CALEB NICKERSON
SHAWVILLE March 16, 2018
On March 16, the Shawville Figure Skating Club put on it’s annual performance, packing the local arena with friends and family.
Club President Ronda Richardson explained that every year the show has a specific theme that influences the costumes, decorations and music choice.
“The theme for tonight is ‘Skaters set sail’, so it’s a nautical theme,” she explained. “The coaches choose the theme every year … The executive puts together the decorations and stuff like that.”
With a club of roughly 65 skaters, the program was sizable, with performers ranging in age from three to 17 displaying a wide spectrum of skills.

Richardson said that the junior and senior level skaters practice between three and five hours a week, and began rehearsing their routines three to four weeks before the show.
“The best part about the show is that the kids get to come out and showcase what they’ve done and they get to perform for their families,” Richardson said. “Their grandparents, aunts, uncles, get to come out and see them, they get to get all dressed up and wear a costume, makeup, do their hair. It’s fun for them.”
She added that the sport usually experiences a boost in popularity every four years.
“We get calls and emails from people looking to sign their kids up for next year because they’ve been watching the Olympics,” she said. “The interest peaks for figure skating.”