The information presented below is our first information release for the RFSC 2024 Ice Show. All items are also available under the menus above. They are bundled here for your convenience. Please read through all of the sections before registering.
Dates to Remember
Registration due: Sunday, October 22, 2023
Tryouts: Saturday, October 28, 2023 | 1:30
A quick note about test levels: This season, U.S. Figure Skating changed the names of the skating test levels. We are using the new test names on these pages. Where possible, we will include a reference to the old test level name.
Contract Skaters' Registration Information
Registration for the 2024 Ice Show has ended.
Contact your coach to inquire about late registration.
All Rochester Figure Skating Club members who contract for their ice time (and who choose to participate in the show) must complete the Online Registration Process by Sunday, October 22, 2023. A $25 late fee will be assessed for entries submitted after October 22.
Registration for the 2024 RFSC Ice Show is available online. You do not need to be logged into this website; however, logging in will retrieve any personal information saved here. Online registration will require that all questions be answered before your skater's registration is complete. Please note: after completing the Ice Show Participation Form, make sure you have credit card information in the RFSC Customer Portal to cover the costume deposit (see below).
Costume Deposit
A $40 per number costume deposit will be required to register for the Ice Show. Your credit card will be charged through the RFSC Customer Portal when the cast list is posted, not at the time of registration. This is a deposit toward the cost of your costumes. The remaining balanced, which includes a $5 accessory fee for the Grand Finale, is divided into two payments: the first payable with your December skating bill (due January 20, 2024), the second with your February skating bill (due March 20, 2024). See the Costume Information section for details.
Costume deposits cannot be refunded. Changes to your Number of Numbers™ selection must be made by Saturday, October 28, 2023.
You will be asked to select costume sizes during registration. Please measure your skater before you begin the registration process so you have the information you need to complete the costume sizing section of the online registration form. Excellent instructions for measuring can be found at Weissman Costumes (one of our show vendors). There is also a link to a “How to Measure” video in the Sizing Tips for Success section following those instructions.
Important Ice Show Registration Notes:
Remember: Tryouts are arranged through your professional coach and will not be on the registration form. However, you must still complete the Ice Show Registration Form.
The number of numbers which you agree to skate in also indicates the number of costumes you are willing to purchase (in the past, the average cost per number for costume and accessories has been approximately $90–110). We do our best to keep costs down and order reasonably priced costumes with good quality in mind. We are always somewhat limited by what the costume companies have to offer.
By completing the online registration, you will be agreeing to participate in the Ice Show and to the following:
- Skaters must agree to participate in all show numbers in which they are cast, for all performances, even though they don't know which numbers those will be at the time of registration.
- Skaters are responsible for their own measurements and understand that they are responsible for any size alterations that are needed.
- Costumes cannot be returned or exchanged for different sizes. PLEASE MEASURE CAREFULLY!
- Costumes may not be altered before pictures without approval from the costume committee.
- Costumes must be worn as directed by the costume committee and show director—NO EXCEPTIONS.
- Skaters who are cast as soloists in the show must have their costume approved no later than Sunday, December 31, 2023.
Soloists who do not have their costume for picture day will not be pictured in the show program and the picture will not be posted at the rink. Please plan accordingly. - Skaters may not wear their costumes prior to show performances, except at the request or approval of the costume committee and/or show director. Costumes must also be covered if worn by skaters in the audience during show performances or any show rehearsals.
- The Rochester Figure Skating Club does not control photos that are taken by outside media sources. By registering for the show, you acknowledge that photos may be taken by members of the media during practices and show week performances.
- Photos taken on show picture day in March will be publicized in our show program and may be displayed in the RFSC communication showcases at the Rochester Recreation Center. These photos may also be used in media outlets to publicize the show and the club in general.
- Skaters and parents must respect all fellow skaters, volunteers and directors of the ice show. Many hours are spent preparing for an outstanding show that is fun for skaters as well as pleasing to the audience. Please be considerate of others to make it a positive experience for all involved.
