Ice Dance International to perform ‘Space Odyssey: Total Eclipse of the Ice’
DOVER-FOXCROFT — McKusick Petroleum, Ice Dance International, Maine Highlands Council for the Arts, and Central Hall Commons have partnered to create a weekend of joy and fun on April 6-7 with “Space Odyssey: Total Eclipse of the Ice”, prior to the total solar eclipse that will pass through Dover-Foxcroft on April 8 at 3:32 p.m.
IDI’s Artistic Director Douglas Webster, who moved to Dover-Foxcroft last fall, dreamt of creating a show that could bring people together for a dose of hilarity and fun to provide locals, and visitors coming to the area to view the eclipse, something extraordinary to experience over the weekend. Webster’s friend, nationally recognized coach and choreographer Stephanee Grosscup, suggested an alien, space cowboy, plastic ice show, with music relating to the eclipse, and well, the rest is history.
The Central Hall Commons provides the perfect location with a stage and audience viewing area. The free 30-minute shows take place both days at 4 and 7 p.m. Audience members are encouraged to wear space outfits to join in the fun. Food and drink will be on sale. A dance party will take place after the Saturday evening show and there will be eclipse-inspired crafts, games, and face painting presented by the Maine Highlands Council for the Arts before and after the 4 p.m. shows.
Monson Arts is graciously providing housing for the Ice Dance International Company that includes:
Alissa Czisny (Toronto): two-time United States Champion and Grand Prix Final Champion
Carly Donowick (England,): United States International team
Adam Kaplan (Barrington, Rhode Island): Ice Dance International company member since 2017
Jean-Simon Légaré (Miami): Ice Dance International Company Member
Lara Shelton (Weymouth, Massachusetts): Featured in the 2022 Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Neill Shelton (Weymouth, Massachusetts): Featured in the 2022 Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Rohene Ward (Chicago): World-famous choreographer for star skaters including Jason Brown
For additional information about Ice Dance International visit the IDI website events page at www.icedanceinternational.org.
Established in 2014 as a non-profit organization and based in Dover-Foxcroft, IDI has built its local, US, and global image through live and virtual performances and engaging educational and outreach programs. IDI exists to showcase and promote ice dancing as an internationally recognized performing art form. With a professional company and board of directors of figure skaters and dancers that includes World, Olympic, and National champions Dorothy Hamill, JoJo Starbuck, Edward Villella, and Dick Button; IDI brings ice dance performances of the highest caliber to communities across the United States. IDI’s touring show, Grace, premiered in the fall of 2022 in Dover-Foxcroft, and toured 18 locations across the United States from Boston to Los Angeles. IDI has performed twice at the esteemed Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, has been seen on PBS television across the United States, and throughout the winter months maintains partnerships with Spruce Peak in Stowe, Vermont and Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The company looks forward to growing classes and community programs in Dover-Foxcroft at the Piscataquis County Ice Arena.
Webster is the executive and artistic director of IDI. Webster has directed all the company’s programs since its inception. Prior to founding IDI, he served as the artistic director for Ice Theatre of New York; creative director for Disson Skating’s 3-year series, Shall We Dance on Ice; and spent years as a choreographer for Disney on Ice, Holiday on Ice, and Stars on Ice. He is a leading figure skating educator heading IDI’s skate school, SKATE 360. These classes have been featured at United States Figure Skating’s elite training camps. Webster is also the Founding Artistic Director of Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond in Portsmouth. Webster is proud to call Dover-Foxcroft home and looks forward to sharing his passion for skating with the town teaching and growing programs at the Piscataquis County Ice Arena.
Grosscup, “Space Odyssey: Total Eclipse of the Ice” creative director, has been in love with ice skating for well over four decades of her life. Her professional show career spanned over 30 years, traveling the world as a principal skater with such companies as Ice Follies, Disney on Ice, Ice Theatre of New York, Sun Valley on Ice, and various TV shows and films.
From 2001-04 she was the director of skating at the SLC Sports Complex, co-creating the skating programs that still exist to this day. During this time she became the 2022 Olympic champion Nathan Chen’s first coach and choreographer. Grosscup was on the 2002 Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies choreography team. She has choreographed for numerous national, world, and Olympic competitors. In 2010 she embarked on a 5-year journey choreographing fairy tales on ice for the Volkswagen Company at the Autostadt in Wolfsburg, Germany. She is the current choreographer for the ensemble numbers in Sun Valley on Ice. She specializes in choreography, character work, ensemble/synchro, spins, unique 360-degree movement, and mentoring all levels of skaters to achieve their dreams. When not traveling for choreography, she splits her time between Sun Valley, Idaho, and Salt Lake City.
Central Hall Commons aspires to bring people together to celebrate and serve the community through programs, events, and the arts. For more, go to www.centralhallcommons.org.