Figures and Fancy Skating connect sport with four major art genres: Fine Art, Performing Art, Decorative Art and Recording Art:
- Figure skating’s enduring structural foundation — Figure Artwork — is one of profound patterning, leaving a language on the ice that transcend both culture and time. These patterns are found in mathematics, writing, drawing, painting, dancing, and music.
- Fancy Skating is a choreographed original composition performed by the Skating Artists to further originality and musicality, with fine, performing, decorative and recording arts on ice.
The successful Skating Artist must develop superb figure skating technique while also engaging with all four art genres — a tall order!
World Figure Sport’s Premier Skating Artist Conservatory supports Skating Artists by providing resources in all areas required to train, create and perform Figures and Fancy Skating. Resources are provided in person or over the internet as needed. The Conservatory is available to all Skating Artists of all ages and levels worldwide, depending on each individual’s needs. It provides resources to hone and guide Skating Artists’ skills in the four art genres, and also practical / logistical matters, all in one place. The Conservatory Program provides the following services, and is able to hone and guide even beginning Skating Artists all the way through the Champion / World Class level. Skating Artists are encouraged to make use of these resources as needed to improve their skating and deepen their understanding of the sport and art involved. Services provided include:
- First Steps: Everything you need to get started making Figure Artwork.
- Equipment: Services and consultation to ensure that every Skating Artist has skates to best serve their needs, and those skates are adjusted and maintained for optimal performance.
- Inclusive Skating: For anyone with any type of disability.
- Exams – The Art of Skating: A graded curriculum of Fundamental and Special Figures that all Skating Artists are encouraged to practice and achieve.
- Home Training: Complete Skating Artists’ physical conditioning and training via application of figures, Pilates and barre exercises in a dance studio or open space at home.
- Skating Educators: Find a Skating Educator nearby who can teach you in person.
- Recording Arts: WFS can commission original scores and recordings to provide Skating Artists with music suitable for live performance and uploading / streaming on social media.
- Skating History and Research: Fall in love with Skating History while deepening your understanding of what you are doing on ice.
- Fine, Performing and Decorative Arts: Gain skills in all the art genres required for successful Figures and Fancy Skating.
- Books, DVDs and Videos: WFS publishes resources to Skating Artists learn and improve, including demonstrations of all traditional ISU Figures.
- World Sk8ting & Arts School: K-12 Nationwide Fully Accredited Online COURSES + NCAA approved through EVA. US & International Students are welcome. Courses are 18 weeks.
- Scholarships: World Figure Sports offers need-based scholarships to ensure universal access to its programs and events.
“Almost 20 years after the end of my professional ballet career, I took up figure skating this Spring. With its well-thought-out structure and progression, and using the Conservatory resources, I quickly recognized the WFS Art of Skating as the safest and most efficient way to train, akin to the best ballet pedagogies. I used it to improve rapidly and won the Gold Medal at the 2024 Figures and Fancy Skating International Open Championship! World Figure Sport is willing to work outside the coaching model box, and has provided fantastic support at every step. I enjoy the infinite challenge of Figures and the self-discovery that comes with studying them.”
— Elizabeth Fischer, post-professional ballet dancer, Skating Artist
“As a lifetime skater, my journey with World Figure Sport has opened my mind and expanded my repertoire of techniques on how to train even my youngest tots to oldest clients, by more profoundly connecting their brains to blades both on and off the ice. I am inspired by new ways to communicate the language and patterns of great skating in a fun, cost efficient and effective manner. I continue to learn, educate and love the Art of Skating now more than ever.”
— Patricia Perrigo, Skating Educator: 50 years figure skating, 35 years coaching figure and hockey skating, choreographing and directing shows and programs