On this Solo Q&A, be taught extra about Jade Wöhler, a senior ice dancer from The Netherlands who trains with the Foy Ice Dance program on the Deen Determine Skating Membership. Photographs by Pietures.
Inform us about how your skating journey started. What drew you to the ice? Do you might have any particular reminiscences?
I began taking determine skating classes once I was 6.5 years outdated (I did skate earlier, however since I might solely skate whereas holding my mother’s hand, I needed to wait a bit to start out taking classes). I began skating as a result of my older sister skated too (she nonetheless does), and since I look as much as her, I wished to do all the things she did. At first I really didn’t like the teachings, however my solely associates have been on the rink so I continued, and the longer I skated, the extra I began to fall in love with the superb sport. My favourite reminiscences are the teachings I had with Wouter Toledo, he was a tremendous assist for me on and off ice and I’ll always remember him (sadly he died in 2018).
When and why did you select to do solo dance?
About eight years in the past I took some ice dance classes with Ashley Foy Tervoort. I actually appreciated these classes, however when one other coach took over from her it bought actually boring so I made a decision that it was not for me. For a while I used to be taught by Rita Koen (I nonetheless take some classes together with her on occasion), she actually helped enhance my edges and be taught extra about them technically, and she or he taught me all of the fundamentals. I’m actually grateful that she all the time believes in me, and helps me to be a greater skater and individual. Later, I began to get increasingly more accidents as a result of large affect from leaping (I get injured faster as a result of I’ve hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome), which made me too scared to leap (I used to be even occupied with quitting the game completely), this occurred shortly earlier than Ashley began doing solo dance classes in Alkmaar (at first of 2024). The second I came upon about these classes I used to be actually excited, so I joined. Solo dance has much less affect on my joints which makes it attainable for me to coach extra and get injured much less.
What do you want most about Solo Dance? What sort of music do you prefer to skate to one of the best? Why?
I’ve all the time appreciated to follow skating expertise, do difficult choreography, and competing can also be actually enjoyable, and solo dance has all of it! I prefer to skate to music thats permits you to skate with delicate, ballet like actions, however I don’t like the everyday classical music choices, I like music that not everybody is aware of (I feel it’s boring to do the identical as everybody else) I need the judges not to go to sleep whereas watching me as a result of they’ve seen it earlier than, I need then to search for and luxuriate in it.
Proper now I practice in Alkmaar (within the Netherlands) with my coach Ashley Foy Terfoort, she makes ice dancing enjoyable and retains difficult me to be a greater ice dancer. Proper now I solely have ice dance classes a couple of times every week (and I practice on my own two occasions every week), however I’m hoping to have extra classes subsequent yr (proper now there aren’t that a lot choices as a result of I’m additionally training for the top of yr present with the determine skating membership in Alkmaar).
Who choreographed your applications? What do you want finest about them?
My choreographer can also be Ashley; we’re at the moment engaged on ending my free dance, which can be based mostly on the e-book/play “Andorra” by Max Frisch (it’s going to be very totally different from the entire applications that I had earlier than, but it surely’s a tremendous idea and I hope everybody else will like it too). Hanna Jakucs and Alessio Galli additionally helped with my free dance by including arm actions, and correcting a few of my steps. Quickly we’ll begin my rhythm dance, so I can be prepared when the competitions begin. I feel Ashley is an unimaginable coach and choreographer, and likewise since I’ve recognized her for a very long time it’s very good to work together with her.
Solo Dance is now a global self-discipline this season. Share your ideas about this transformation.
Solo dance is a tremendous self-discipline, it makes ice dance accessible for skaters that may’t discover companions or don’t need one, and it’s additionally nice for skaters that don’t bounce for quite a lot of causes. It’s fantastic to see that increasingly more skaters (together with me) discover their love for skating once more due to this. Regardless that I’m glad that it’s a global self-discipline now, I do assume that many skaters would have benefited if it had occurred earlier.
In skating, what are you most trying ahead to this season? What can be your greatest problem(s)?
I’m actually trying ahead to doing competitions once more, I do hope that there can be a couple of solo dance competitors within the Netherlands so I’ll have extra alternatives to compete close by. The most important problem will possible be navigating the brand new solo dance circuit.
What do you assume makes solo dance a particular self-discipline?
It’s a comparatively new self-discipline, so there are usually not that many solo dancers but, however I feel that it’s going to even be one of many quickest rising disciplines.
If you happen to might have a lesson with any ice dancer previous/current, who wouldn’t it be? Why?
I really don’t have a particular ice dancer that I wish to have a lesson with. To be trustworthy, I might be completely satisfied to have a lesson with virtually any ice dancer, everybody has totally different views and opinions which is able to all assist me another way. If I had to decide on somebody, I wish to have some extra classes with Sherim van Geffen. He actually helped me and hopefully he’ll be capable of train me extra subsequent season.
What are your favourite off-ice actions?
I like to do ballet, I’ve performed it for nearly my complete life, since I used to be 4 (I did take some breaks from it as a result of I didn’t have sufficient time). I feel that my ballet expertise positively contributed to my look as a skater. In my free time I additionally volunteer at my native hedgehog rescue (about as soon as every week), I give them their medicines and ensure they’re doing alright. I actually like to remain productive and do helpful issues once I’m in a position to.
