Ice Show

After twenty days of non-stop practice the curtains open, the music starts, and the performance of the year begins. What in the world could be this magical? This amazing? This exciting? Only one thing. The biannual Eddie Edgar Ice Show.
For someone who has never been gifted with the opportunity of seeing, nor is participating in the ice show it simply is a skating recital; a recital that has lights swarming the ice, a full audience and endless smiles, off and on the stage. The entire month of March is devoted to the event and on March twenty-seventh it is paid off with two shows.
To explain the entire process of this epic event let me start at the beginning. Every other October a letter is sent to the skaters participating in the event. This letter tells you which small group you are in. Depending on age and skating abilities the group could be a solo to a six-some. Because it is the juniors and seniors last show they usually have a solo. This year I received a four-some with three of my best friends; Carly, Alyssa, and Erica.
Nothing happens for three months. This is when we get our practice schedules. This day is incredibly exciting. It is a lot like schedule time here at school, all the girls bunch together in groups to see if there friends have practice at the same time as them. There is a lot of screaming and hugging. You also see what large group you are in, these consist of about fifteen people. I love these big groups because usually all of my friends are in mine.
One day about a month later we all come to regular skating practice to find dresses. Even more exciting than schedule time we see our costumes for the first time. Immediately we try them on and take pictures with them. Sparkles, sequins and compliments fly through the air as the anticipation rises.
Then twenty-three days before the show we have pictures. Each group has a fifteen minute time in a room in the rink where a photographer sets up camp. Unfortunately, usually the times of the groups are spread out resulting in many trips to the rink in a day without actually skating. Although it’s incredibly fun, like a big game of dress-up.
Then twenty days before the big day practice begins. For the next twenty days you are at the ice rink every day. Girls are in the dressing rooms doing anything from homework to cards to coloring to videogames. Although for most of the time we are sitting around during dress rehearsals waiting for our time to shine no one says it’s boring. Maybe that’s part of the greatness of the ice show, you get to spend so much time together, meet new people, and save everlasting friendships.
Then suddenly twenty days passes you buy and you wake up to realize today’s the day you have been waiting for. The day you always dream of. You hop out of bed and come straight to the rink. Pounds of make-up is pounded to your face. Tons of hair-spray sprayed in your hair. Dresses thrown around like balloons floating every which way. Then the lights turn on, cameras get ready and the music begins. When you first get on the ice you see your family in the audience there is no better feeling. When you see the friends that come to watch you feel a pang of joy that is indescribable. They all came to see you. A sudden confidence rises to the top where the biggest smile anyone could ever imagine spreads across your face. The routine begins and something whether adrenaline or just plain joy creates the best performance of a life time.
In way too short of a time the day is over. For the next week you find yourself wandering the house wondering what you should be doing, when you realize nothing. After the ice show your days are empty. Then when you begin to actually relax on the time off summer skating begins which is quickly followed by competition season and the cycle begins again.