Theatre On Ice is growing across the United States, and Belmont is well-represented as the figure skating discipline surges.
Ten Belmont youth competed in Theatre On Ice at the biennial Nations Cup last month in East Lansing, Michigan, with their Skating Club of Boston teams, and a handful will continue on to the nationals in Irvine, California, in late June.
“I think we’re so successful because I’ve noticed at competitions, we get very pumped up, and the energy is positive,” said Lucia Campisano, a Belmont High School junior who helped win silver in the open division with Allegro of Boston. “We’re excited to compete and show what we’ve done.”
The Skating Club of Boston, based in Norwood, offers Theatre On Ice for participants ranging from novices to experienced competitors. Theatre On Ice, a form of competitive figure skating popularized in Europe — where it’s known as Ballet On Ice — is a growing skating discipline across the United States.
Three Belmont High School students and two Belmont middle schoolers helped their respective teams medal at the Nations Cup.
Belmont High School junior Berk Akay helped Act 1 of Boston win gold in the junior event. Campisano and sophomore Samantha Torchia skated for Allegro of Boston and captured silver in the open division.
Isabella Fan, a seventh-grader at Ursuline Academy in Dedham and Stanford Online High School, and Amelia Xu, a sixth-grader at Jackson Walnut Park School in Newton, won silver in the junior novice division with Encore of Boston.
Fan started Theatre on Ice as a complement to singles skating around 2020. She started skating singles at age 3 after seeing a professional competition.
“I was so mesmerized by how beautiful everyone’s skating was,” said Fan, who started on rollerblades before she was old enough to start skating.
Campisano joined Theatre On Ice in 2019 after watching Ice Chips, Skating Club of Boston’s annual show. She loved the storytelling aspect of the ice ballet. A dancer and member of Belmont High School’s indoor and outdoor track teams, Campisano enjoys the supportive team atmosphere and end-of-season competitions.
Torchia, a field hockey player and outdoor track runner at Belmont High School, also watched Ice Chips in 2019 and joined two years later. She emulated the older skaters and wanted to join the fun.
“I like how you have the team supporting you, and you’re not alone on the ice,” Torchia said. “The way we all rely on each other makes a great environment.”
Akay started Theatre On Ice this year. Many of his friends spoke highly of their experiences, so he decided to join in. Akay skates singles at Skating Club of Boston, so Theatre On Ice offers him a team element.
“I knew there was a nice community,” Akay said.
