ICE DANCE INTERNATIONAL

IDI COSTUME DESIGNER

A graduate of New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, Alicia has designed all of Ice Dance International’s costumes other than Revival. She has worked with Douglas Webster on 3 seasons of the Disson television show called Shall We Dance on Ice, the 2016 World Figure Skating Championships, and with Ice Theatre of New York when Douglas was the Artistic Director of the company. Alicia also designs for the Next Ice Age, ITNY, and for competitive skaters and teams across the Globe. Alicia is a figure skater and ballroom dancer. Her keen eye for color, theater and design make her one of the top skating costume designers today.

Alina Ponomarova was born in Odessa, Ukraine. She started skating at the age of 5 and competed in freestyle as a child. While studying ballet at the High School of Performing Arts and Culture she changed her focus to the ice dance. After finishing high school with the highest achievement diploma she pursued her coaching career, moving to Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. She was an assistant coach to the Ukrainian National Figure Skating Team while receiving her college education. To connect the worlds of figure skating and dance she received a Masters Degree in Choreography of Contemporary and Classical dance from Kiev National University and Performance Arts and Masters Degree in Olympic and Professional Sports from National University of Physical Culture and Sports. She moved to the United States in 2007. She has worked with national and international competitors for the United States, Great Britain, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Japan and China. Her specialty is coaching ice dance, skating skills, ballet and choreography. She currently is a member of the Team Fox coaching staff at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, IL. 

TAKE 5 2017

REFLECTIONS 2017

Benoit  Richaud is a French figure skating choreographer. He choreographed Take 5 and Reflections for IDI. Benoit is trusted to design  programs for the highest-level Olympic and international figure skaters  including Daisuke Takahashi, Rika Kihira, Bradie Tennell, Savchenko  & Massot, Kaori Sakamoto, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and Denis Ten.

Known  worldwide as a gifted choreographer who embodies a passion for art on  ice, international skaters, coaches and media call his work challenging, intricate and completely original.

Richaud’s  unique approach stems from his roots in Avignon combined with his  rigorous study of dance across the world, including its cultural roots  and influences. He designs programs that align with a skater’s unique  character and skill-base, allowing them to achieve their maximum  potential.

SWARM 2024

Mr. Smith has created and staged his choreography for some of the most elite dance companies in the world including Teatro Allo Scala, The Marinsky Ballet, The Bolshoi Ballet, Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, New York City Ballet, Houston Ballet and national de l’Opera de Bordeaux. He is currently resident choreographer for Vitacca Ballet. His recent creation for the company, Hypnotic Forces, was selected by Pointe Magazine as one of the 12 standout performances of 2023.

     EXPERIENCE 2020

Cindy Stuart is a prominent force in choreography for figure skating both in the professional and amateur ranks. After representing the USA internationally, Cindy turned to performing and touring, eventually choreographing for the world’s top grossing Ice shows.

     Cindy choreographed EXPERIENCE for IDI at a residency hosted by Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center in Stowe, VT in March, 2020.

     She spent six years as choreographer for Stars on Ice, two of those assisting world-renowned Olympian Christopher Dean which included the Emmy Award winning “Pure Imagination.” Stuart also choreographed alongside Robin Cousins, who was her creative partner for a decade, working on major projects across the globe, including 3 productions for Feld Entertainment and 4 editions of Holiday on Ice. 

     For the last 14 years she has choreographed countless productions for Disney on Ice including the blockbuster “Frozen.” Cindy continues to travel among the 9 DOI units touring the world to work and develop the talent that is constantly evolving in each company.

     Cindy brings that performance quality to the competitive and gala programs she designs for National, World and Olympic competitors from many nations. Clients include, Mirai Nagasu, Alexa and Chris Knierim, Gracie Gold, Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, Soyoun Park, Mariah Bell and Alysa Liu. Most recently, she reunited with Adam Rippon to create his piece “River” by Ben Platt.

     Cindy is a 5 time PSA Choreographer of the Year nominee culminating in a win in 2016. Additionally, she was nominated for the 2016 PSA Sonia Henie award..

  IDI FOUNDER 2014

 THREE SMOKERS 2014

VISIONS OF EMERALDS 2016

Mr. Villella is one of IDI's Founders and has choreographed Three Smokers and Visions of Emeralds: An Homage to Mr. Balanchine. 

Edward Villella became a member of the New York City Ballet in 1957, rising to soloist in 1958 and principal dancer in 1960, last dancing there in 1979. Among his most noteworthy performances were Oberon in George Balanchine's ballet A Midsummer Night's Dream (with music by Felix Mendelssohn), Tarantella, Rubies in the Balanchine ballet Jewels, and Prodigal Son.

     Edward is one of IDI's original founding members and serves as a company Board advisor. He choreographed two significant pieces of repertory for IDI: The Three Smokers in 2015 and Visions of Emeralds; An Homage to Mr. Balanchine in 2016.

     Villella was the first American male dancer to appear with the Royal Danish Ballet, and the only American ever asked to dance an encore at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. He danced at the inaugural for President John F. Kennedy, and performed for Presidents Johnson, Nixon, and Ford. He won an Emmy Award in 1975 for his CBS television production of Harlequinade. He danced in two television versions of The Nutcracker (in different roles), in a ballet film version of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and in a 1966 TV production of Brigadoon, in which he played the tragic suitor Harry Beaton. During the 1960s he and his dancing partner Patricia McBride, who starred together in a 1965 television version of The Nutcracker, appeared often on The Ed Sullivan Show. In 1973, Villella appeared as himself in an episode of The Odd Couple.

In 1985  He was named founding artistic director of Miami City Ballet and served in that role until 2012. 

     In 1997, Villella was named a Kennedy Center Honors recipient, and was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton. He was also named the Dorothy F. Schmidt artist-in-residence at Florida Atlantic University in 2000. He was inducted into the National Museum of Dance's Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame in 2009.

TILL THE END 2020

EMOTIONAL SEASONS 2024

IDI Company Member since 2017

Rohene is the current Professional Skaters Association’s “Choreographer of the Year, 2021” for his amazing work with Jason Brown. This is the third time he’s been awarded this prestigious honor. Rohene created IDI’s “Till the End” and was a touring company member in 2020 during the fall out of the beginning of the pandemic.

Mr. Ward is an African American figure skater.. He competed six times at the U.S. Championships, in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008. He also competed for Puerto Rico and is the 2004 Puerto Rican national champion. Rohene choreographs for a variety of skaters including Alysa Liu, Jason Brown, Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Courtney Hicks, Jordan Moeller, and Mariah Bell. His choreography won critical acclaim when Brown's long program "Riverdance" ("Reel Around the Sun" by Bill Whelan) created an internet sensation garnering over five million YouTube hits following the 2014 US Championships. Ward won "Choreographer of the Year" at the 2015 PSA conference in Bloomington, Minnesota. He won a second time in 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. In between, Ward choreographed the opening ceremonies at the 2016 U.S. Championships. Growing up in Minnesota, Rohene trained intensively for 7 years in ballet, modern, contact improv, contemporary, hip hop, and jazz at the Minnesota Dance Theatre and with Zenon  dance company in their scholarship program.

IDI is in development of a full company work for Rohene to create.