Toronto group takes break dancing to the ice

By Amanda Ferguson

They kick, spin and headstand to music, but don’t call members of The Toronto Ice Skate Group b-boys.

They’re creators first. Skaters second.

Group member Cliff Holzscherer says the first frosty inkling to create this new form of skating came a little over three years ago.

“I actually was living in Europe skating for a rink and I noticed some people doing this sport called freestyle ice skating,” Holzscherer said. “I started learning it but I wanted to do something more artistic, more on the expression of dance.”

Then ice-breaking was born.

Holzscherer says he was skating in Toronto when the moves of fellow skaters Lael Nadua, Miguel Melo and Jose Melo quickly caught his eye. A few short months later, the four formed The Toronto Ice Skate Group. Then the challenge of creating moves from scratch began.

“It’s like composing music,” said Nadua. “Basically we have basics which is the sharp turn… infinity eights and then you kind of compose it.”

The four decided to recently gauge crowd reaction to their routines over the holidays with a surprise performance at the Nathan Phillips Square rink.

Their first official performance will be Saturday at the opening of The Bentway rink underneath the Gardiner Expressway.

To prepare, the group has been hitting the outdoor rink outside the Scarborough Civic Centre everyday for three or four hours at a time.

“We’re all really excited about it,” Holzcherer said. “It’s going to be a great event and we can’t thank The Bentway (Conservancy) enough.”

The grand opening of The Brentway happens Saturday at 11 a.m.

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