JellyLoop Figure Skating Coaching Staff
JellyLoop Professional Coaches are among the most recognized in the Figure Skating world. Coaching experience ranges from Choreography, Figures, Freestyle, Ice Dancing, Pairs, Moves, and Hydroblading®. Our coaches are dedicated to improving the overall performance of the skater: from grassroots to elite level athletes. Our coaching staff works in association with JellyLoop Skating Club, a member of the US Figure Skating Association.
Private Lessons
To inquire about private lessons please contact: Lisa Shaw at lshaw@jellyloop.net or call 610-497-2200 x117
Kim Seybold-Catron
Learn To Skate Director
National - International Coach and US Olympian
Kim was a member of the 1988 Olympic team, a 6-time US National medalist and a 4-time US World team member. She has won several medals for the US at International competitions throughout her career. Following her amateur career, she spent the next 9 years starring in professional Ice Shows. Kim has been coaching for more than 20 years, ranging from beginner to the National and International levels. Kim is a PSA Master Rated coach in both singles and pairs and is currently coaching singles, pairs, moves and power skating.
Leif Gislason
Junior Competitive Director
Leif was a member of the Canadian National Team and represented Canada in both Junior and Senior Grand Prix. He was the Canadian Champion in Novice and a two time Silver Medalist in Junior, ranking 8th in the World. He has ten years of coaching experience and is currently the Director of the Junior Competitive Program at JellyLoop. Leif teaches moves in the field, free skating, and dance to figure skaters as well as power skating to hockey players.
Alex Zahradnicek
Junior Competitive Director
Alex Zahradnicek is a Team USA internationally and nationally renowned coach. For the past five years, Alex has coached international, national, and Olympic competitors at all skating levels. He is a technical specialist for jumps and spins, with 17 years of personal professional skating experience. Alex competed for Team USA and Team France on the international stage. He was a four time US National medalist, and a French National competitor. Drawing from his experience, Alex knows what it takes to compete at the highest level, and enjoys helping students achieve their goals. In his free time, Alex enjoys tennis, good food, and traveling.
Richard Sharpe
Theater On ice Director
Junior Competitive Assistant Director
Richard started skating at the age of 6 and has gone on to compete in both freestyle and ice dance. In freestyle he competed at the Senior Regional level and in ice dance he went on to compete internationally for Great Britain in both Junior and Senior spanning over 8 years. In this time, he was 2 time National Junior Silver medalist and 3 time Senior Silver medalist. Also, in his competitive career he has competed in a range of countries across the globe including the Youth Winter Olympics in 2009 and medaled at his final event before retiring from competitions at the Bavarian Open January 2016.
His skating education has come from some of the highest most renowned coaches in the world and is now putting that knowledge to good use by coaching himself. He coached part time while training since 2007 and has now been coaching full time here at JellyLoop since the summer 2017. His coaching ranges from beginner skaters to those that have competed on the national/international levels.
Now in charge of the Theater On Ice program he has overseen competitive teams that received a national silver medal in the 2021 and a top 10 finish at nationals in 2022. He is able to teach Ice Dance, Freestyle, Moves in the field, Synchro and also is able to teach power skating to hockey players.
Jeffrey DiGregorio
Years of Experience: 30 years
Awards & Honors: 1997 & 2001 PSA developmental Coach of Year
PSA Master Rated Coach Singles and Pairs
National Technical Specialist in Singles and Pairs
National, International and World Coach
With over 30 years of experience, Jeff has coached many National and International Champion. Two of his former skaters, Tara Lipinski and Sara Hughes, also went on to win Olympic Said medals. He has had numerous International Competitors including: Christine Zukowski, Megan Stewart, Jordan Miller, John Caughlin, Taylor Toth, Felicia Zhang, Nate Bartholomay, Sara Wheat, Erica Choi-Smith, Jennifer Don, and Emmanuel Savary. National Champions include: Sara Wheat Taylor Toth and Felicia Zhang, Kelsey Drewel, Andrea Catoia and Paul Dulebohn.
Damian Dodge
Damian began skating at the age of 3 and has over 10 years of coaching experience. As an former athlete, he’s a 10-time U.S. National Competitor and 9-time International Competitor for Team USA. He’s an international medalist and 4-time Eastern Sectional Champion. As a coach he has helped many students to achieve USFS “Gold Medal Status” in Moves in the Field, pattern dances, solo free dances, and partnered free dances. Damian is a U.S. National level coach and U.S. Adult National coach and has choreographed programs for international skaters. He holds a degree in Health Services Administration from Drexel University and works full time for Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, PA.
