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MASSENA - More than 80 skaters will take to the Massena Arena ice on Sunday for this years annual show presented by the Massena Figure Skating Club.
This years show is called Salchows and Seaweed, with an ocean-based theme throughout the presentations.
A salchow, Ice Show Chair Aimee Auger said, is a jump named after a well-known skater, Urich Salchow, who did the first one.
Ten groups will skate, along with solo skaters during the show, which begins at 1 p.m.
The youngest is 3 (years old), Ms. Auger said.
They form two groups, Three Little Fishes and Taba Naba.
Taba Naba is a childrens song originating in the Torres Strait Islands just north of the continent of Australia. This words when the song is translated, in keeping with the ocean theme, say, Come on lets go to the Reef. Get into the dinghy when the morning tide is low. Let us row to the edge of the reef. Come on lets go to the reef.
We have one song sung in another language found in the eastern islands of the Torres Strait. And our senior group skaters are representing the ocean herself, with a very important message for all of us. We have a lot of ocean-themed music, she said, including Anchors Aweigh, Titanic and Yellow Submarine.
All together, 81 members will be skating in this years show, and theyve been practicing for several weeks, according to Ms. Auger.
Theyve had eight weeks of practice, between eight and 10 rehearsals, each lasting about an hour-and-a-half, she said.
Among the skaters is this years graduating senior, Molli Richards. Now 17 years old, she has been skating since she was 3 and got involved in the program because of a family connection.
My moms a coach, she said.
Shell be skating to the Lady Antebellum song, Hello World.
Im excited about doing it, Ms. Richards said.
She said she practices for about an hour-and-a-half a day, four days a week from October to March.
Its kind of relaxing, she said.
Although it will be her last solo performance as part of the Massena Figure Skating Club, it wont be her first solo performance. Ms. Richards said she has performed solo for the past three or four years.
Its special being a senior solo. Im dedicating it to my mom, she said.
Ms. Richards said she hopes to attend college at either Middlebury or Dartmouth and, if possible, continue to participate in synchronized skating.
I want to continue in college, she said, but it isnt a priority for me.
Tickets for Sundays show, which is sanctioned by the United States Figure Skating Association, are $5 for adults, $3 for age 62 and up, and $1 for students. Theyre available at the door the day of the show.