Arctic Edge Skating Club held their annual season-ending show recently and it was a spectacular success.

The club held two shows at the Canada Games Centre Apr. 27.

The show featured Myla Turner as Aurora.

It included a guest appearance by Special Olympian Michael Sumner, who did his Canada Winter Games routine, as well as other Special Olympics skaters.

Former Disney on Ice performer Mikayla Kramer was the show’s coordinator.

“It was great. I’m so proud of everyone and all the hard work they’ve put in over the last month. We only started building the show about a month ago.”

Kramer explained how the opportunity to coordinate the show came about.

“I’ve had some show experience over the last three years as I’ve worked with Disney on Ice,” related Kramer, who has been coaching with Arctic Edge off and on for about three years now.

“They’re like, ‘OK, we’re gonna give you the chance to be the coordinator this year.’

Kramer agreed and gave Arctic Edge two show ideas – Taylor Swift or Broadway.

“They all picked Broadway, which I was very surprised by. I thought they were gonna pick Taylor Swift. And then between discussing with coaches, my friends, my parents and myself, (we) created the story of Broadway Ever After, where our nice Aurora is lost in New York and finds her way home to the Yukon through all the stories of Broadway.”

Kramer said running the show has been a good experience.

“I had so much help from all the volunteers. My mom (Christine Benedek), who also is working with the club, and all the costume people and the coaches, all the collaboration this year that we’ve had has been wonderful and it’s been really easy to bring it all to life.”

When asked if she would do a show like this again, Kramer said, “It’s a lot of work, but I wouldn’t say no. But I think now that I have some experience, it would be easier to do it next time.

“Not that it was hard. It was very, like, chill, like everyone’s so helpful so it wasn’t hard, but it is a lot of work to bring something like this to life.”

Kramer added “I’m very happy with everything and very proud of everyone that’s been just so helpful and working hard to bring this to life.”

August Lane, 16, performed as the Fairy of the North Star. Her role was to guide Aurora back to Whitehorse.

“It was really great. I liked how everyone was able to push through all the hiccups that we had and just keep going. We put this together in three weeks. It shows how hard everyone’s been working to make the show work.

“It was really fun. We got to involve everyone. I got to wave my fairy dust on everyone.”

Lane has been in three shows since she moved to Whitehorse four years ago.

“Normally it’s always the month of April. Stop everything, work on a show. And then we just are kind of done.”

Lane was also in Finding Frozen and Aladdin.

She’s been skating since she was seven years old.

She’s had a couple of breaks, literally and figuratively, since then, including during the COVID pandemic.

“Last year I fractured my ankle so I didn’t skate a lot. I came on the ice for a few sessions. I didn’t do a lot of competitive stuff though. So I’m back into the performing and stuff, which is nice.”

Lane had a trampoline accident.

“I was out for a long time.”

It was a challenge for Lane to come back from her injury.

“It was weird. It was kind of like learning how to skate again. I coach the CanSkate, but it was like watching the CanSkates, only I was a CanSkater, like, I didn’t remember how to skate.

“But it was easy to bounce back, especially with all the coaches and all the support I had. And they were all very supportive.

“When I got back this season. I was like, ‘I want to do more. I’m going to skate more, compete and stuff.’ They were all very happy that I decided to come back.”

Lane added, “I think everyone did a really good job today. Especially as it’s the first show. There were a few hiccups but everyone did super-duper great.

“It’s a great experience, especially for all the little ones, because it introduces you to competing, showcasing your talent in front of everyone.

Lane said overcoming challenges is an important part of performing.

“I think especially when there’s all those problems and stuff, it really teaches them, ‘Oh, this is how to solve it.’”