The theme for this year’s Figure Skating in Harlem (FSH) gala was Igniting the Dream, and Olympic figure skaters were on hand to be part of the celebration. This included Olympic Champion Alysa Liu; silver ice dance medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates; and gold medalists from the team event Amber Glenn, Ellie Kam, and Danny O’Shea.
Olympic judge Tina Lundgren, a passionate FSH supporter, was an honoree, along with Tony Award-winning actress Anika Noni Rose, who voiced the first African American Disney princess, Tiana, and is currently starring on Broadway in “The Balusters.” Her award was presented by FSH participant McKenzie Lewis, who recently appeared on Broadway in “The Lion King.”
The opening of the Davis Center, with the Gottesman Rink at the north end of Central Park, has provided more ice time for FSH participants. There were four Harlem Ice synchronized skating teams this year. “For us, synchro is about building teamwork skills and leadership skills that you carry with you everywhere,” said FSH founder/CEO Sharon Cohen.
Seniors Tori Prentice and Adrianna Walker, who were featured in the Disney+ docuseries “Harlem Ice,” were presenters at the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards. “Of course, they were poised and their public speaking skills were wonderful,” said Cohen.
Founded in 1997, FSH now has a program for alumnae, several of whom were at the gala. The alumnae board created a workshop for older FSH girls, teaching them about professionalism and being in the workplace. Tanay Davis was the evening’s alumnae honoree. “I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without Figure Skating in Harlem,” said Davis, who is now a senior specialist, global communications at MasterCard.
The program’s six seniors have all been accepted by colleges. Ellie Stubbs Gomez will attend the University of Pennsylvania on a full scholarship; Prentice is bound for Seton Hall University; Walker will enter the nursing honors program at Pace University; and Danielle Wood will attend Quinnipiac University, which has a skating club she plans to join. “FSH gave me a lot of structure,” said Wood, who has been part of FSH for 12 years. “In the skating, even though they teach us and they push us, they still allow us to have fun with what we’re doing and explore ourselves through our skating and not just practice our skills.”
Eight-year-old Malia Walters is in her first year with FSH and was part of the spoken word piece at the gala. “I loved seeing all the practicing and the different moves that came together for the end-of-the-year ice show,” she said. “For the ice show, everyone cheered us on.”
“Right after this gala, we start year 30,” said Cohen. “We’re looking to keep growing in size and impact.”