The Martha’s Vineyard Figure Skating Club brought a lively blend of music and ice skating talent to the Martha’s Vineyard Ice Arena last weekend that delighted young and old, family members and friends. The club’s 27th annual performance, titled Divas on Ice, featured skaters of all levels from tots to professionals.
A highlight of the Friday-night and Saturday-afternoon performances was the return of national champion figure skater Alexander Aiken to the Island ice arena. Mr. Aiken is a seven-time national competitor and two-time medalist.
Martha’s Vineyard High School senior Elizabeth Smith of Vineyard Haven has been part of the ice show for the past 12 years. Divas on Ice was her last show as a member of the club. “This year’s show was bittersweet,” she said.
Elizabeth plans to continue her skating career next year at Bristol Community College. “Saying goodbye to the skating program will be the hardest part,” she said.
The spring ice show provided the young skaters with a venue to perform in front of their family and friends. “The skaters learn their numbers off the ice first, and one week before the show, we start on-ice rehearsals,” co-director and president of the MVFSC board Jane Taylor said. “The skaters that performed solos began their rehearsals two months ago.”
This was Mr. Aiken’s fifth year skating at the ice show. “His off-ice trainer is a very good friend of mine, and when we had a guest skater cancel on us at the last minute in 2011, I reached out to my friends in the coaching world,” Ms. Taylor said. Mr. Aiken has returned every year since then. In addition to performing, he gave lessons to many skaters while he was on the Vineyard.
Ms. Taylor spent most of the production backstage. That did not detract from the enjoyment she got watching the performers. “Overall, the show was great,” she said. “The skaters were happy with their performances, parents were happy to see their children perform, and the coaches were happy to see everyone enjoying themselves.”
For more information about the Martha’s Vineyard Figure Skating Club, go to mvfsc.org.