Show Tryouts (By coach selection only)
Tryouts Date
Saturday, October 28, 2023
1:30–3:00 pm on the south rink. (Final schedule will be posted prior to tryouts).
Ice Show tryouts are intended for contract level skaters who wish to be considered for small group features or solos. You will be contacted by your professional coach if you qualify. Please check with your coach if you have questions.
Skaters are not required to try out to participate in the show. Typically, a skater will try out if they wish to be placed in a small feature group, trio, duet or solo. Anyone not wishing to try out will be appropriately cast according to his or her skating ability and the needs of the show. Skaters must be current on their skating bill on the day of tryouts in order to participate in tryouts. If you don't plan to try out, you may skip this section and move on to the Casting Information section.
Show tryout information
- Minimum requirements are Pre-Bronze Singles (formerly Pre-Juvenile Free Skate) OR a consistently landed axel. Skaters should talk to their coaches if they have any questions.
- Show tryout programs may be a maximum of 1 minute and 15 seconds.
- The tryouts will be held on the South Rink and the judges will sit on the bleachers on the west side so tryout programs should be choreographed accordingly.
- Tryouts will be grouped according to test level. Test level is determined by the highest singles (formerly free skate) test passed. A random drawing will be done within test level groups to determine skating order.
Tryouts are not necessary for:
- Opening
- Finale
- Skaters who will be included in a "Grad Feature" (Check with your coach to see if you qualify for this).
- Graduating seniors as described on the Casting Info page
Judging of tryouts
- Members of the skating and artistic community will judge show tryouts.
- Show tryouts will be judged equally on Technical Merit and Artistic Presentation. Technical Merit refers to the difficulty level and quality of skating elements such as jumps, spins, footwork, extensions, etc. Artistic Presentation refers to showmanship, expression, music interpretation, audience appeal, etc.
- Judges' written comments will be given to each skater within 2 weeks of tryouts.
More Information
If you have questions, please contact your professional coach or our Show Tryouts Chair:
Armin Petrosyan | Email Armin Petrosyan
Casting Information
A show number is any of the following:
- Grad Feature—For the skaters who have begun to skate on contract Ice. Talk to your coach about qualifying for one of these numbers.
- Large Singles (formerly Free Skate) Group—Most skaters will be placed in a large singles group the year after their grad feature and will remain in a large group for several years, depending on their ability and show tryout performance.
- Sophomore/Junior Feature—Skaters who are either sophomores or juniors in high school who have not been included in a feature and have passed preliminary singles (formerly preliminary free skate) or above.
- Senior Feature—Skaters who are seniors in high school who have passed preliminary singles (formerly free skate), pre-bronze skating skills (formerly pre-juvenile moves-in-the-field) or bronze dance (complete) or above.
- Father/Daughter Number—Participation is open to any girl who is at the pre-preliminary singles (formerly free skate) or preliminary skating skills (formerly moves-in-the-field) or higher on November 7, 2023 (Hiawathaland test session is the last RFSC test session before this cutoff). Dads should be able to skate forward and backward, stop and turn. For more information see the Father/Daughter Information page.
- Small Feature Group, Duet or Trio—Skaters may earn small feature group, duet or trio placement by achieving a high score in their show tryout.
- Opening/Closing (Finale)—Skaters are chosen by consideration of age, line skating strength or tryout placement. Sometimes skaters earn one of these numbers before they earn a small feature group number.
- Solo or Feature— Solos are earned by one of the following:
- Very high tryout placement
- Graduating seniors who are skating a minimum of nine free skate units per week at RFSC and who do not have a full or feature solo will be eligible for a senior highlight as determined by the show directors. The type and length of the highlight will be determined by the needs of the show and the skater’s singles (formerly free skate) test level:
- Pre-Bronze (formerly pre-juvenile): highlight in a group number
- Bronze (formerly juvenile): highlight approximately one minute in length, may be within a group
- Pre-Silver (formerly intermediate) and above: highlight approximately one and one-half minutes in length, may be within a group
- The final decision regarding casting will be made by the artistic director and casting committee.
