same category. “Te timing worked out perfectly,” said Jur-
JURGENSEN SAILS TO SENIOR COMBINED TITLE, NEW ADVENTURES
PHOTOS BY NORMAN HAYWARD
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