Ice Theatre is the New Black

Ice Theatre of New York

Professional ice dance troupes are really gaining popularity these days. Much like their counterparts in the off-ice world, they are traveling dance companies that offer a unique experience that often challenges conventional dance--or in this case, ice dance.

Two troupes have been making headlines lately, one I know well and one I do not (but looks cool):

Ice Theatre of New York is kicking off it's home season, Ice: Dance 2014, on September 20 in Sun Valley, and taking it on the road to five other cities, including a Gala Benefit honoring Olympic and World Champ Tenley Albright in New York, October 16-18. All proceeds from that event go to the company's New Works and Young Artists series of education and outreach programs.

I've been an ITNY fan for a while now, and their performances are really fun to watch. It really takes you out of the box of traditional skating, and inspires me to try new ways of playing with my choreography and presentation (an aspect of skating that just about everyone needs more work on).

Here's a video of some of their work:



The other group that I do not know well, but nonetheless seems impressive is Le Patin Libre, a French Canadian troupe that recently got a promotional boost (at least among the figure skaters I follow on social media) with an article in London's Evening Standard. They're prepping for London's annual Dance Umbrella festival, where they will be one of the headliners. They were also featured in a BBC special, 'This is Contemporary Ice Skating.'

Here's a little bit of their stuff: