Last Saturday (Feb. 12), those who had come out to enjoy the Kennedy Skating Club’s Annual Carnival were treated to unique interpretations of some memorable Broadway hits. Skaters drew an enthusiastic response from the crowd as they performed to music from Broadway favorites such as A Star Is Born, Footloose, Oklahoma and Encanto.
Danielle Bourhis (Club President) noted that the decision to hold the event earlier in the season had ensured that the young skaters had a good ‘stage’ on which to perform.
“One of the reasons why we moved the carnival to February is that we have a competition scheduled on what would have been our usual carnival weekend.
“But we also hoped to guarantee good ice by having it earlier. It was a bit worrying to have those few warmer days last week. But luckily, it cooled off at the right time and the ice was great for our skaters.”
Bourhis adds that the timing was apparently good for those wishing to take in the event as well.
“I’m not sure on the numbers yet. But we had a great crowd! It was so nice to see so many people out supporting our skaters, by allowing them to showcase their talents and all of the hard work they’ve put in over the past two years.
“It’s very important that our skaters have an event like this. They practice three time per week for several months. But unlike those involved in other sports, they don’t have regular opportunities to showcase their skills.”
She notes that hearing the praise from spectators provides the young athletes with a tremendous boost.
“Several people mentioned how nice it was for the community to be able to come together and watch the skaters perform again!
“It’s also so nice for the skaters to hear people talk about how much they’ve improved. They put in a ton of work and spent a lot of long, cold hours on the ice perfecting their routines!
“Our skaters benefit from having the chance to perform in front of an audience too. It makes competitions much less intimidating.”
Bourhis also pointed out that the club has received great support from the community.
“We very much appreciate the public’s support. We’ve had a couple of fundraisers this year and they went very well.
“It’s worth noting that this year, we changed the way that we collected donations for the raffle that we have at the carnival. Instead of canvasing local businesses, every skating family was asked to provide an item. Yet we had some local businesses reach out to donate something for the raffle anyway, which was fantastic!”
With the Carnival behind them, Bourhis says that the skaters will now continue working to improve their skills.
“I am confident that we will be able to finish our season off strong, with several ‘personal best’ showings at our final competition of the year. Our coach is excellent at bringing out the best in each skater, and creating a ‘team atmosphere’ in this very individual sport!”
