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Private Instruction & Seminars

Skate Sharpening

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FAQ/Blog

Services

Private Instruction & Seminars

Skate Sharpening

Professional Performer

FAQ/Blog

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Dan Hollander

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FAQ

Group classes are a great way for a person to be introduced to skating. This is a good avenue for a skater to see if this is something they enjoy and would like to pursue at a cheaper rate than private lessons. Each level has basic requirements that need to be completed before moving on. At some point a private lesson may need to be added to help a skater progress past certain moves that prove to be more difficult.

Costs: Group classes charge a nominal fee that includes your coach, ice time, and in some facilities, practice time and rental skates if required. For private lessons, a skater must pay for the coach their hourly rate (pro rated) as well as paying the rink for the ice time.

Some skaters only take private lessons on public sessions or designated “private lesson ice” until they can skate on figure skating sessions that require a certain level of proficiency as dictated by that facility. They end up skipping group classes all together. That is not the norm, but not unheard of, and of course more costly. Another benefit is that a skater can learn at their own pace. Some skaters may want to learn and attempt moves that are not even taught in group classes. A few years back I taught a young skater who was ready to quit skating because she was stuck at a level in group classes. She simply could not do a forward spin. When I showed her a back spin and a mini back camel, she could not necessarily do them well, but much easier for her than a forward spin. For a good two years we worked on harder elements that were easier to her and more importantly, fun to learn, and eventually she was able to master the other “easier” elements. For her, she would have quit skating if private lessons were not an option.

When you see skaters zipping around the ice doing jumps and spins, some in lessons and some practicing, they are most likely members with USFS (United States Figure Skating - the national governing body of figure skating that selects our olympic team) through a figure skating club or as an individual member. Their tests start with pre-preliminary moves in the field. A skater does not need to complete any levels in a group class to start to learn this test and to take it. Group classes help provide a solid base to be prepared to start to learn this test, but some choose privates only, or a mixture of group and private lessons to get to this point. Please feel free to reach out to Dan if you need help to decide what avenue is right for your skater!