Samantha Wright a "Creativeskater", for Nov./Dec. 2010
By: Elizabeth Hollett Shackett

Samantha Wright, a.k.a. Sammy is this month’s creativeskater. She has an undeniable passion for creativeness, as she loves not only the artistic quality of figure skating but acting too. Sammy currently skates before school spends most after school hours at the theatre. She has even experimented with skating dress design at just 11 years old.

Sammy began to skate at age 5 in a Learn-to-Skate program. She has progressed to competing in local, regional and statewide figure skating competitions and has passed many US Figure Skating proficiency tests. I am her choreographer while Nicole Dussault is her technical jump and spin coach assisted by Vincent Restencourt. Her favorite jump is the loop but working on new program choreography is what she loves most. Still, Sammy says her biggest accomplishment thus far is a milestone jump: the axel.

The local skating club’s annual ice show provides yet another performance opportunity and inspires her creative side. She has skated in numerous large production numbers in front of a full arena and under the spotlights. What a thrill for this fifth-grader! Sammy has also taken her keenness for show numbers to competition. She has competed in individual and group Showcase competition in which audience appeal, originality, interpretation and choreography are most heavily weighted. In fact, she won the 2010 Pennsylvania State Championship with long-time skating friends in a Group Showcase event.

In Sammy’s opinion, she says that figure skating and theatre relate to each other because “you just have to go out there and ‘sell it’ no matter what happens. You also get to wear a cool costume for both and you have to practice alot.” Her flair for artistry comes to no surprise as her parents both grew up doing theatre and her mother currently owns Sammy Skate Wear, specializing in custom dresses and costumes for figure skaters.

I have choreographed many programs for Sammy including music like Rock Around the Clock,
My Name in Lights, Buttons from Cinderella on Ice, It’s a Small World, Under the Sea, just to
name a few.

A Mother's Perspective,
The first time I met Elizabeth was during a learn to skate "bring a friend" day. Sammy's friend was
too afraid to take the ice, Elizabeth spent over 10 minutes talking with the little girl, encouraging
her to give it a try. She even crawled out on the ice and made a snowball to show her how much fun
the ice could be. Before I knew it Sammy's friend was up and skating!  That made a huge impression
on me and I thought WOW , this is a coach who cares and really knows how to deal with kids!! I was
thrilled a year later when Sammy started having lessons with Elizabeth.  What I like most about her
coaching style is the ability to encourage Sammy to do her personal best, she is fun but firm and
always puts together a beautiful program. Whether a skater skates once a week or everyday Elizabeth
always gives 110%  in every lesson. It's been wonderful to see the progress that Sammy has made 
with her moves in the field and gracefulness with Elizabeth so far and I am excited to see what the
future brings!  Becky Wright

Tests Passed
Pre-Juvenile Moves in the Field
Pre-Juvenile Freeskating