- Senior Soloists and Senior Small Group numbers will work with the artistic director in the selection of music.
- Senior Soloists and Senior Small Group numbers will work with the costume committee in the selection of costume/dress options, which include color choices. Costumes must be approved by the costume committee by December 31, 2023.
- Show casting placement for solos and features is determined by the show tryout score.
- Show casting placement for other numbers is determined by skating ability and the needs of the show.
- Previous casting placement does not guarantee similar casting each year.
The tryout placement score, along with the number of units contracted and skated per week (Singles, Skating Skills/Dance, Power, Edge and Synchronized) will affect the number of show numbers a skater may be assigned. Units will be counted with the expectation that the contracting and skating of those units will commence in September and be maintained throughout the year. Changes in a skater’s contract may affect casting.
A skater may be placed in 1 to 4 numbers based on their parent's permission (indicated on the Participation Form) and the following:
- 5 to 8 units per week = 1 number
- 9 to 14 units per week = up to 2 numbers
- 15 or more units per week = up to 4 numbers
Be aware that costumes will need to be purchased for each number in which a skater is cast. In the past, the average cost per number for costume and accessories has been approximately $90–110.
Skaters who participate on a synchronized team or have tested in dance may qualify for an additional number(s). The Father/Daughter number is considered an additional number and does not count toward the above listed maximums.
Final decisions will be made by the artistic director and casting committee. The cast list is posted around Thanksgiving.
Information for Soloists
If you will not have a solo in the show, you may skip this section and move on to the Costume Information section.
It is important that solo performances fit in with the theme and general appearance of the Show. For this reason, a soloist may not independently select music, costume color or style.
- The Artistic Director selects all the music for the show, including soloist's music. Graduating seniors who are soloists have input to the selection of their music but the Artistic Director makes the final determination.
- Soloists will work with the costume committee in the selection of a costume.
- Soloists may not wear any costume or dress that has already been worn for competitions or other shows! To be fair to everyone and maintain a fresh look for the show each year, all soloists must agree to purchase a new costume or dress for the show.
- The costume committee will contact soloists after the cast list is posted to discuss costume options, which will include color options for each soloist as determined by the costume committee and artistic director.
- Soloists must have their costumes approved by the costume committee no later than December 31, 2023.
- Any soloist who does not have their costume for picture day, will not be pictured in the show program and a picture will not be posted at the rink. Please plan accordingly!
All soloists are required to attend a special lighting session with the Technical Director. This session is on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 8:30 am on the South Rink (time is tentative—a final schedule will be distributed). Soloists are to wear their solo costume(s) to this session.
Soloists will not receive any monetary funds for performing in the RFSC Ice Show. Solo performances are for the greater benefit of the Rochester Figure Skating Club and the audience. U.S. Figure Skating has rules that allow payment for performances, but it is not RFSC policy to pay club members to perform in our annual ice show. Prior to the show, the soloist is not allowed to perform the solo, wear the show costume or use the solo program at any engagement, except for show-related practice or performance.
The soloist is required to skate the minimum required units as outlined on the Show Casting Information page. If the skater is injured and unable to skate the required number of units per week, a doctor's note must be submitted to the Show Director.
Costume Information (Updated)
Costumes are selected by the Costume Committee and the Show Director.
Please note: Payment information has changed since the original release: For convenience, costume fees are broken into three payments. See the information below.
Costume measurement information is collected during registration. Costume pickup for contract skaters is – TBD –. See the information below for deposit and payment information.
Costume Deposit and Payment Schedule
The cost of your costume(s) will be divided into three payments:
Deposit
An initial deposit will be based on the Number of Numbers™ in which you participate:
| 1 Number | 2 Numbers | 3 Numbers | 4 Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| $ 40 | $ 80 | $120 | $160 |
| 1 number | $ 40 |
|---|---|
| 2 numbers | $ 80 |
| 3 numbers | $120 |
| 4 numbers | $160 |
Synchro and Father/Daughter costumes are not counted in the initial deposit amount, but may require an additional payment later.
