January Newsletter

✨January’s Theme: It Starts With a Beat

January is where we begin again – not with tricks, not with speed, but with something far more essential.

A beat.

Every great skating moment – every clean edge, confident turn, expressive dance phrase, or powerful jump – starts with timing. Before style, before difficulty, before polish.. there is rhythm. This month at SK8Arts Academy @ El Centro, our January theme is “It Starts With a Beat,” and we’ll be exploring timing, tempo, and musicality across all of our classes.

Whether you’re gliding your very first patterns, dancing to music you love, or sharpening technical skills… the beat is your best inspiration and teacher!

✨ Read the full January class preview on ArtisticSkating.com →

Winter/Spring Class Semester Starts January 6th

A New Way to Keep your Wheels Rolling…

✨ The Sk8Passport Program — Launching February

This February, Sk8Arts Academy introduces the Sk8Passport Program—a flexible, skill-driven way to skate with purpose and progress.

Choose your path:

🌀 Social Pathway Passport
Designed for social, rhythm, and recreational skaters who want to level up their skills without losing the fun. Each Passport pairs a Social Skate with guided instruction, helping skaters build confidence, style, and musicality—then take it straight to the floor.

⭐ Performance Pathway Passport
Created for artistic and competitive skaters ready to train with intention. This Passport supports structured classes, coached practice, and performance preparation, while tracking growth across technique, artistry, and mastery.

Your Passport is more than admission—it’s your map, record, and invitation to skate your own path.
Collect experiences. Build skills. Roll with purpose.

🚦 More details coming soon…

Let’s Welcome our New Artistic Technical Advisor!

Debbie Berg joins Sk8Arts Academy

“Great skaters don’t just learn steps—they learn the rhythm that carries them for life.”

This January, as we focus on “It Starts With a Beat,” we celebrate the teachers who first counted us in. Debbie Berg is one of those rare mentors whose rhythm stays with you long after the music changes. Debbie will be guest teaching some of our classes, and will also be available for private lessons. Please help us welcome Debbie to Sk8Arts Academy!

Learn More

💫 Ready to Grow? Private Lessons Are Your Pathway Forward.

Whether you’re just starting out, getting your confidence back, or dreaming big for the year ahead, nothing accelerates your progress like one-on-one instruction with a trusted guide. Private lessons offer focused attention, personalized feedback, and the kind of targeted breakthroughs that simply aren’t possible in a group setting.

Our certified instructors — Linda Sewell and Kayla Burns — bring decades of experience, artistry, and a whole lot of heart to every lesson. Think of us as your skating guides: we help you discover your strengths, polish your edges, and explore the skills that make you feel joyful, expressive, and capable on wheels.

🌟 Private Instruction Can Help You:

Build a strong foundation and correct early habits
Level up specific skills like edges, turns, spins, or dance steps
Prepare for Sk8Skills testing, Sk8Stars, or competitive goals
Gain confidence and consistency in your skating
Create a personalized plan for growth in the new year

Private lessons are the perfect place to ask questions, explore new ideas, try challenges at your own pace, and experience real “aha!” moments — the kind that stay with you long after you roll off the floor.

As we look toward a fresh new year, this is a wonderful time to invest in deeper, more intentional skating instruction. We’ll be announcing a special January opportunity soon, so stay tuned!

👉 Visit our Private Lessons page to contact the certified teacher of your choice and begin your next chapter on wheels.

Who Did You Take From?

Among “old skaters,” it’s a question that carries history, respect, and lineage. But what does it really mean to take from a teacher—and what does it mean to give? As we step into a new year, this reflection explores the quiet exchange between teachers and students, legacy and learning, and the gifts we carry forward long after the lesson ends.

The Skaters Have Spoken!

💃🛼 Last Chance Dance Skaters Club Update — New Leadership Elected!

Our skating community took a big step forward on November 20th as the Last Chance Dance Skaters Club held its first organizational meeting — and we are thrilled to announce the election of our inaugural officers:

Bri Sevores — President
Justine Briley — Vice President
Rosita Mayo — Secretary/Treasurer

This dynamic trio will be working together throughout December to prepare the Club’s Mission Statement and By-Laws, setting a strong foundation for the future. With their leadership, we’ll be ready to hit the ground rolling in January, when the Club will officially file its 501(c)(3) nonprofit application.

Why This Matters

Becoming a nonprofit organization gives the Club the ability to support the sport of Artistic Skating in the ways our local members choose — whether that’s helping skaters attend competitions, offering scholarships, improving equipment, promoting special events, or creating more opportunities for our community to grow.

It also means the Club can host fundraising activities such as:

Skating shows & exhibitions
Bake sales
Skate-a-thons
Community events
And more — all benefiting the goals decided by the membership

This is a huge milestone for our skate family and a beautiful example of what happens when skaters come together with vision, energy, and heart.

Stay tuned — 2025 is going to be a remarkable year for the Last Chance Dance Skaters!

🗓️ Calendar of Events — Artistic Skating 2025–2026 Season

The competitive and performance season is already shaping up to be an exciting one for our El Centro Artistic Team (ECAT) skaters! As we move toward 2026, there will be several major opportunities for our skaters to perform, test, and compete on both the regional and national stage.

Upcoming 2026 Events:

America’s Cup Championships of Clubs
January 16–22, 2026 — Orlando, Florida
This prestigious invitational event kicks off the year and brings together clubs from across the nation for a celebration of artistic roller skating excellence.
USARS Regional Qualifiers
June 20–22, 2026 — Portland, Oregon
Skaters who have been working hard through the fall and winter will have the opportunity to qualify for the USARS National Championships in their own backyard. This event serves as the gateway to Nationals and an inspiring showcase of the Pacific Northwest’s top talent.
Spring Showcase — Sponsored by Last Chance Dance Skaters
June 18, 2026 — 5:30–7:30 PM, El Centro Rink
Our annual Spring Showcase returns! This uplifting community event gives every skater a chance to shine and celebrate the progress of the season in a fun, family-friendly evening of performances, music, and awards.
AARS American Championships
June 24–July 3, 2026 — Union, Missouri
ECAT will proudly participate in this multi-division event that brings together artistic roller skaters from across the Americas. A great opportunity for our skaters to represent El Centro on a national stage.
USARS National Championships
July 2026 — Lincoln, Nebraska
The historic home of roller skating once again hosts Nationals! Skaters who qualify at Regionals will compete among the country’s best in this inspiring annual tradition. Official dates will be announced soon.

Skaters interested in performing, testing, or competing in any of these events should speak with Coach Linda or Coach Kayla for details about eligibility, travel, and training plans. More information will be shared as registration and event details become available.

💖 Thank You for Rolling with Us

We’re so grateful for everyone who’s been part of this growing community — both on and off the rink. Your encouragement keeps us going through the late nights, the learning curves, and the occasional “oops” moments. Thank you for your patience and for believing in this journey as we keep building something truly special together.

See you at the rink (and online, too!)
~ Coach Linda & Coach Kayla