Figure Skating in Harlem Followed in New Documentary

Summary

All Of It Podcast Summary
Episode: Figure Skating in Harlem Followed in New Documentary
Host: Alison Stewart
Release Date: February 10, 2025
Available On: Disney+ starting February 12, 2025

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of All Of It, host Alison Stewart delves into the vibrant world of Harlem Ice, a groundbreaking figure skating program for girls of color in Harlem. Celebrating Black History Month, the episode spotlights the new docu-series that captures the lives, challenges, and triumphs of teenage skaters and their dedicated coaches.

Overview of Harlem Ice

At the outset (00:37), Alison Stewart introduces Harlem Ice, a nonprofit figure skating program boasting around 170 members. The program not only fosters a love for skating but also emphasizes academic excellence and personal development. Through the documentary, viewers are introduced to four key skaters—Tori, Ashley, Adrianna, and Ariana—each bringing unique stories and aspirations to the ice.

Alison Stewart states:

"This month we are celebrating black history and we're focusing on Harlem. The new docu-series Harlem Ice follows several teenage girls and their coaches." (00:37)

Meet the Skaters

The documentary centers on four diverse personalities:

• Tori (06:21): Described as hilarious, bold, and adorable, Tori embodies the spirit and joy of the program.
• Ashley (06:30): A focused and careful leader, Ashley's dedication makes her a pivotal figure among her peers.
• Ariana (07:01): Lovable and intensely determined, Ariana balances her love for solo skating with aspirations of Olympic glory.
• Adrianna (07:14): Initially hilarious and a perfectionist, Adrianna's journey highlights the program's impact on personal growth and sisterhood.

Themes and Insights

Harlem Ice transcends traditional sports programs by intertwining rigorous skating training with academic support. The documentary showcases how the program instills values of leadership and sisterhood among the participants.

Hila Epperson, director of the docu-series, emphasizes:

"So what's really interesting about Figure Skating in Harlem is that it's both skating program and an academic program. It has this really robust academic component." (05:23)

The series captures pivotal moments that highlight the girls' resilience and teamwork. For instance, a crucial scene (16:29) depicts a communication breakdown between the coaches and skaters, leading to introspection and collaborative problem-solving among the girls. This moment underscores the program's focus on developing interpersonal skills alongside athletic prowess.

Production Insights

Director Samantha Knowles shares her experiences filming the series, highlighting the technical challenges and creative decisions involved in capturing synchronized skating:

"We had to have a sense of what moves they were going to do, so we could plan what lens to use and when to switch out the lens." (15:10)

The documentary's aesthetic blends elements of dance and musical theater, creating a dynamic and immersive viewing experience. The use of music, on-screen graphics, and choreographed camera movements enriches the storytelling, making it feel akin to a concert or musical performance.

Self-Expression and Identity

A central theme of Harlem Ice is the encouragement of self-expression and the celebration of individuality among the skaters. The program empowers the girls to embrace their unique identities both on and off the ice.

In a memorable moment, the skaters are prompted to channel their alter egos to boost confidence. Tori chooses Aretha Franklin as her alter ego, reflecting her vibrant personality and love for performance:

"Who's your alter ego? And people would say, Sasha Fierce. ... When I asked Tori who her alter ego was, she was like, Aretha Franklin." (18:56)

This emphasis on self-expression is further illustrated during performances where the girls showcase their personalities through music choices and choreography, breaking away from the Eurocentric norms traditionally associated with figure skating.

Challenges and Resilience

The documentary doesn't shy away from the obstacles faced by the participants. Limited access to high-quality facilities, shared resources, and the absence of custom-fitted skates present significant challenges. Despite these barriers, the girls exhibit unwavering determination and creativity.

Hila Epperson reflects on these challenges:

"The girls are up against so much... they unapologetically stand out." (09:40)

The program fosters a resilient mindset, encapsulated in their motto:

"When I fall, I get back up." (05:20)

Conclusion

Harlem Ice serves as an inspiring testament to the power of community, resilience, and self-expression in shaping the lives of young women of color. Through Alison Stewart's insightful narration and Samantha Knowles' compelling direction, the documentary offers a multifaceted portrayal of figure skating as more than just a sport—it's a platform for empowerment and cultural expression.

