Forte of Boston (SC of Boston) seized their moment at the 2026 National Theatre On Ice Competition in Irvine, California, repeating as senior champions with two dynamic performances.

A record 103 teams across 11 divisions competed June 22–27 at Great Park Ice and Fivepoint Arena. All Year Figure Skating Club hosted the event.

Competition consists of two programs: a choreographic exercise and free performance. Teams are evaluated on technical elements as well as presentation with a specific emphasis on originality, costuming, artistry and musicality. Scores from both segments are combined for a total score.

"The team was just dynamite," Adam Blake, artistic director for the SC of Boston's Theatre on Ice program, said of Forte of Boston. "I love working with them."

Forte won both segments and finished with an overall score of 145.27. Its five component scores — composition, universe, skating skills, gestures and theatricality — ranged from 9.63 to 9.88.

Blake was particularly pleased with the team's choreographic exercise.

"It was an exercise in musical time signatures and cadence, mostly dance rhythms," he said. "It had a big inspiration from [renowned dancer and choreographer] Kenichi Kasamatsu. He utilized a dance piece with just sound effects, and with the theme of time, I wanted to take that and basically use time as the suspension."

"We had a goal for what we wanted to do for the choreographic exercise, and we were really excited about that," he added.

The team's free performance, which included the song "O" by Coldplay, a cello piece and the classic "L'hymne a L'amour," was about finding light within dark times and letting that light be one's guiding light.

"Honestly, the theme has evolved, and it means so many things," Blake said. "For some people, it's a goodbye. For others it's a thank you. One of the things I love to do with all the programs that I choreograph is leave a bit of ambiguity. Whatever somebody needs to take from a piece, they can take from it."

Harmony Theatre Company of Michigan (Ice House Skating Academy) placed second in both segments and repeated as silver medalists with a total score of 134.74.

The team's free performance theme raised the temperature of the competition: "Atop my head a serpent crown, beware you'll hear the hissing sounds. Although there's beauty in my eyes, those who look will face demise."

Creative Ice Theatre (Great Lakes FSC) continued its excellence in the senior ranks, placing third with 109.13 points. Creative Ice has stood on the podium every year the event has been held since 2016.

It performed its free program to the theme "The Marriage of Figaro" — the classic farce and social satire. 

Capital Theatre on Ice (Washington FSC) placed fourth with 108.41 points. The team has finished on the podium in each of the past five seasons.

JUNIOR

Los Angeles Ice Theater earned its first junior title, placing second in the CE and first in the free performance. It posted a total score of 125.20. Its component scores ranged from 8.25 to 8.94.

"Oh, my goodness, this feels amazing," Executive Director of the Los Angeles Ice Theater Bebe Liang said. "The kids were just so on tonight, and I'm so proud of them. They just pulled it together and put out a great skate."

After placing second in the CE, the team put its own spin on a murder mystery at the masquerade" theme.

"I had heard this Audiomachine music a while ago and I loved this piece," Liang said. "I thought, 'someone needs to skate to this.' … We were like let's just have fun with it and not take it too seriously and it kind of blossomed from there."

Act I of Boston (SC of Boston) nabbed second place, winning the CE and placing second in the free performance for a total score of 124.54. The team has been on the podium every year the event has been held since moving to the junior level in 2018.

They skated to a hero's journey in four chapters: "the call," "the will," "the challenge" and the "triumph."

Ocean State Ice Theatre (Pawtucket & Providence FSC) repeated as bronze medalists with 105.14 points.
 
It performed its free program to the theme: "From the fire of lust to the ache of heartbreak, ending at the only destination that matters: the freedom of dancing on your own."

Houston Ice Theatre Skaters (Memorial FSC of Houston) repeated as the pewter medalists with a score of 102.01.

NOVICE

Los Angeles Ice Theater (Los Angeles FSC) captured its first novice title, winning both segments en route to a total score of 103.97.

"This is special and coming off a Nation's Cup win, it's double-special," co-coach and choreographer Brianna Weissmann-Barajas said.
 
"It's been a journey," co-coach and choreographer Michael Sasaki, said. "I think each year we've fought to get better. It's a special moment for all of us — skaters, coaches, parents, everybody."
 
