The Red Rose Figure Skating Club will hold a holiday recital on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 4 p.m., at Regency Ice Rink, 2155 Ambassador Circle, Lancaster. The ice skating showcase will feature 40 local figure skaters of all ages, from youngsters who have recently learned to navigate the ice to national championship medalists.

Admission for the event is free, and refreshments such as coffee, hot chocolate, cookies and pretzels will be available for purchase. Flowers may also be purchased for audience members who wish to show their favorite skater their appreciation.

Each of the 40 participants in the recital is a member of either Red Rose or its Learn to Skate program, which the club revived in April after a hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offers ice skating classes at Regency Ice Rink that are open to adults as well as children age 3 or older. The classes focus on teaching new skaters the fundamentals of the sport through a curriculum that is supplied by Learn to Skate USA.

As a result of the program's accessibility across a wide range of age groups and skill levels, the recital will include adult skaters as well as performers as young as 3 years old. Some of the performers laced up their skates for the first time as recently as November. The show will include two group numbers, in addition to various solo showcases and duets. Cara Scudner, a member of Red Rose and 2023 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championship medalist, has been coaching the youngest skaters as they prepare for the show. Dressed as Santa's reindeer, the tiny tots will perform a number alongside Scudner for the show. "They've been practicing the choreography for the past four weeks during their lessons," Scudner said. "They're really excited to show off the skills they've been learning to their families."

The Learn to Skate program has continued to grow and maintain a high retention rate since its return earlier this year, and its popularity served as the catalyst for Red Rose to organize a holiday recital. Each skater was given an opportunity to participate at no extra cost to allow as many new skaters to show the skills they've been sharpening on the ice. "Some of my top skaters stepped on the ice for the first time in April," Scudner said. "People keep coming back because they love it, and we're so happy to bring it back to the Lancaster community.

For more information on the Learn to Skate program, visit http://www.rrfsc.org/learn-to-skate.