To the rhythm of the beat, they popped, they rocked, they rolled.
Those were some of the dance moves pulled at the Glenview Park District’s 43rd annual ice show, “Gotta Dance,” April 29-May 1.
The event allowed children aged 3-18 to take part in a number of dance crazes, including the chicken dance, “Gangnam Style,” “Macarena” and line dancing.
Dorie Cascio, skating director for the park district, said the process of planning for the show was a team effort.
“We have all the coaches get their information as [to] what they think might be a fun theme that year,” she said. “We vote on it. This year we decided to do ‘Gotta Dance.’”
In August 2015, those on staff for the park district began preparing for the event.
In mid-April, the ice skaters started rehearsals.
Cascio said organizing the show always brings those on staff at the park district more excitement than anything else when they see the interest generated among community youth.
“Sometimes the children that are in high school they’re like, ‘maybe we can do this dance move?’” she said. “They kind of help us create the possibilities of performing more of their style when it comes to the kind of music that they know.”
Taylor Strong, 18, of Glenview, was one of many ice skaters that took part in the showcase. She said she likes the theme for this year’s event and the challenge it brought.
“It’s very different because each number that I’m in is a completely different style,” she said. “I’m doing a salsa, Swan Lake and an evolution dance.”
Heidi Weber-Howe, 17, of Northfield, was another skater performing on ice during the annual showcase. She said she is fond of this year’s theme.
“Every single number is a different dance,” she said. “Since we’re skaters, we always have to skate to different styles of music. It’s cool learning different dance styles and incorporating them on ice.”
Weber-Howe added that it’s exciting being able to showcase her talent in front of friends and family after all the time she spent practicing.
“The biggest challenge is knowing that it’s my last year, so making sure that everything is the best I can do,” she said.
On average, the annual ice show brings in 400-500 spectators.
“It’s always a lot of fun,” Cascio said. “The kids, they live for the show.”