Toni Rogers starts planning for the next ice show at Magness Arena a month after the last one ends. Themes are discussed, costumes ordered and volunteers organized to help stage the show.
Skaters have been rehearsing since early March. Props were constructed last month.
The 29 annual ice show is this Friday and Saturday. Themed “Headlines on Ice,” this year’s program will offer spectators “a very upbeat show that will include themes from all portions of their daily [news]paper,” said Rogers. “There will be lots of action coming from the Business, Entertainment, Style, Sports and more.”
“The hardest part of the show is determining the music and costumes so that everything ties together and does not seem like just a random set of numbers being skated,” says Rogers, figure skating Manager for the Division of Athletics and Recreation.
She said the annual event celebrates all of the skaters that that use the ice rink at DU.
Skaters in the show range from toddlers to national level skaters such as Braden Overett, the 2003 U.S. collegiate champion. “The most important part is probably assigning the skaters to the groups that they end up in and making sure that each group will display the talents of all of the skaters,” said Rogers.
The ice show isn’t without some surprises, as varsity hockey players will also be featured. “The hockey players will be paired with female competitive skaters to perform a high-action number in which you will see the hockey players skate completely differently from their game form,” said Rogers. “The female competitive skaters will comprise of the DU collegiate skaters and some of the HS graduating seniors.” There is also a father-daughter tradition that promises to be a special moment.
In the end, the show is all about the skaters, Rogers said. Her favorite part of the event “is seeing a skater’s excitement of them watching themselves on the jumbo-tron [and] watching the seniors perform their last number together and the memories that those skaters have from the show.”
“I’ve coached at DU for three years now, and have seen the ice show get better each year,” said ice show coach and skater Sarah Pifer. “Personally, it has been a rewarding experience to see kids that I coached from day one skate in the show and see their hard work has paid off.”
Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and a Sunday show at 1:30. Tickets are $20 for on ice, $12 for adults, and $8 for seniors, students and children. They can be purchased at the Ritchie Center Box office, Joy Burns Arena, and online at Ticketmaster.com. For more information call the Joy Burns Arena at (303) 871-3904.
