By DAN HEATH
ROUSES POINT — North Country Skating Club will perform its 31st-annual ice show this Saturday and Sunday.
Skating to the theme of "One Hit Wonders" will be 14 groups of skaters and seven soloists, said club President Maria Boyer, to songs such as "Groove Is In The Heart" by Deee-Lite, "Mambo No. 5" by Lou Bega and "Hippy Hippy Shake," written by Chan Romero and covered by a number of artists.
Kim Cruz is the club's head coach and director of the ice show.
"The ice is hers," Boyer said. "I run the club."
Cruz was putting the members through one of their final rehearsals Monday at Rouses Point Civic Center, with advanced skaters carrying prop boom boxes as they did a series of graceful curves and spins. A little later, the five junior coaches helped younger skaters with their routines.
The junior coaches are in the club's advanced class. They have all received certification at the Preliminary Free Level by U.S. Figure Skating Association judges.
Boyer's daughter, Megan, 17, is one of them. She teaches skaters at the Basic 5 and Basic 7 levels, and also provides private lessons.
Those skaters learn skills such as spins, jumps and spirals.
"I enjoy just seeing everyone happy and teaching them what I know. Then they can grow their own skills," Megan said.
The Northeastern Clinton Central School senior plans to continue coaching when she attends college this fall, and noted the sport is really good exercise.
CAMARADERIE
Allyson Duprey, 10, is one of the Basic 5 skaters. She joined the club when she was 8 years old.
"We're going to do 'Mambo No. 5,'" she said.
The shows are a lot of fun, she said, and she really enjoys getting a trophy at the end of the year. It also provides opportunities for camaraderie.
"I've made a lot of friends in the club."
Previous shows have had themes such as the movie "Titanic." The club dedicated last year's finale to Samuel de Champlain, with performers costumed as Native Americans and settlers.
Skaters come from around the North Country and northern Vermont to learn their skills with the club.
Instruction starts with the beginners Snowplows level, for 3- to 6-year-olds, up through Level 6 Free Style. Skaters then move on to the advanced level, where they have to arrange to work with a personal coach.
The club relies heavily on a large group of volunteers, both board members and parents of the skaters. There are many tasks when it comes to staging the annual show — locker room monitor, costume creation, ticket sales, prop construction and more.
The six-month season wraps up Monday with presentation of medals and certificates to the 76 members of the club. Boyer said there's always plenty to do in the offseason as they prepare for the upcoming one.
It all pays off with the annual ice show. Boyer said it is often her first chance to see her charges progress, as she's too busy running the club to watch many practices and lessons.
The shows are always well attended, she said.
"Saturday and Sunday, the bleachers are full."
E-mail Dan Heath at: dheath@pressrepublican.com
