Keene Figure Skating Presents Annual Show "Broadway on Ice"

After watching the U.S. Figure Skating Team compete last month in the Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games, Keene Ice Arena Manager and Skating Director Beth Jasinski told The Keene Sentinel, "People are more interested than ever in figure skating!" "With the Olympics, everyone is very excited about figure skating, which is great! It was pretty spectacular. We were all very hopeful for Ilia Malinan and my heart breaks for him. I think it brought to light how much pressure they are under; and not just figure skating, but on all of the Olympic athletes." She continues, "Generally, we do see a little increase in interest after the Olympics, and then to have both the U.S. women's and men's hockey teams win gold, I think we'll see increased interest, based on all of that." Jasinski who moved to the area in 1996 lives in Swanzey. She has served as director of Keene Ice since it opened in 2015 and has been working on the annual shows since she started coaching in the area in 1996. Jasinski started skating when she turned four years old. "I grew up in Fairfax, Vt. and a neighbor was bringing her daughter and told my mom she would take me, and I loved it." When asked what the audience can expect at this year's show, Jasinski says, "It's a family-friendly show and lots of fun. We're doing a bunch of Broadway favorites. We've got some classic Broadway and some new Broadway and there are 50 local kids who are performing." The age range of performers is four to 15 and they have two guest skaters coming from the Skating Club of Boston to join the show. "The show is open to kiddos that are in our 'Learn to Skate' program or part of the Figure Skating Club (FSC)." According to their website, Keene Ice is Southwest New Hampshire's state-of-the-art, year-round ice skating and hockey facility. Jasinski thinks the community is lucky to have Keene Ice Arena and says, "Having coached and skated at the Fairgrounds prior to Keene, we're very fortunate in this community to have such a beautiful facility. I hope that visitors realize how lucky they are when they come into our facility. It is beautiful, considering how busy we are, and for us to try to keep it nice looking and new, even though we are 10 years in." The club is open to age four through adults and involvement usually starts for youth with a "Learn to Skate" class for ages four to eight, she said. There are 350 youngsters involved in "Learn to Skate" this season and there are 42 members in the FSC. The club and arena are both nonprofits, run by a board of directors and all the money raised at this annual show directly pays for ice costs. Most members take private lessons from one of the 10-plus certified coaches at the arena, and there are often skaters of multiple skill levels practicing on the ice at the same time. At age eight, club members move into a small figure skating class and then Aspire-level classes to build their skills. Some of their skaters go on to compete on the national stage. "Keene Figure Skating Club has eight skaters that, by competing at Bay State games in the 2025 and 2026 seasons, have qualified to compete at State Games of America this summer which will be held at Penn State. We have another seven athletes participating in U.S. Figure Skating's ExCel series this spring, in hopes of qualifying for the ExCel National Festival this July. The National Festival will be held in Boston," adds Jasinski. "We do take the ice out April, May and June. For people that come to the show who are excited and want to join — the summer is their next step for that." IF YOU GO: WHAT: Keene Figure Skating's Annual Show "Broadway on Ice" WHEN: Saturday, March 21, 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. WHERE: Keene Ice Arena, 380 Marlboro St., Keene TICKETS: $10 adults, $5 students. Tickets are only available at the door with cash or credit card. MORE INFO: keenefsc@gmail.com or call 603-499-8873