Los Angeles Ice Theater's ran with a circus theme for its free performance, with songs including "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga, "Sweet Dreams" by the Eurythmics and "Creep" by Radiohead.

"In the story, you see the ringmaster who's just kind of eager to own the circus, but really wants to own the characters," Sasaki said. "What nobody forgets is that each individual is truly unique."

"I think it was important for us also to teach our kids that everyone is different, everyone's unique, everyone had insecurities and nobody is perfect, but everybody is perfect in their own way," Weissmann-Barajas added.
 
Encore of Boston [SC of Boston] placed second in both segments and finished second with an overall score of 100.63. Encore has stood on the podium each year since 2016.
 
The team's theme for its free performance was "the rhythm within us becomes the driving force that leads us to our destiny."
 
Harmony Theatre Company of Michigan (Ice House Skating Academy) continued its stronghold on the novice division podium with a third-place finish and an overall score of 97.18.
 
Harmony has medaled in the novice event every year since 2013.
 
The team skated its free program to a theme of hope.  
 
Symmetry Ice Theatre (Individual) placed fourth with 85.90 points.

INTERMEDIATE

Allegro of Boston (SC of Boston) emerged victorious in the CE and free performance. They posted a total score of 89.69, with all but one component score earning above six points.

Allegro has won the intermediate division for three consecutive years.

The team clinched victory with its free performance to a perilous journey theme.

San Francisco Ice Theatre (SC of San Francisco), finished third in the CE, second in the free performance and second overall. They generated a total of 76.07 points.

The Bay Area team's performance tells the tale of an arctic fox, who embraces each of the four seasons, including the wonder of falling snow.

Team Envision (IceWorks SC) secured third place in the CE and second in the free performance with an overall score of 75.02.

In their free performance, old photographs stir memories.

Detroit Ice Theatre (Detroit SC) earned the pewter medal with 66.94 points.

JUVENILE

Prelude of Boston (SC of Boston) garnered first place in both segments en route to its first juvenile title.

The team generated an overall score of 66.36 points. For its free program, Prelude skaters peer out the window of a hot and chalk-dust filled classroom as friends frolic in the sunshine outside.

It was Prelude of Boston's second podium finish in the last three years (second in 2024).

Creative Ice Theatre (Great Lakes FSC) secured its best finish in the division, claiming second with 62.34 points. It placed third in the CE and second in the free program.

The team brought to life the theme: "Every lake needs at least one diva swan — dripping in feathers and gliding in style."

Space Coast Hurricanes (Space Coast Ice Plex FSC) placed third with 57.03 points. The team has finished on the podium the past three seasons.

Space Coast skaters performed a good vs. evil program, with villains and heroes battling for supremacy.

Capital Theatre on Ice (Washington FSC) placed fourth with a score of 56.84.

OPEN ENSEMBLE

Ocean State Ice Theatre (Pawtucket & Providence FSC) took a page from Billy Joel's signature song "Piano Man" to win the free performance and open ensemble title. It was the debut of the open ensemble event.

Second after the CE, Ocean State rolled to victory with a total score of 65.65.

The team's universe component generated an event-high 5.25 points. Universe measures a team's ability to create, maintain and project a cohesive theme, story and atmosphere from the beginning of the program to the end.

Intermezzo of Boston (SC of Boston) took first in the CE and third in the free performance en route to a score of 61.10 and second place overall.

Intermezzo is a new team. Its free performance puts individuality in the spotlight.

Sharper Edge Ice Theatre (Individual) finished fourth in the CE and second in the free program for a total score of 58.99 and a third-place finish.

It's the first medal for Sharper Edge. The team's free program tells the story of a mind game that stirs deep and dark memories and emotions.

Houston Ice Theatre Skaters (Memorial FSC of Houston) earned their first podium finish with a total score of 56.44.

ADULT

Harmony Theatre Company of Michigan (Ice House Skating Academy) dominated, winning by nearly 45 points.

The team from Hartland won both segments, finishing with an overall score of 120.28. It has claimed nine of the last 10 adult titles.

For its free program, Harmony "cast a spell on the night." All of its components earned more than eight points each.

