Worthington Figure Skating Club to perform Sunday

• Figure skaters

Photo Courtesy of Nicole Kempema The performers in the Worthington Figure Skating recital “Magic on Ice” pose with their flowers and medals after their 2011 event at the Worthington Arena.

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WORTHINGTON — For the past several seasons, “Glee” has been one of the most popular shows on television. Members of the Worthington Figure Skating Club hope to capitalize on that popularity by dubbing their annual show a “Glee-cital.”

“Everything is done to ‘Glee’ songs,” explained Lisa Scholtes, coordinator of the local figure skating program. “The numbers range from ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ to Michael Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal’ and ‘Thriller.’”

The “Glee-cital,” set for 3 p.m. Sunday at the Worthington Arena, features about 40 students ranging in age from 4 to 15. Under the tutelage of instructors Anne Raetz, Jenn Scholtes, Celina Quijana and Alicia Sauer and assistant instructor Haley Ruesch, the skaters first worked on their fundamentals for the first six weeks of the Community Education program, then spent the last seven week preparing for the show.

“It’s fun to watch them learn how to skate, learn the love of skating,” said Scholtes, who first got involved “as an active parent” when her daughter participated in the program. “It’s a lifetime sport — something you can do for the rest of your life, especially in this area when we have winter for so long.”

Just like a dance recital, the “Glee-cital” will feature choreographed numbers and appropriate costumes.

“They’re all really excited” to perform, said Scholtes about the skaters. “One of the groups is doing ‘Marry You,’ and for their costumes they are all little brides. The costumes are a big part of it. For another one, they’re done up like Lady Gaga.”

The program, which will last about an hour and a half, will also feature two guest skaters, one from Luverne and one from Sioux Falls, S.D.

This is the 19th year for the Community Education figure skating program, noted Scholtes, and yet it is a program that people seem to know little about. She encourages spectators to come out and view the show and see what the Worthington Figure Skating Club has to offer. An admission fee will be charged at the door.

“I don’t think people have a clue we even have this,” Scholtes said. “I get people saying, ‘Really, there’s figure skating?’ all the time. Yes, you learn how to skate, and we have students even doing lots of spins and jumps. We’re teaching them all of that. You can really see the talent.”

Daily Globe Features Editor Beth Rickers can be reached at 376-7322.

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