McSwain Teaching Artistry Through Sk8tivity Clinics

by Joanne Vassallo Jamrosz, special to U.S. Figure Skating Online

Skaters at the Broadmoor take part in a Sk8tivity Artistic Clinic. (Photo courtesy of Kate McSwain)

Kate McSwain is a senior-level figure skater and choreographer who dreamed of passing on her love and appreciation of the artistry of figure skating.

Just over a year ago, her dream came true.

McSwain began her Sk8tivity Artistic Clinics to help skaters adapt to the component requirements of the international judging system (IJS) and to perform at their peak artistic potential. In this role, she travels the country presenting clinics to clubs and rinks both large and small.

"I love working with local rinks across the country," McSwain said. "Each club has such individual flavor. It is always fascinating to see how each rink goes about training and teaching. I love having the opportunity to shape skaters' worlds a little by offering them freedom, openheartedness and pure enjoyment in what they work so hard to do."

Before each presentation, McSwain talks to each club's coaches and directors to find out which artistic elements they want to focus on, and then she modifies the curriculum for that particular rink based on their suggestions."

"That is actually the most exciting and beneficial part of working with smaller grass-roots clubs," McSwain said.

Sk8tivity clinics offer an array of exercises and games to help skaters learn the concepts of movement as well as the IJS component scores in a fun, open-minded setting.

A typical Sk8tivity clinic includes 3-4 hours of on-ice time, during which McSwain teaches 2-3 major artistic concepts through a variety of games, and an hour-long, off-ice program focusing on core strengthening, improvisation and body awareness.

"Kate's personality and demeanor make her a popular coach with our students," said Nicole Stalker, director of the figure skating program at the Ice House in Greensboro, N.C. "We appreciate her creativity and fresh style, which help promote the skaters' love of sport and provides the necessary choreography that helps our students stand out."

McSwain with an attendee of one of her Sk8tivity Artistic Clinics (Photo courtesy of Kate McSwain)

McSwain trained as an elite figure skater for 15 years at the Detroit Skating Club and, most recently, at the Broadmoor Skating Club in Colorado Springs, Colo. Since stepping over to the other side of the boards, she has designed programs for U.S. competitors Rachael Flatt, Adam Rippon and Jeremy Abbott, among others.

With a degree in theater from the University of Colorado, McSwain believes she brings a fresh perspective to expression in figure skating.

"Studying theater at the university level was definitely a starting point to Sk8tivity," McSwain said. "As a figure skater taking drama classes, I recognized the significant connection between theatrical stage presence and on-ice stage presence."

Marta Nilsen, a former coach from the Thoroughbred Figure Skating Club in Lexington, Ky., likes the inspiration McSwain brings to her clinics' skaters.

"Kate gets students to move out of their comfort zones and explore new horizons on the ice," Nilsen said. "They find new ways of moving, which is extremely important in the IJS."

For McSwain, the clinics allow her to share her passion for skating, performing and movement with young skaters.

"I love spreading the joy in our sport," McSwain said. "If I can convey the importance of being open-hearted and skating with passion to these young skaters, even if it's only for a few hours, I feel as though I've at least been able to give them the tools they need to know what is important in figure skating."

For more information about the Sk8tivity clinics, visit www.kmcswain.com.