As Harlem Ice premieres on Disney+ (12:03), it promises to resonate with audiences by highlighting the intersection of culture, identity, and athletic excellence in one of New York City's most iconic neighborhoods.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Alison Stewart (00:37): "This month we are celebrating black history and we're focusing on Harlem."
• Hila Epperson (05:20): "When I fall, I get back up."
• Hila Epperson (16:29): "We really saw it up close and in front of us, and that became the entire arc of the show."
• Hila Epperson (18:56): "Everyone has one. And so the girls would... Tori was like, Aretha Franklin."

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This in-depth summary captures the essence of the All Of It podcast episode, offering insights into the Harlem Ice documentary and its celebration of culture, resilience, and community within the figure skating world of Harlem.

Transcript

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[Alison Stewart]

This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. This month we are celebrating black history and we're focusing on Harlem. The new docu series Harlem Ice follows several teenage girls and their coaches. It's a non profit program that has about 170 members and they love skating. In the series we meet Tori, Ashley, Adrianna and Ariana. Each has a different relationship with skating and different challenges. Let's listen to a clip from Harlem Ice. In this clip, the girls are supposed to connect through synchronized skating. First you'll hear from their coach.

[Coach]

With synchronized skating, everything you do is connected by nature. You're literally holding on to someone else. So whatever you do is going to be challenging in that respect.

[Hila Epperson]

Now connect, connect, connect.

[Coach]

We're trying to fix a lot of parts of the program to make sure we do well in our next competition.

[Hila Epperson]

Give me fierce.

[Coach]

Everyone is put in a specific spot.

[Hila Epperson]

Ooh, keep going. It's fine.

[Coach]

For example, like for our intersection, drop.

[Hila Epperson]

Turn, let's go do a full.

[Coach]

We all have different spots and different holes. We go into push, punch, push. And then we transition from our three spoke into a wheel. So it's like three separate lines to like come in and join.

[Hila Epperson]

Can we please get to where we're supposed to be? 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. No, do it again. Do it again.

[Samantha Knowles]

It isn't easy. Some skaters are going through puberty. They have schoolwork. They have big feelings. Harlem Ice is streaming on Disney starting this Wednesday, February 12th. Director Samantha Knowles joins me now to discuss. Some of you might remember her from her 2021 NAACP Image Award and Independent Spirit award winning docu series Black and Missing which brought attention to forgotten black and missing persons cases. Saman, welcome to the show.

[Hila Epperson]

Hi Alison. Thank you so much for having me.

[Samantha Knowles]

Listeners, are you a parent of a figure skater or a former child figure skater? What kind of outlet does the sport provide for young people? How does the activity of skating prepare you for life? 2124-339692-22433. WNYC. That's our phone number. You can join us on air or you can text to us at that number or you can reach out on social media. Maybe you have any memorable moments, insights or burning question? Youth Figure Skating 212433 WNYC so, Sam, you posted on Instagram that quote, you don't usually play favorites, but Harlem Ice might be one of the best things I've ever done. Why did you post that?

[Hila Epperson]

You know, I think Harlem in so many ways was a series that I had been waiting to make for, for many, many years. I've done a lot of documentaries about really important topics that are still, you know, very resonant today. But I really, when I heard about this series, I really jumped at the opportunity to do something that was filled with joy about kids and, you know, just about this incredible legacy that they have. So I think, you know, and in the end, the series ended up being something that really was exactly what I wanted in so many ways. You know, we got to highlight these girls, but we also got to really get creative and have fun. And I think the result is just something that's just like this joyous, dance filled ride.

[Alison Stewart]

How did you first learn about figure skating in Harlem?

[Hila Epperson]

I first learned about it when Imagine Entertainment, the production company behind the series, approached me about it. And on the surface, it actually sounded like the program I did grow. I grew up as a dancer and I was really excited because in a lot of ways, the girls are dancers on ice. And that's something we really highlight. But one way that it was really, really different was that this was specifically designed and created for girls of color. And that's something that I didn't have growing up. I grew up in a largely white town. And so in a lot of ways, Figure Skating in Harlem was the program that I always wanted. And I was, I just had this insatiable curiosity about what that looked like and what it looked like to have that sisterhood and that kind of support. And I think that's what really drew me from the beginning.

[Samantha Knowles]

So what does figure skating in Harlem teach these girls who are participating in their programming? Is it skating only?

[Alison Stewart]

Is it an academic program?

[Samantha Knowles]

Is it both?

[Hila Epperson]

So what's really interesting about Figure Skating in Harlem is that it's both skating program and an academic program. It has this really robust academic component. And even within the skating program, there's this larger, more recreational skating and then there are certain skaters who compete. So it's a really robust program. And what really underlies a lot of it are these tenants of, of leadership, sisterhood. Their go to kind of catchphrase is when I fall, I get back up. And so it's really a really well rounded program. It's a lot more than just competitive skating.

[Samantha Knowles]

There are four women you choose to focus on, and they have a wide range of personalities. I'm going to ask you to think of two or three adjectives to describe each person. Tori.

[Hila Epperson]

Oh, man. Tori. Hilarious, bold, and adorable.

[Samantha Knowles]

Ashley.

[Hila Epperson]

Oh, man. Ashley. Ashley reminded me. They all reminded me of myself in so many ways. Ashley is very focused, but just, like, really, how. How would I describe Ashley? She's really focused and, you know, very careful, but she's also a really amazing and incredible leader.

[Samantha Knowles]

Ariana.

[Hila Epperson]

Ariana is really lovable. She can be intense, but she's so fiercely determined.

[Samantha Knowles]

And Adriana.

[Hila Epperson]

Adrianna. Oh, my gosh. Hilarious. This is not one word. But she's one of those people who takes a minute to warm up to you, but when she does, it's like, it's the most amazing thing. And she's a perfectionist. Absolutely.

[Samantha Knowles]

It's interesting about Ariana because she's been skating solo for years, but she's only been with figure skating with Harlem for one season, and she's on two different teams. She's really. She has dreams of the Olympics, while some of the other girls don't. They just like skating. How does that make the program different for her?

[Hila Epperson]

Yeah, Adrianna is actually, you know, one of those people who was really interesting to follow in the series because I think because she's new, because she kind of stands out in terms of, like, she's wants. You know, she loves solo skating. She wants to be an Olympian. She's really somebody through which you can really see. See the contours of the program really clearly because she stands out so much from that. And so we latched onto her really, really early on because you can see through her entire journey, everything that this program is about, even sometimes when she rubs up against some of the things that she's learning. We see her, you know, get to skate on Olympic ice for the first time, and we get to see her experience that. We get to see her, you know, work on some of her solo moves in Axl. We get to see her learn what sisterhood really is. Not just through synchronized skating, which is all about sisterhood at its core, but also through, you know, this amazing trip that she gets to go on with her sisters. So Adrianna was really, you know, she's really. In a lot of ways, her story is really a through line for the whole series because you can really see everything that the program is about.

[Samantha Knowles]

You know, many of the competitors. Competitors, skaters, they're working against. They. You Know, they work daily. They work at a rink just made for skating. They have full time coaches. These are the people that they're competing against. How does the program prepare the girls that they're going to end up against that kind of rigorous and quite frankly, like, class issues?

[Hila Epperson]

Well, that's what's really interesting about the program is that the girls are up against so much. You know, they. A lot of, as you said, a lot of the people that they're skating against have many, many, many, many hours on the ice. The girls skate at Riverbank in Harlem. It's a public rink, it's outdoors. And so that means they have limited ice time. They have to share it not only with the other girls in the program, but also, you know, the. This, the city at large. And because it's a. It's an outdoor rink, it's not accessible in the summer months. So that's, you know, they can't practice during those. Those months. They also have this really beautiful kind of system where they share skates and their skates that they have for the year are passed down throughout the years. So there's this really kind of beautiful thing where like, they, you know, they're kind of skating in their sister's shoes, but that's also something that's different. They don't have custom skates that are form fitted. And so they stand out at competitions, not just in terms of how they look, but also in terms of like, you know, of those things. But what's amazing and what I always have to highlight is that instead of trying to, you know, to shrink away or to kind of blend in, they unapologetically stand out. One of our first shoots that we did, actually our very first shoot, was a competition in January. It was called Colonials, of all things. And the girls go into this competition, they look like they don't look like anybody else. And instead of, you know, of trying to blend in and, you know, you know, they skate to Beyonce. They. They are unapologetic. And so it's kind of amazing. And that was the first. Our first. Not our first time meeting the girls, but that was really our first time filming with them. And that was our introduction to them. And I was, you know, I remember on that shoot, I was like, this is gonna be an amazing ride if this is the first thing we're. We're seeing about them. So, you know, they're up against a lot, but they're. They're really incredible.

[Alison Stewart]

I'm speaking with the writer and director of Harlem Ice. It's A new five part docu series that follows the coaches and the girls of figure skating in Harlem as they prepare for competitions and performances. It premieres on Wednesday on Disney plus. We'll have more after a quick break. This is all of it.

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[Alison Stewart]

You are listening to all of it on WNYC. I'm Alison Stewart. My guest is Samantha Noel. She's director of a new docu series called Harlem Ice. The series follows coaches and girls of figure skating in Harlem as they prepare for competitions and performances it promotes on Wednesday on Disney. Sam, as you expect, there's a lot of scenes that take place on the ice during their practices, during their performances. What is something interesting about figure skating that you learned while filming?

[Hila Epperson]

Well, it's funny because, you know, I'm not a skater, so I'm coming from a very, very much an outside perspective. And it really made me kind of, you know, it gave me this kind of insatiable curiosity about how the skating moves work and everything. And so I think, you know, but I'm also, I come from a dance background. I'm a documentarian, I'm a storyteller. And so I think I really learned in a lot of ways, like how to draw out kind of like how the girls trying to tackle these synchronized skating moves kind of became part of the storytelling. You know, it had an emotion to, had this arc to it. I think the other thing is that we had our dp, our cameraman skating on the ice with the girls. And so there really was a kind of choreography in front of the camera, but also behind the camera. It required a lot of coordination. It required a lot of schematics and planning and knowing exactly when we were going to get this skill, this particular shot. So it was an incredible experience in that way. I've never, you know, I've never filmed anything that was this technical and this technically advanced, but it was, it was it was really exciting in so many ways.

[Samantha Knowles]

Did your cameraman know how to skate?

[Hila Epperson]

He did. Yes, he did. He's incredible. And he would skate. We had a whole rig. I would be sitting in the bleachers with a monitor and two sets of headphones so I could talk to him and hear the girls. We would rig him up. He would get on the ice with the girls. We'd have to plan ahead to kind of have a sense of what moves they were going to do, so we could plan what lens to use and when to switch out the lens and. But, yeah, he's an amazing. He's an incredible skater. And if you look at the show, you'll see a lot of it is him skating backwards and. Yeah, so that was. You know, that was a really, really exciting kind of thing to figure out in the show.

[Samantha Knowles]

You were talking about the arc of the story. And this is interesting because during one of the episodes, the girls are having trouble understanding their coach, and she realizes that she really isn't communicating effectively with them. So she's like, I'm gonna. I'm out. I'm gonna go out here, and you guys are gonna talk about this amongst yourself and see if you can figure it out. How did their relationships with each other and with their coaches shape the series?

[Hila Epperson]

Oh, yeah, that was a huge. A huge part of the show, I think. You know, I think in a lot of ways, you know, one thing I said I love about that coach is that, you know, that coach in particular is Hila Epperson. She was also part of the program, and so she really. And all the coaches really. But Hila really understands the girls, and she understands that experience. She's not that much older than her. She's not that much older than the girls, and she really understands their experience. And so I think she really had this sense of when to let the girls kind of lead and let them kind of, you know, evolve. But what I also love in that scene that you can see is you can see how all of their personalities are at play. You can see that Adrianna, who's very technical and who's very, like, focused, she's the one who's calling out. Did you guys look at the score? You know, and Ashley's the one who's like, guys, you know, she's the leader, who's kind of like, okay, let's all get on the same page, you know, And I think. I think you can see all of their dynamics at play, and they're learning how to work together and work with all of Those things and all of those personalities as a team. And what's amazing is that so often when you're talking about organizations like this, they have these catchphrases like sisterhood and leadership. But we really saw it up close and in front of us, and that became the entire arc of the show. You know, the show also, at the same time, doesn't necessarily follow the traditional sports genre arc. They have a competition, but they also, you know, we see them as the season unfolds. We see a lot of opportunities that the girls are able to get access to. But what undergirds all of that is this kind of. Kind of sisterhood that really takes them from the beginning. Right. Right until the very end. You know, one of my favorite scenes is a great example of that sisterhood at play. So it was definitely a huge. An enormous part of the show.

