Fairfax City Offers State's Only Theatre on Ice Team

Fairfax City is home to the only ice theatre team in the state. When figure skater Olga Garrity founded the Virginia Ice Theatre of Fairfax last September, she banked on it being one of a kind.

Ice theatre, known as “ballet on ice” in Europe, is a combination of figure skating, theatre and dance. Garrity’s team has 22 members between the ages of 9 and 17. The team placed fourth at the 2012 National Theatre on Ice Competition in Strongville, OH on June 21 with their Dr. Seuss-themed performance.

Garrity started coaching at five years ago. Before that she led Fredericksburg and Charlottesville teams. The Stafford County resident said ice theatre is unique because it is the only activity where you can combine a varied group of ages and abilities to form a cohesive group and produce an original performance successfully. She hopes to form an adult-only team within the next two years and would like to see her current team compete internationally.

“I want to widen our horizons and put the team on pic-skates, which is a skate wheel design that mimics on-ice skating but allows you to skate on a non-ice surface,” she said. “This would allow us to go out into the community and perform at various venues to audiences that may never see this otherwise. I would like the kids to use this as a way to give back to the community and continue to grow [local] interest in this sport.”

The coach and artistic director said her goal for this year is for everyone to skate their theatrical best.

“I want the skaters to have a wonderful time, meet other skaters from all over the country and walk away with a deeper appreciation for their craft,” she said. “And of course, join us for another year.”

Springfield resident Harriet Vorona’s 9-year-old daughter Carolin couldn't wait for nationals.

“She loves the theatre team,” Vorona said. “[She] likes skating in a group and has made many new friends. The dress rehearsals in full costume and with all the props on the ice are her favorites, besides of course competing.”

Vorona said the ice skating rink has become Carolin’s second home thanks to the team. Garrity has been Carolin’s figure skating coach for two and a half years.

“Ice theatre has always been Olga's passion and when she told me she started thinking about creating a team in Fairfax, we were on board from the very first minute,” Vorona said. “Through [ice] theatre, I have met so many nice kids and their parents and traveling to the competitions. This season has been fun. It's a very supportive, cheerful and creative group.”

But above all else, the coach loves watching her skaters become a team.

“Figure skating is such an individual sport and this enables the kids to get to know each other, cheer for each other at competitions and become friends,” she said. “It is the best feeling when I see one of my littlest members skate with the most experienced skater. I love watching them interact with each other outside of theatre and truly form bonds and friendship that I hope they will treasure for the rest of their lives.”

Click here to learn more about the team.