Teaches: Ice Dance, skating skills, MITF, and choreography in all disciplines
Yovanny Durango
International, National and Junior National Coach
Theater On Ice Assistant
Yovanny has 22 years teaching experience. As a skater he was a sectional Champion and National competitor. His teaching highlights include many National and International Medalist in Novice, Junior and Senior Dance. He has worked with skaters at all levels and in all disciplines, taking many beginner skaters through their gold tests in Moves In The Field and Dance. Off ice, he has trained in ballet, jazz and ballroom dance. He is also a US Figure Skating Technical Specialist in Ice Dance. Lessons available in Freestyle, Moves in The Field, Ice Dance, Choreography and Power Skating.
Pavel “Pasha” Filchenkov
International, National and Junior International and National Coach
Pasha is former senior national competitor. He competed at 5 the U.S. Championships. He holds Masters in Sport Science degree from Russian State University of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism. Pasha is Certified PSA (Professional Skating Associating) rated coach.
Pasha has more the 15 years of coaching experience. Coached Grand Prix, National Senior level skater and World, Junior Grand Prix, National level skater. He teaches freestyle, harness, hydroblading method, moves in the field, ice dance and off ice.
Brian Helgenberg
International, National, Junior National Coach
Brian is a National Champion, International medalist, and 3 time Jr. World competitor. His 21 years of coaching experience ranges from being the primary coach of National, Jr. National medalist, and International competitors, to working with Olympic, International skaters in a specialized secondary coaching role. Brian teaches freestyle, pairs, and moves in the field. Brian is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and is currently pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education.
Vicki Helgenberg
U.S. Junior National, U. S. Junior World, U.S. National and International Coach. Member of USFSA, PSA, and CER qualified.
Vicki brings 40 years of coaching experience to the table. She coaches all levels, recreational and competitive, as well as students of any age. Vicki has taken skaters from Learn to Skate to 14 International Competitions most of which medaled at these events. She also participated in two Olympic Sports Festivals.
She also coaches the Learn to Skate, Camp Chill and the Junior Competitive Program at JellyLoop.
She is also the Mother of two competitive skaters turned Coach.
Vicki has worked for Disney and Apple and when not coaching she spends lots of time with her two Boston Terriers, both of which are Certified Therapy Dog International.
Mariko Heimbach
My name is Mariko Heimbach. I performed with Disney On Ice for 10 years as both an ensemble and principal skater. I grew up in Tokyo, Japan and began skating at the age of 7. I trained at the Shinyokohama Figure Skating Club in Japan alongside Olympians Shizuka Arakawa and Fumie Suguri. I continued my competitive career in Japan and was an All Japan National Championship competitor. At the age of 17 my career took flight as I began my dream job with Disney On Ice. Since then I have been to 55 different countries, performed for millions of people, and have met some of the most talented entertainers in the world. I have portrayed the roles of Mulan, Pocahontas, Princess Jasmine, Mrs. Incredible, Dory, and many more! I was also lucky enough to show my interest in Live Hosting and was the Live Show Host for Disney On Ice for 7 years, and hosted stadium shows such as Monster Jam. As I hang up my show skates I am extremely excited to continue my career in figure skating and am honored to give back to the skating community here at JellyLoop! After training with some of the most talented athletes in the world, I developed my own unique and effective teaching methods and specialize in expression, high-performance, and choreography. Let's get on the ice and have some fun!
Donna Helgenberg
Donna has accumulated more than 35 years of competitive skating experience and 20 years of teaching, training, and coaching experience through figure skating, inline speed skating, and ice hockey. As a figure skating coach, she has worked with skaters from beginner to international elite athletes.
As a hockey coach, she has served as Head Coach for the Conestoga Girl's Varsity Ice Hockey team and the Head Power Skating Instructor for an entire boys travel organization in NJ. Currently she works with numerous teams and individuals all over NJ, PA and DE as a power skating coach and hockey skills instructor. She is also the East Coast Rep for the hockey curriculum at the Professional Skating Association where she lectures around the US teaching figure skating instructors how to be effective hockey skating instructors. Coach Donna brings together years of experience and a skill set that will surely teach and improve any level skater.
Shannon Patton Huffman
Shannon began coaching figure skating In 1996. She is a member of USFS, PSA and LTS USA; she is CER compliant. She was a figure skating director and coaching supervisor for 12 years. She sits on the board of the Association of Philadelphia Areas. She has coached beginner skaters through competitive skaters. She coaches freestyle, power skating, basic hockey skills, fundamentals of skating, beginner moves, figures, JCP and Learn to Skate at JellyLoop. Shannon enjoys coaching beginner skaters and believes that skating lessons and practice should be a fun experience so that the skater can find their passion on the ice.