Costume deposits will be collected through our Customer Portal. Enter your credit card number on your Customer Portal Personal Information page during registration (you will see instructions on your way in). Your credit card will be charged when the cast list is posted, not at the time of registration. This is a deposit toward the cost of your costumes.
Remining Balance
The remaining balance will include a $5 accessory fee for the Grand Finale. This balance is divided into two payments:
- 50% of the remaining balance will be included on your December skating bill payable by January 20, 2024
- Total remaining balance will be included on your February skating bill payable by March 20, 2024
A Few More Details
In the past, the average cost per number for costume and accessories has been approximately $90–110. We try very hard to keep the price of costumes reasonable for everyone. However, we are somewhat limited by what the costume companies offer and what the needs are for our show.
Tights are not included with the costumes but are required for all of the girls. Information will be available after the costumes are posted.
Costume deposits cannot be refunded. Changes to your Number of Numbers™ selection must be made by October 28, 2023.
Measurements for Costumes
You will be asked to select costume sizes during registration. Please measure your skater before you begin the registration process so you have the information you need to complete the costume sizing section of the online registration form. Excellent instructions for measuring can be found at Weissman Costumes (one of our show vendors). Or, watch their "How to Measure" video:
Skaters are responsible for any costume size alterations that may be required. Changes to the design of a costume will be made only at the direction of the Costume Committee and Show Directors. ALL costumes must be worn as directed by the costume committee and show directors
If you have any questions on this please contact our costume chairperson:
Amanda MikhailEmail Amanda Mikhail | (507) 254-1899
Father/Daughter Number Information
We will be including a Father/Daughter number in the Show again this year. Sign up to be in this number by indicating "yes" for the Father/Daughter question on your online Show Registration Form.
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Participation is open to any girl who has passed pre-preliminary singles (formerly free skate; not to be confused with Learn2Skate pre-free skate badge) or preliminary skating skills (formerly moves-in-the-field) or higher on November 7, 2023 and her father. Please note that the Hiawathaland test session in October is the last RFSC test session before this cutoff date.
While the intent is that skaters will skate with their fathers, exceptions can be made. It is possible that a skater could skate with another family member (grandfather, uncle, older brother) or a neighbor or friend. However, a skater will not be allowed to skate with her boyfriend.
- Dads should be able to skate forward and backward, stop and turn.
- There is one mandatory rehearsal scheduled on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 7:00–8:30 pm. Attendance is required for both father and daughter at the mandatory rehearsal and all show week rehearsals.
- Cost: $5 for each Father participating (one father with two daughters is still only $5). This amount will be added to your regular skating bill to help cover ice costs.
- Father/daughter couples will skate one show each. You will be contacted about your preference.
- If there is more than one daughter in a family, the father may skate with only one daughter in a given show.
- This number is considered an "extra" number and will not count toward the show number maximum as outlined on the Show Casting Information page.
- Skaters choosing to perform in the father/daughter number in the show must be willing to purchase an extra costume if needed.
Father/Daughter Rehearsal Schedule
Mandatory Rehearsal
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
7:00–8:30 pm
Rehearsals
To maintain continuity for the show and to be fair to all skaters we enforce the following policies for rehearsal attendance:
- Attendance is taken at all rehearsals.
- Skaters may not miss more than one rehearsal per number during the show session. This includes rehearsals scheduled on Monday and Tuesday of show week. All skaters must be present for Wednesday and Thursday show week rehearsals.
- While any off-ice sessions scheduled are required for all skaters in those numbers, it does not count toward the one allowed miss.
- Arriving to rehearsal 10 minutes late or leaving rehearsal 10 minutes early counts as half a miss.
- Attendance is required for both father and daughter at the mandatory rehearsal and all show week rehearsals.
