Danvers Couple, Imagica Win Gold at International Ice Skating Competition

The place was the Logrono Lobete Rink in Logrono, Spain. The event was the third Nations Cup, an international Theatre on Ice competition that was held from April 26 through April 28. This showpiece included a total of 41 teams comprising of about 1,200 athletes and technicians and represented six countries: the United States, Australia, Russia, Spain, France and Kazakhstan.

How did a group of accountants, real estate agents, nurses and other everyday people find themselves in the “Kiss and Cry” booth awaiting the results to their long program as the announcer cried that they had placed first in the Adult Division? These everyday people, including Michael and Sherry Desclos from Danvers, are part of an elite Theatre on Ice team, known as Imagica.

The Descloses, along with the rest of the members of Imagica Theatre on Ice, trained for this moment since they qualified last year to represent the United States in the Adult Division.

Theatre on Ice, or TOI, is a form of competitive figure skating that is popular in Europe and gaining momentum in the United States. TOI combines the grace of figure skating with the excitement of theater and dance. Teams consist of eight to 30 skaters and their programs are evaluated on technical merit and presentation with emphasis on originality, costuming, artistry and musicality.

One of four Theatre on Ice Teams from The Skating Club of Boston, Imagica is in its 16th year and is coached by Tasney Laforme of Salem. The team is comprised of adult figure skaters ranging in age from 23 to 61 who reside throughout Greater Boston and Southern New Hampshire. More than half of the team learned to skate as adults and possess a wide range of skating abilities.

The team placed first in both the short and long program, beating Russia, France and two other U.S. teams from Michigan and Florida. Imagica’s choreographic exercise, or short program, “Traditional Geisha Dance,” had to follow three requirements, which were to skate a cultural dance, show repetition in gestures, and demonstrate a level change in choreography.

The long program, “Angels in Training,” tells the story of Angels in Training who are welcomed by Saint Peter into Heaven but struggle to earn their wings when they cannot spin, jump or fly! They are then faced with and battle the forces of evil and in the end earn their wings.

For more information about Imagica TOI, visit the team website at imagica.scboston.org/.