Uschi Keszler
Olympic and International Coach
Eva Martinek
Peter Liu
Elizabeth Hollett-Shackett
National, Junior National & Adult International Coach
Coach/Choreographer with 22 years of experience. Canadian National Championships Silver Medalist in Ice Dance, 3-time International competitor & medalist, 4th World Junior Championships. Passed Canadian Gold Dance Test and performed as guest star in amateur & professional ice shows. Rated in 3 disciplines of Figure Skating by the Professional Skaters Association: Senior Dance, Registered Choreography & Style, Registered Freeskating. Graduated from West Chester University with B.A. In Communication Studies, Summa Cum Laude.
Specialties include choreography and athlete development from grassroots to elite level. Proponent of professional education and team coaching having collaborated with over 31+ coaches to date, including countless JellyLoop staff pros. Coached/choreographed skaters in both singles and ice dance to U.S. National Championships, U.S. Junior Championships, U.S. Collegiate Nationals, U.S. Solo Dance Nationals, U.S. Adult Nationals, and Adult International. Other student achievements include clinching principal roles in Disney on Ice shows Frozen, The Incredibles, and Dare to Dream tours in North America and Europe, and the Universoul Circus.
Areas for Lessons: Choreography/On-Ice Presentation, Ice Dance, Moves in the Field, Power & Skating Skills, Beginning Freestyle & Adult skating. Fluent in French.
My website is: www.creativeskating.com
Jeff Merica
Amateur:
-1996 Junior Men Silver Medalist
-Junior and Senior National and International Competitor
-Gold Medalist Freestyle and MIF
Professional:
- National Coach
- Dorothy Hamill’s Ice Capades 1993-1995
- Royal Caribbean/ Ice Show 2001
- “The Next Ice Age” Dance Company
Performed at: Dance St. Louis, The American Dance Festival at Duke University, Kennedy Center DC
Viktor Pfeifer
Courtney Richardson
Carter Sharpe
Carter began skating at age 7 in Virginia Beach, Virginia and relocated at age 14 to train at Iceworks. She began competing internationally at age 17, representing Latvia in ice-dance on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. She then moved on to represent Great Britain with her ice-dance partner Richard Sharpe for four years. In this four years, Carter and her partner competed on Team GB on the Senior International circuit and were ranked second in England for three out of their four competitive years.
Throughout her competitive career, Carter has worked with several National, World, and Olympic coaches allowing her a wealth of knowledge to share with her students. She began coaching part time while training at the age of 16, and since retiring from competing in 2016 has continued to coach at Iceworks.
She is able to teach the following: skating skills for both figure skaters and hockey players, ice-dance, freestyle, and moves in the field. She currently holds a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology and is in training to earn her Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology in the Spring of 2024. This background in psychology gives Carter a rich understanding of the mind and how to work with different individuals to maximize their potential while simultaneously prioritizing their physical and emotional well-being.
Crystal Smith
Coach Crystal's Motto is "Learning through fun and encouragement". She has developed skaters from Learn to Skate through National Competitors since 2001. A USFS National Competitor, ISI Worlds Medalist and toured with Holiday on Ice (a professional figure skating show) through out Europe. Crystal has a BS in Kinesiology: emphasis on Exercise and Movement Sciences with a concentration on Neuromuscular Science as well as Dance Aerobic and Fitness Certified. She is an Off-Ice Fitness Specialist who incorporates her Balanced Body Pilates training, Pilates Suspension Method, TRX Training and USFS Stars Combine Fitness Testing in her classes. Crystal supports and encourages her students to achieve their dreams whether to be a competitive freestyle skater, solo dance, showcase, synchro, theater on ice, show skater or just for fun! She teaches clients as young as 24 months through 80+ yrs of age specializing in Freestyle, Moves in the field, Power Skating (hockey) and Off-Ice Cross Training. You can learn more about Coach Crystal, her students and off-ice training on her website: Coach Crystal Smith
Mojca Kopac-Tiernan
Theater On Ice Assistant & Learn To Skate Assistant
Coach with 12 years of experience. 7- time Slovenian National Champion, 3-time Olympic competitor as well as European and World Championships competitor. Medalist at several international competitions. Worked with many international skaters who competed at several international competitions, including Winter University Games.
Available for lessons in Freestyle (beginner to elite level), Moves in the field, Power and skating skills (for figure skating and hockey) and
Adult skating. Also teaching Learn to skate classes, Junior Competitive Program and Camp Chill. Also available for off-ice jump lessons/classes.
Michael James
Originally from London England, Michael James is a triple gold medalist with tremendous experience in Moves in the field and Ice Dancing. As the Director of the Skating Club of Lake Placid at the Olympic Center for 15 years, he built a membership following of over 10% of the population of the famous Olympic village. Coach of countless USFS gold medalists and National, Sectional, and Regional medalists he has successfully led many skaters to victory.
