What will Broadway on ice look like? Ice dance lovers are waiting in eager anticipation. Next season's rhythm dance will feature interpretations of traditional ballroom dances such as the quickstep, waltz and foxtrot. Each couple must also include a pattern of the Finn Step, which was created by Finnish ice dancers Susanna Rahkamo and Petri Kokko for the 1994-95 season's quickstep original dance.
 
Ice dance couples are also instructed to craft their programs to depict a musical or operetta. So we have asked a couple of dance choreographers to give some suggestions on how to make the programs as authentic as possible.
  Michelle Elkin is excited to see her genre brought to competition ice. A big skating fan, Elkin has worked with a couple of skaters in recent years to stylize their programs. Her background in musical theater is extensive, and includes working as a performer and choreographer. In addition to stage work, her choreography has appeared on television shows such as Younger, Young Sheldon and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She currently a faculty member at the Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles and the AMDA LA.
 
"I had a love for choreography at a very young age, and I had mentors," she said. "They brought me on board in projects, and at a very young age I got to assist on TV, film and a little bit of theater as I was coming up. Continued my love of choreography and how you put a story together and create steps to further a story.
 
"Even though I still get to play in the television world, in the last five years I've been focusing on musical theater," she added. "I love the storytelling of theater."
 
It's that sense of story she feels is essential to give the rhythm dances genuine impact comparable to a Broadway show. As she's watched skating over the years, she's sometimes noticed disconnect between the intended feel of the music and the skating performance.
 
"The thing that makes musical theater and operetta different is storytelling," said Elkin. "Especially with ice dancing, the relationship between the two partners tells that story. Something is a cut above because there's communication; there's an essence to what's behind the music.
 
"Depending on what show you do…they all have their own background to what that show's about," she continued. "If the ice dancers are informed that way, I think the performance quality of the work will have more power."
 
Before starting choreography and after the program is set, Elkin advised ice dancers to work with a dance instructor experienced in musical theater to give them a sense of movement. Even when performing required elements, the appropriate energy will have an impact.
 
"To me, dance is all about energy, commitment, confidence; it's a physical communication," Elkin said. "There's definitely a specific energy to each musical that is always covered. The more that energy and quality gets put in their bodies dance-wise, I think it will transfer to the ice."
 
Elkin said Hamilton, the hottest Broadway ticket for several years now, could be interesting on ice. For something traditional, there is Carousel, which has a ballet-like quality. There are also new musicals that utilize contemporary music, such as Motown: The Musical and On Your Feet, which have a fun joyful mood.
 
"Theater is for people to go and have a visceral experience," Elkin said. "You're able to create a spirit that changes somebody's feeling when they're watching. The fun joyful musicals that kind of pop and there's all this energy, that would attract me. It draws your attention.
 
"If I was choreographing, I would find something that was different that everybody wouldn't necessarily expect, and would have a twist that makes it stand out more," she added. "Something that pops gives you an edge."
 
While skates mandate certain movement, Elkin said ice dancers can capture an essence in the upper body that can capture the musical or operetta. No matter the show, do your research in terms of character and plot.
 
"It comes down to storytelling," she said. "Choreographically, you can be given any step, but if you have the right costumes and you are connected to the music and the character you're trying to portray, I think it will come across."
 
Ballroom dance champion Nick Kosovich has considerable experience working with ice dancers, including U.S. champions Naomi Lang and Peter Tchernyshev, to bring authenticity to their compulsory dances as well as other programs. He and wife Lena are also costume makers, and through their company, LeNique, created the free dance costumes that 2006 Olympic gold medalists Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov wore in Torino.
 
In terms of authenticity of the costumes, Kosovich said the work always begins with the music. From there, he and Lena do research on the theme.
 
"Whether it's images or movies or anything we can pull that will inspire us to design the costumes," Kosovich said. "It comes down to fabrics and textures and how you can cleverly integrate that without upsetting the performance."
 
They would take the concept from Broadway show, by example Hairspray, and dress it up with accessories. The construction of a skating costume has to be functional, but Kosovich said there can be paint, appliques or unusual textured fabrics added to give it a look in line with the show. Hair and makeup also enhance the overall presentation.
 
For a couple aiming for a classic Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers look, the male partner may go for a traditional suit or tails, but then it can be made more individual with the use of color. He said working with ice dancers stimulated his creativity as a costume designer and dance choreographer, and he offered these thoughts for the 2019-20 season.
 
"The speed and dynamics ice dancers can create has an incredible impact," he said. "For me, it's about the use of communication skills to develop a dramatized effect. It is more based on acting skills through body actions and reactions between the couple. It becomes more about the sense and feel of it rather than the mechanics."