By BRIANA HARRIS / Staff Writer

PELHAM – The Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena and the Birmingham Figure Skating Club are hosting the 12^th Theatre on Ice National Championship June 25-29.

Theatre on Ice combines the artistry of musical theatre with the athleticism of figure skating. Theatre on Ice is a form of competitive figure skating that is popular in Europe, where it is known as Ballet on Ice. It combines the grace of figure skating with the excitement of theatre and dance. The event is anticipated to bring more than 3,000 skaters from all over the country to Pelham.

Pelham’s very own Magic City Theatre on Ice, the 2018 National Champion in the Open Division, will be attempting to defend their national title at home. Last year, the team placed first in the Choreographic Exercise and first in the Free Skate.

Last year, Magic City Theatre on Ice’s Choreographic Exercise put them in first place with a 5.33-point lead over Minnesota Theatre on Ice of Rochester, the 2017 reigning champions of the Open Division. Magic City performed a Wild West themed Free Skate to music from Bonanza, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, William Tell Overture and the Magnificent Seven. The team finished with a 6.86-point lead in the Free Skate, and an overall lead of 15.83 to win gold in the event. The team called It’s Hot of Brazos Valley Figure Skating Club won silver and Minnesota Theatre on Ice of Rochester took bronze.

Tickets purchased in advance cost $50 and tickets purchased at the door are $60. Children under 5 years old and active duty military with ID can attend the event at no cost. Advance ticket sales end June 21.

The Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena is the home of the Pelham Skating School and Birmingham Figure Skating Club, a member of US Figure Skating. Both work in tandem and are dedicated to the development of figure skating by providing learn-to-skate opportunities and advanced training for competitive figure skating.

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to 2019nationaltoi.com.