Additionally, Michael has a large following of loyal skaters who depend on him to supply EDEA boots and all of the finest skating blades as well as mount and sharpen all equipment, exclusively for figure skaters at Iceworks for your convenience.
Michael Solonoski
Michael Solonoski is a former senior national competitor, international competitor, and Team USA member. He holds an architecture degree from Drexel University and earned four Collegiate National medals. Michael toured internationally as a principal skater for 5 years, pushing the creative boundaries of professional skating by adding live singing, aerials, and other art forms to his performances. Michael teaches freestyle, moves in the field, enjoys choreographing and music editing. His approach assesses students' short and long-term goals, and develops a training plan of structured on-ice and off-ice training. Michael still loves to skate and hopes to share his passion for the sport and all of its valuable life lessons.
Megan Williams Stewart
Megan began skating at the age of 3. She trained with many Olympic and World level coaches. Through her career, she was a 5 time National Competitor, 4 time Team USA Athlete, 2008 South Atlantic Regional Champion, International Gold and Silver Medalist. Megan started coaching at the age of 16 while she was still a competitive athlete. When she ended her competitive skating career, she joined us at Iceworks Skating Complex as a Professional Instructor and the Learn to Skate Director.
Megan specializes in freestyle, moves, stroking and choreography.
"As a former elite athlete, I know the hard work it takes to achieve your goals and dreams. As a coach, I strive to pass on my knowledge and experience on to my students with good lesson structure and discipline." -Megan Williams-Stewart
Marcia Walkney
Marcia has been coaching since 1998. She is a current member of USFS, PSA and is CER compliant. As a skater, she competed and tested in Freestyle, Figures, Ice Dancing and Synchronized skating.
Marcia has more than 12 years of professional coaching experience in freestyle, moves in the field and learn-to-skate programs. Marcia has also been a synchronized skating coach. She has volunteered to judge at local, national and international ISI competitions. She teaches both recreational and competitive skaters at all levels and ages. In addition, Marcia has extensive experience in working with those with special needs. Her skater's accomplishments include medal winning performances at the State Games of America, South Atlantic Regionals, Adult Eastern Sectional Championship and the US Adult National Championships.
Marcia holds a BS in Business Administration with a minor in Psychology and an MBA from Duquesne University concentrating on Training and Development. Additional information is available on her personal website at marciasfigureskaters.com.
Laura Whipple
Laura is a triple gold medalist in figure skating (Free Dance, Pattern Dance, and Movesin the Field).
She worked intensively with internationally renowned coach Natalia Dubova with her former Lithuanian junior level partner, Deividas Stagniunas, for the Junior Worlds and Junior Olympics.
Her off-ice training includes ballet, Pilates, TRX, weightlifting, aerobic base training and Artistry in Motion (AIM).
She is also a graduate from the Barbizon School of Modeling, and a former coach at J.P. Igloo in Ellenton, FL, as well as a former competitor and instructor at The Dance Palace in Sarasota, FL, (Smooth and Latin Dance).
She specializes in: Alignment, Choreography, Power Skating, Edge Enhancement, Pattern Dance, Moves in the Field, Ice Dance, Freestyle, and Basic Skills for Hockey.
Laura is available to partner with dance students up to the Gold level in Pattern Dance Tests.
Junior competitive program (JCP) coach for Ice Works.
U.S. Figure Skating member; PSA certified
Oleg Fediukov
Kelsey Gislason
Junior Coaches
James Hernandez
James is a 3-time British Junior National Ice Dance Champion, 2-time Junior Grand Prix silver medalist and 2-time Junior World Competitor. James and his partner were the first team for Great Britain to qualify for the Junior Grand Prix Final and has seven years of experience competing around the world. James has spent the majority of his life learning from and working under some of Skating’s greatest athletes, coaches and Olympians while training for these events.
James has acquired a vast knowledge of skating and coaching techniques. He specializes in Skating Skills, Ice Dance, Power Skating, Freestyle, and choreography. In the last competitive season he choreographed for several sectional qualifiers and taught the Senior Excel National Champion.
Heleyna Walton
Courtney Grier
Courtney is has been a competitive figure skater since age 11. She is a registered gold medalist in Moves in the Field. She was a national competitor at Theater on Ice with her team placing in the top ten. Throughout her years, she has participated and competed on synchronized ice-skating teams. Courtney has participated in numerous theater on ice productions. She coaches moves in the field, freestyle, off ice training and learn to skate. She enjoys when students realize their potential and find their confidence on the ice.