Atlanta Ice Theatre Unsupervised (Georgia FSC) secured a place on the podium for the fifth consecutive year, finishing second with a total score of 75.89.

Their "queen of the night flower blooms" free program earned them second place in the segment.

San Francisco Ice Theatre (SC of San Francisco) claimed third place. It has stood on the podium each year since 2022.

The team performed its free program to a love story from 1964, Cherbourg, France. It generated an overall score of 74.00.

Space Coast Frozen Hurricanes (Space Coast Ice Plex FSC) finished fourth. It was their first podium finish since 2019 in the adult class. They posted an overall score of 58.16.

PRELIMINARY

Chesapeake Opals (Columbia FSC (MD) captured their first preliminary title, winning both segments and generating an overall score of 70.89.

Their composition component earned a free program-best 5.06 points. The Opals performed to a theme of "sometimes all you need is a great song." They bested a 19-team field.

San Francisco Ice Theatre (SC of San Francisco) finished on the podium for the third consecutive year, placing second with 67.02 points. They earned bronze in 2025 and gold in 2024.

The Bay Area team finished second in the choreographic exercise and third with its free performance to the theme "Welcome to Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1913 — it's a lovely Sunday by the Sea."

Ocean State Ice Theatre (Pawtucket & Providence FSC) placed third in the choreographic exercise and second in the free skate with its performance to the old TV hit "Green Acres." It posted an overall score of 65.32.

Houston Ice Theatre Skaters (Memorial FSC of Houston) secured fourth place with 62.66 points.

OPEN

Team Spectacle (IceWorks SC) repeated as champions, winning the CE and placing third in the free performance.

The team from Aston, Pennsylvania, produced an overall score of 84.63. Their free program told the story of Mother Nature's awe-inspiring powers and the fight to protect, nurture and sustain life for all beings. They experienced two falls, but their component scores ranged from 5.31 to 5.88.

Team Spectacle has finished on the podium three years in a row.

Chesapeake Sapphires (Columbia FSC) (MD) secured second place with an overall score of 82.08.

Second after the choreographic exercise, the team performed to a theme of "Time for Tea," in which the "tea is hot, the chairs are waiting and the party is never ending."

It was the highest finish for Chesapeake and second consecutive podium finish.

The Space Coast Hurricanes (Space Coast IcePlex LTS) earned their third podium finish, placing third with 81.36 points.

The team from Rockledge, Florida, finished first in the free program, performing to an Irish folklore theme about mythological marine creatures.

Harmony Theatre Company (Ice House Skating Academy) placed fourth with a score of 81.03.

ADAPTIVE-UNITED

Overture of Boston (SC of Boston) repeated as champions. Performing to music from the 2015 Disney movie Inside Out, the team from Norwood, Massachusetts, posted a score of 36.40

Overture received its highest mark with its universe component (4.19).

Virginia Ice Theatre (SC of Northern Virginia) finished second with 35.02 points, performing a magic theme. Bravo (Essex SC of New Jersey) secured third place with a score of 27.38. skating to a Toy Story theme.

Chicagoland Ice Theatre Inspirations finished fourth with 25.16 points.

OPEN ADULT

Blades of Texas (SC of Houston) claimed their first National Theatre on Ice Competition medal. The team finished third in the chorographic exercise and first in the free program en route to a total score of 52.37 and the title. It was the debut of the open adult event.

They performed their free program to a theme of "magic or mischief?" Three of their five components received a score of 3.81.

Virginia Ice Theatre (SC of Northern Virginia) won the CE and placed third in the free program, placing second overall with 50.75 points.

It marked the first adult medal for the program.

For its free program, the skaters, behind velvet masks, play vampires who lure mortals into a midnight masquerade.

Imagica of Boston (SC of Boston) finished third, placing fourth in the CE and second in the free performance. They posted an overall score of 50.13.

Imagica of Boston has stood on the podium seven of the last eight years that the event has been held.

The team performed to a "spy" theme, full of deception and mystery, for its free program.

1st State Ice Theatre (Bay Country FSC) secured fourth place with 49.53 points.

More coverage of the TOI National Competition will appear in the fall issue of SKATING magazine.