Rising Stars: Meet Stephanee Grosscup

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanee Grosscup.

Hi Stephanee, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi, my name is Stephanee Grosscup. I am a professional ice skating choreographer, teacher, and coach. I’ve been ice skating since approximately 1969. I began on the iconic outdoor ice rink in Sun Valley, Idaho. I remember the first time I glided upon the smooth surface I knew that I wanted to skate for the rest of my life.

I started in the Learn to Skate program at a rink on 21st south called Hygeia Iceland. After one season I loved skating so much my Mom let me take private lessons. Skating became my life. I would skate 2 hours before school and 4 after school. When I was 11, I moved to California to train. I competed in skating for about 6-7 years but found my calling to be a show skater very early.

One summer a coach out of Utah Linda Snow, took a bunch of us to skate in the Sun Valley Ice Show. I think I was 16. It was there that I found my true passion while skating in the ice show. I believe I competed for about another year. However, each summer I would return to Sun Valley, work at the rink, stay in the dorms and skate in the iconic Sun Valley on Ice Shows. This lasted for 22 seasons. An accomplishment I am proud of.

At age 19 I started teaching. The following summer, I was put on the teaching staff in Sun Valley by the Director of Skating and my mentor Herman Maricich. The following year, he helped me get an audition with Ice Follies and Holiday On Ice Combined Shows. It was my first professional job with a big touring production. I loved every aspect of show business. I was hired in the ensemble but was immediately given the understudy position when the main headliner twisted her ankle.

That changed my life forever as it showed me I had what it took to be a soloist. The next show I was contracted for was in Japan. I was the soloist and from there never looked back. For the next 9 years I traveled on the road and did stationary shows, movies, TV Specials, etc. Anytime I was not traveling with a show, I would come back to Utah or Sun Valley and teach or choreograph.

In approximately 1989, I started working for Ice Theatre of New York. This is a famous repertory on ice company out of New York. From there I freelanced and taught for another decade. In 2001, I got two jobs on the same day. 1- to be on the choreography team for the 2002 Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies. 2-To direct the Ice Skating Program at the Salt Lake City Sports Complex.

Being on the Olympic Ceremonies Team and being able to skate in the ceremonies was one of the most awesome and creative experiences of my life. Immediately following the Olympics I built all the skating programs at the Salt Lake City Sports Complex. I worked as Director of Skating for approximately 4 years. Right after the Olympics, I had a young (3 1/2) toddler in my Snow Plow Sam Learn to Skate Class.

He was amazing and frankly, I had never seen a young person so talented. That young man was the current Olympic Gold Medalist Nathan Chen. I was his first coach for 2 years and then choreographed and mentored him on and off until 2012. I am so proud of him for achieving his dreams.

In 2010, I decided I wanted to go back to being a freelance choreographer. I ended up getting a job at a subsidiary of Volkswagen in Germany. This place is called the Autostadt. For 5 Christmas seasons in a row, I lived and worked for 2 months in Germany choreographing a multi-million dollar production. They were all based on German Fairytales. It was so fascinating. I could write an entire book on my time at the Autostadt. It was truly a wonderful experience.

Since 2014, I have been the resident choreographer for all the ensemble pieces at the iconic Sun Valley on Ice Show. It has been and is the most awesome experience to create beautiful ensemble pieces for the Saturday night shows. This 2022 season will be my 7th year.

If I am not doing all of the above, I continue to teach skating at the Sports Complex, Sun Valley Ice Rink, and a few other rinks around the nation. Otherwise… I ski a lot. I bike, hike, camp, paddleboard, and generally have a great time!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not always been a smooth road. There are many obstacles in skating. It’s a very expensive sport. Sometimes there isn’t enough ice time or good coaches or enough money to pay for all of it.

I had to live out of state when I was very young in order to have ice time year-round. It was difficult being away from my Mom at such a young age. Also, if a skater doesn’t win a national title it’s difficult to be a soloist. I admit that I worked very hard to be recognized. Although once I was, I got great jobs.

There was always the worry that when a contract ended would there be another job? Skaters always are looking for the next contract and hoping that work keeps coming in. There is never a job guarantee other than hard work!!
There is a myriad of ups and downs. Body issues are also a constant obstacle. There is a stigma that when girls begin to mature that they become “too fat.” I think this is damaging to many young girls in sport. The more you are told you are fat, the fatter you become. Or in the case of bulimia, how dangerously skinny you become. I struggled with “body issues” for the majority of my career as a show skater. This is not uncommon.

However, the joy of performing and doing what I love has always superseded any of the low points. Plus it helped me build my sense of self esteem, confidence and eventually helped me to eat healthy and feel good about my athletic body.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Aside from teaching people to skate, I specialize in skating choreography. 5-6 days a week I get to the rink, strap on the skates and help people to achieve their skating dreams. I demonstrate a lot as choreography needs to be shown to the student. I have a note books with musical count sheets. A hand held speaker to follow the skater through sections of their program. A big magic marker to show patterns on the ice. I attempt to help people to be performers and musically attuned. I pack a lunch and a hot thermos of tea in order to sustain my energy throughout the day. Its a demanding job, but one I would not trade for any other. I love being a choreographer.

What you are known for?
There are two aspects that I am known for. Either creating individual programs for competitive or professional skaters or creating huge ensemble pieces for professional ice shows.

Several jobs that I am really proud of are being on the choreography team for the 2002 Opening and Closing Olympic Ceremonies. Being a part of the creative team of that global production was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

My five seasons in Germany producing over 45 pieces per year were also completely amazing. The stories were brilliant. The costumes and over-the-top creative props, sets, storyline, etc. are hard to put into words. It was really incredible to have the opportunity to bring German Children’s Literature to life on the ice. My past 6 seasons in Sun Valley choreographing the ensemble have been so creative and rewarding.

The skaters in Sun Valley are great and the setting so beautiful that creativity flows. I think I am known for being prepared. I always have my work done before I start rehearsals. I am known for finding the storyline in programs. For reaching the audience and helping them to connect to the beauty and magic of skating.

What do you think about luck?
My Dad always told me “Luck favors the prepared!” So… I always make sure that I am prepared to handle the various situations that will arise as a choreographer. To be able to go with the flow, find the best in the artists, find the story in the piece.

Luck has a lot to do with hard work, taking creative chances, and being in the right place at the right time. But mostly luck favors the prepared.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @sgrosscup
• Facebook: Stephanee Grosscup
• Youtube: Stephanee Grosscup