About the Artist
Ian Lorello and Laura Seal, owners of The Next Ice Age Academy, the only Artistic Skating School in the nation, are former competitive figure skaters that now choreograph dance on ice. Ian, once an ice dancer who competed on behalf of Team USA for 10 years internationally, began his performing career as a professional in 2013. Since he began, Ian has worked with The Next Ice Age, Ice Dance International, and Rand Productions throughout the country. Laura, a former competitor in singles, synchronized skating, and solo ice dance, began her performance career in 2017 and has worked with The Next Ice Age and Rand Productions. Ian and Laura work together choreographing Columbia Figure Skating Club’s “Nutcracker on Ice” and spring show performances, as well as coach and choreograph The Chesapeake Diamonds and Sapphires Theater on Ice Teams. They seek to cultivate an artistic community within an individualistic and competitive sport.
Ian Lorello and Laura Seal website View Website
Artist's Statement
The applicants create dance on ice inspired by the unique dimension of glide that is not present in other types of dance. They explore the use of glide to create flow and contrast of movement, presenting work that nurtures a full spectrum of emotion in both the dancers they work with and their audiences. Fortified by the risks their predecessors took to pioneer figure skating as a dance form, the applicants strive to further previous advancements by making the art form more accessible and visible. They break the mold by cultivating an artistic community within an individualistic and competitive sport.
