What Happens After CanSkate?

Participants in the higher levels of CanSkate who are ready for more of a challenge are encouraged to enter the Skate Canada STARSkate Program. STARSkate was developed by Skate Canada for skaters to progress into figure skating. Opportunities for taking tests and competing are available to skaters at this level.

STAR = Skills, Test, Achievement, Recognition.

STARSkate

Figure skating lessons are taught in-group, semi-private or private lesson format depending on the skating level. GSC groups STARSkate into four levels: Primary, Junior, Intermediate and Senior. These levels tie into the Skate Canada tests that skaters may take (see descriptions under STARSkate Programs below for Skate Canada tests).

• Primary:
  This is the first level of STARSkate. As a general rule, skaters who have passed CanSkate Level 4 or are otherwise recommended by a coach may move up to this STARSkate level. Primary Skaters are generally recommended to skate twice per week. Lessons are held in a group format, with some independent skating required. The Club provides the coach for the group lesson portion. For the independent work portion, skaters may hire a coach for private lessons to accelerate progress.


• Junior:
  Primary or CanSkaters who are ready to skate independently and who have not yet passed the complete Preliminary Freeskate test, skate at the Junior level. Generally, skaters are coached privately at this level (or when opportunity warrants semi-privately). Skaters hire their own coach for lessons.


• Intermediate:
  Skaters who are already skating in the STARSkate program and who have passed two (2) completed Preliminary test are eligible to skate at the Intermediate level. Generally, skaters are coached privately at this level. Skaters hire their own coach for lessons.


• Senior:
  Skaters who are already skating in the STARSkate program and have passed two (2) complete Senior Bronze test are eligible to skate at the Senior level. Generally, skaters are coached privately at this level. Skaters hire their own coach for lessons.

When a skater is ready to progress to the Junior level of STARSkate, GSC recommends that you (parent and/or skater) interview several coaches to find the one who can best meet the needs of the skater in terms of costs, availability and skating level. All private and semi private lessons, which you arrange for your skater, will be directly billed to you from your coach. At the Primary level of STARSkate coach, fees are included in program costs for the group lesson portion only. If a skater participates in competitions or test days, your coach will bill you her/his rate for these activities. Again, the coach will bill you directly and you are responsible to pay your coach. As a STARSkater progresses into Dance, usually a separate Dance Coach is required. Your Coach will advise you the times and availability of the Dance Coach. The Dance Coach will also bill you for lessons, either directly by a bill to you or indirectly by a bill to your regular coach. If you have budgetary limitations, please communicate these to your chosen coach. Coaches are more than willing to work within your budget. Communication is the key to a successful relationship with your coach!

The Skater and the Coach. The ideal end to another succesfull year on the ice.

STARSkate Program Areas

GSC follows Skate Canada’s recommended program for STARSkaters. STARSkate offers opportunities for skaters to develop basic figure skating skills in four different areas: Skating Skills, Free Skating, Dance and Interpretive, with the option of taking Skate Canada Tests and/or attending STARSkate competitions.

Skating Skills are a combination of fundamental skating movements, executed on a pattern and skated solo to prescribed music. The basic components of all disciplines of figure skating are incorporated into the program. The movements are derived from former compulsory figures, free skating and ice dancing. The objective of the Skating Skills program is to master the basic fundamentals of skating - edge quality, control, power and speed. There are 6 Skating Skills tests in the STARSkate program:

Ice Dance consists of seven levels of dance tests. The Dance Test program teaches timing, musicality, rhythm interpretation, structure as well as basic skating skills such as edges, flow, control and unison. Each level of dance test has 3 or more dances in that level. The dances within a level (i.e. the Preliminary level) can be tried in any order, but the skater must pass all the required number of dances at that dance test level before testing any dances at the next level. In addition to the traditional compulsory dances, there are also Creative Dances to challenge skaters' creativity, artistry and originality. The Dance Tests are as follows:

Free Skate consists of the execution of jumps, spins, footwork, field movements and stroking, either in isolation or performed in sequence to music. There are six Free Skating tests in the STARSkate Program:

Each test consists of 2 parts: (1) Elements in Isolation and (2) a FreeSkate Program to music. A skater must pass both parts to pass the complete Freeskate test at each level.

Interpretive or Artistic encourages and develops skater creativity, expression, musicality, movement, interpretation of music, as well as the use of space, rhythm, line and style. The program provides skaters with the opportunity to explore the performance aspect of skating without focusing on technical elements. The Interpretive tests consist of skating to and interpreting a piece of music 2.0 to 3.0 minutes (+/- 10 seconds) in length. Skaters can take Interpretive tests as individuals and/or as a couple (male/female, female/female or male/male) at four levels: