Coaches at ESC

As a courtesy to our skaters, listed below are those figure skating coaches that have been approved by the Essex Skating Club to teach on our sessions:

Kay Barsdell

NSA Gold Medalist in Dance and Free Dance. NSA Silver Figure and Freestyle. 1974-1978 member of British, European and World Team. 1976 Olympic team member. Twenty-six years teaching at South Mountain Arena. Member USFSA, ISI, NSA, PSA

Oleg Bliakhman

Silver Champion Junior Worlds 1982, Gold Champion Junior Worlds 1983. Trained with Natalia Dubova, Tatiana Tarasova and Ludmila Pahamova. Leningrad Ballet on Ice and Holiday on Ice 1992-2001. Teaches Freestyle, Moves in the Field and Ice Dancing. Member USFSA, ISI, PSA

Gia Brienza

Sixteen years of skating experience. Five years ballet. Passed Silver Dance Tests, Juvenile Moves, Preliminary Figure and Fourth and Fifth Class Synchronized Skating Tests. Competed in Freestyle, Dance and Sychronized Skating. Three years on Skating Club of Morris Sychronized Team and two years on South Mountain Clubs Synchro team. Teaches beginner skaters basic fundamentals of ice skating.

Dawn Cushing

USFSA Gold Medalist in Figures, Pre Gold Dance, Novice Freestyle. Director of Summit YMCA Skating Program. Teaches competitive and recreational skaters of all ages in Freestyle, Moves, Power Skating, Developmental fundamental Hockey Skating Skills. Member USFSA, ISI, PSA

Kelly Evans

USFSA Gold Medalist in Freestyle and Moves in the Field. Assisted with Ralph Evans Skating Schools. Teaches all levels of skaters, specializing in Power Skating for developing hockey players. Coaching since 1986. Graduate of University of Vermont. Member USFSA, ISI, PSA

Ken Foster

NSA Senior Dance Competitor 1969,1973-1977.Gold Dance Medalist of Great Britain 1974-1977, NSA Junior Dance Champion of Great Britain 1969, NSA Pre Figures and Freestyle. 1974-1978 member British, European and World Team. Teaching at South Mountain Arena for 27 years. Member USFSA, ISI, PSA, NSA

Bobette Guerrieri

USFSA Gold Dance Level, Third Figure, Teaching Power Skating, Stroking, and Hockey clinics since 1980. Works with all ages and levels of Hockey students from House League to NHL. Member USFSA, ISI, PSA

Ruth Kalenikoff

USFSA Adult Silver Freestyle and Adult Pre Silver Dance. Twenty seven years skating experience. Tested and competed in Figures, Freestyle, Dance, Moves, and Synchronized Skating. Member USFSA, ISI, PSA

Randi Kaufman

USFSA Fifth Figure test and Intermediate Freestyle. Competed in USFSA and ISI competitions through Novice. Teaching since 1990. BA degree-SUNY Binghamton. Master’s degree Social Work, Rutgers University. Member USFSA, ISI, PSA

Lisa Kops

USFSA Gold Medalist in Freestyle, Fourth Figure Test,. Teaching since 1991. BA degree Queens College. Member USFSA, ISI, PSA

David Lipowitz

USFSA Gold Medalist in Dance and Free Dance, Fourth Figure Test and Novice Freestyle. Five time US National Dance competitor, 1980 National Junior Dance Champion. Selected to US Jr. World Team in 1980. US Eastern Ice Dance Champion 1998 and US Olympic Trials. 1992 Hockey North American League State Champion. Modern Dance Major Montclair State College. Performing pianist and instructor. Member USFSA, ISI, PSA

Tatiana Mikhailova

Bronze Champion of Winter Russia Cup, 1986. Ninth place USSR Championship 1987. Partner was Alexi Gorshkov, National Coach of Russian Ice Dancing. Two time Silver Champion of Russia 1986-1987. Leningrad Ballet on Ice and Holiday on Ice 1992-2001. Teaches Freestyle, Moves in the Field and specializes in choreography.

Jay Slatus

Over twenty-five years teaching and skating school management. PSA rated senior Group, Registered Figure and Freestyle. ISI Gold Judge. USFSA Junior Olympic Coach. Coach to numerous Regional Juvenile and Intermediate medalists. Member USFSA, ISI, PSA MIRMA.

JoJo Starbuck

Three time US National Gold Medalist in pairs with partner Ken Shelley. Two time Olympian (1968 and 1972).

Geri Lynch Tomich

USFSA Gold Medalist in Freestyle, USFSA Gold Medalist in Figures. Twenty years teaching experience in Freestyle and Moves in the Field, teaching both competitive and recreational levels. Head coach of the Synchroettes. Two years on the US Tour of "Disney On Ice". US Easterns Senior Ladies Championship. BA Queens College. Member USFSA, ISI, PSA.

Heidi Vanderhoof

USFSA Gold Medalist in Freestyle, Moves in the Field and Dance. Passed 7th Figure Test. Has been teaching children and adults for 15 years. Competed in US Open and North Atlantics Competitions. ISI Gold Certified Judge. Artistic Director and Costume Designer for "Envisions Ice Ensemble"

Lori Zimmerman

Instructor of all aspects of skating including Freestyle, Moves in the Field, Choreography and Hockey. Passed 6th Figure Test, Junior Freestyle, Pre-Gold Dance and one Gold Dance. Member USFSA, ISI, PSA.

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