Off Ice Classes

Contact: srakvosky@therinks.com 

Number of Years Coaching: 12

Skating / Competitive Background:
USFS Gold Medalist
Regional competitor
Two-time National Showcase competitor and medalist in 2007
Holiday On Ice Show Skater - 3 years (Believe & Atlantis)
Principal Skater & Choreographer for Chill Entertainment
Creator of USFS FitSkate

PSA Ratings / Rankings:
Senior Rated Group

Educational Background:
BS Nutrition Dietetics
Master Choreography Techniques - American Ice Theatre
Performance Enhancement Specialist
Certified Personal Trainer

Coaching Specialty / Philosophy:
I love coaching skaters of all ages & abilities. Choreography and power skating are my passions. I want to share my love for skating with all skaters and show them they have a place to belong regardless of their skill level or skating discipline. I specialize in edges, transitions, “show tricks”, jumps, spins & power hockey skills.

Teaching Experience:
20 years of working with figure skaters on and off the ice

Education:
The Moscow State Academy of Choreography aka The Bolshoi Ballet Academy Class of 1990

Work:
The Bolshoi Ballet / Grigorovich Company
The Bolshoi Ballet Main Company

Stage Experience:
Swan Lake
The Nutcracker
Don Quixote
La Sylphide
Giselle
La Bayadere
Romeo and Juliette
The Sleeping Beauty
Raymonda
Spartacus
Paquita
The Golden Age
Multiple tours throughout USA, Europe, Asia

Current and former students include:
Evan Lysacek, Mirai Nagasu, Timothy Goebel, Angela Nikodinov, Kimmie Meissner, Caroline Zhang, Richard Dornbush, Vincent Zhou, Karen Chen, Gracie Gold, Grant Hochstein, Tomoki Hiwatashi, Misha Ge (UZ), Denis Ten (KAZ), Takahiko Kozuka (Japan), Carolina Kostner (Italy)

I'm offering intensive ballet training for skaters to improve artistic presentation, music interpretation, posture, flexibility and strength using methods of Russian classical ballet education in combination with the best traditions of Russian figure skating school.

Please contact Galina directly regarding private and semi-private training: galinabarinova@yahoo.com.   

Ashley Nichole was born and raised in Orange County, California. She has worked at the “Happiest Place of Earth” for 7 years and enjoys performing in holiday spectacles such as Disney Presents A Christmas Fantasy Parade. She has toured Tahiti performing in Te Varua Ori’s Te Ora  and is currently a dancer at Nonosina Polynesia. Although she is well versed in dance of many genres, she maintains a foundation for her dance skills in Neo-classical Ballet. Although Ashley Nichole savors performing, her passion is in mentoring upcoming skaters/dancers.As Mikhail Baryshnikov has said “Fundamentals are the building blocks of fun.”

This is the teaching philosophy Ashley Nichole adheres to for her classes.

If you would like to express interest in a private Ballet lesson with Ashley Nichole, please contact her directly at balletforskaters@gmail.com.

Dance With You Soon! - Ashley Nichole

Mentors:

• Mentor Erin Landry of Philadanco emphasis in Ballet/ Latin
• Ra’atira Tiana Nonosina Liufau of Nonosina  Polynesia emphasis Tahitian 
• Kumu Mahealani Mika of Nonosina Polynesia emphasis Hula

Matthew Reiner hails from the small rural town Springfield, Minnesota, and attributes the early formations of his artist career to his time living there. While technically taking a year of dance when he was 5, Matt wouldn’t officially study the form until he was much older. Living in Minnesota, he studied and participated in both speech and the dramatic arts, while also becoming a varsity athlete in 3 sports. Upon graduation from high school, Matt relocated to California where he studied at the University of California Irvine. It is here that he discovered his passion for dance and began training at the age of 18. While at UCI he trained in many styles, including: Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Breakdancing. Matt graduated from UCI with a B.A. in both Film and Media Studies, and Criminology Law and Society in June of 2012. Afterwards, Matt became a scholarship student at the Jimmie Defore Dance Center, where he continued to train in both classical and street styles. He also began substitute teaching at Defore in 2014, and became a permanent faculty member in 2015 teaching Jazz. Matt joined Nannette Brodie Dance Theater in February of 2013. He has been a part of many tours, kid shows, and performances since joining. He also performed in both Camelia La Tejana and Hydrogen Jukebox in connection with the Long Beach opera. He also joined Inked Dance Company, under direction of Brian Moe, in 2014. And had danced in some smaller productions, including a large flash mob for Vans sneakers. Recently Matt filmed a small role in the Independent film “Waiting in the Wings The Musical: Still Waiting.”

Contact: meganwess798@gmail.com

Number of Years Teaching: 4

Skating/Competitive Background:

USFS Triple Gold Medalist (moves in the field, freestyle, pairs)

Team USA Member- Singles 2015-2020

U.S. Figure Skating Championships Top 6 Finish- Senior

U.S. Figure Skating Championships Bronze Medalist- Junior

ISU Senior and Junior Grand Prix Competitor

Coaching Specialty and Philosophy:

I enjoy working with skaters of all ages and skill levels. In my coaching, I strive not only to have my skaters improve in their technical abilities, but also to learn how to challenge themselves and overcome adversity. I believe that each skater’s on-ice experience contributes to overall personal development and the lessons that they learn from the sport can be applied to many different aspects of their lives.

Contact: seanrabbitt@ymail.com

Number of Years Teaching:

13 years coaching

PSA Ratings / Rankings:
Registered Free Skate

Skating / Competitive Background:
Member of Team USA
Skate Canada Autumn Classic International Bronze Medalist
14 time US National Competitor - 4 top 10 finishes (2019 8th place finish) 
4 time Pacific Coast Sectional Senior Mens Champion (2016-2019)

Students Achievements:
Coached skaters to Pacific Coast Sectionals since 2015
International Choreographer for skaters competing on the Junior Grand Prix and other international competitions, to include skaters from: USA, Japan,, Philippines, & Indonesia
Guest coach for the Los Angeles Ice Theater

Professional Accomplishments:
Coached many seminars around the US and Japan, to include:
- Head coach at Usunomiya Figure Skating Club Spring Camp in Nikko, Japan since 2015
- Skate Dance Dream Tour show and workshop
- Tammy Gambill's Summer Workshop
- US Figure Skating Components Camp/Excel Summit
- Special Guest in various shows around the US and Japan

Educational Background:

National Academy of Sports Medicine-CPT

Studied at Fullerton College
17 years of training in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, various forms of dance

Coaching Specialty / Philosophy:

Specializes in jump technique and program components (choreography/skating skills). I enjoy working with all skaters from basic levels to the elite, most importantly I enjoy the process of taking the skaters from just learning solid technique and elements, to creating and understanding the passion they have for the sport and channeling that passion into something unique and specific to them. 

Additional Languages:
Japanese

Contact: mkdowzall@gmail.com

Skating Background:
USFS Double Gold Medalist
2020 USFS Sectional Competitor

Additional Languages:
Japanese