[Alison Stewart]

The girls who participate in Harlem and Ice are beautiful women of color in a sport that's been largely dominated by Eurocentric standards and Eurocentric standards of beauty. How is that handled by the coaches and by the girls?

[Hila Epperson]

Well, there's. That is something that's definitely enormously at play. And, you know, one thing you'll see in the show is that they have a big sort of. I call it a concert because that's how I saw it. But, you know, what's called the ice show every single year. And the ice show is really the moment where they are so encouraged to every part of their, you know, performance, costume, hair, even their tights, to really be, you know, the fullest mode of self expression that, you know, we can. That they could possibly have. And it's incredible. It's like it's. I call it a concert because that's what it really feels like. And that's how we creatively, how we depict it in the show. But also, I always have to say, too, like, the girls also are constantly encouraged to express themselves. And it really surprised me in a lot of ways, the way that they would express themselves. I remember that there was one moment, one of my favorite moments in the show, when the coaches tell the girls, if you want to have confidence on the ice, just channel your inner alter ego. Everybody has one. And so the girls would. I asked them, who's your alter ego? And people would say, sasha Fierce. That's a very weird, well known alter ego. And when I asked Tori who her alter ego was, she was like, aretha Franklin. And I was like, so good. I was like, what do you mean? I just. I wasn't expecting that. And so in the Show. You see Tori in our first episode skating to Aretha Franklin. And it was so unexpected. But when she does that, you can see. And I love it. Cause I see it every time and I've seen it hundreds of times. You can see her entire personality in that clip. You can see every strength she has. She's a performer. She's. That's, you know, that's. They're all performers really. But so, you know, it's. That idea of self expression is really embedded in every part of the program of fsh, you know, even, you know, when they're skating to Beyonce at competition, when they're skating to Aretha, you know, for our cameras. Like, it. It really is a huge part. And I think that's really what makes the series everything. It led our creativity. You know, there are a lot of little fun pops, there's a lot of music in the show. There's a lot of fun on screen graphics. Everything was really led by the girls and their, you know, self expression.

[Samantha Knowles]

They have so much confidence.

[Hila Epperson]

Oh, yeah. I mean, I, it's. That's what I learned from them. Like I learned about synchronized skating, sure. But I learned, I to this day, take away. That's what I take away is like, you know, channeling each of the girls, you know, when I need a dose of confidence.

[Samantha Knowles]

You said that it's not like most documentaries, most sports documentaries that you watch. What's unique about this documentary?

[Hila Epperson]

I think it really. Well, it follows somewhat of a non traditional kind of narrative arc, you know. So I think you go in and you're thinking, oh, this is a competition show. And it turns into something even bigger and it takes you to so many places. It takes you on a very big trip at the end. I think in a lot of ways, you know, it. I, you know, I grew up dancing. I love musicals. And we use a lot of music in the show. Disney really encouraged us to play and have fun and use music. And I ripped a lot of songs like straight from my playlist. And in some ways sometimes I'm like, oh, this kind of feels like a musical or a concert movie at some, you know, at certain points, you know. And so I think it really, it really, you know, bends the genre in that sense. And that's what I, that's what I think is really exciting. But I love that ultimately it is about. It is, you know, a sports documentary. I think what I love about. I've always loved sports documentaries. And what I love about that is that because sports are about storytelling and it's about it's so universal. And so I think it's, you know, it's different in some ways. But I also love, you know, that this is about a sport that they're breaking, you know, the glass ceiling. So to the ice ceiling.

[Samantha Knowles]

I've been speaking with Samantha Knowles, the director of Harlem Ice, which is screening on Disney starting this Wednesday, February 12th. Hey, Samantha, thanks for celebrating Black History Month with us.

[Hila Epperson]

Thank you.

[Samantha Knowles]

Valentine's Day, it's this Friday. You don't want to break the bank. We're going to talk about budget friendly data ideas. Stay with us. That's coming up on all of it right after the news.

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