Last fall, Elva Anderson, the coach of the 
Valley Ice Chipettes approached me to ask whether or not Charlie might be interested in participating in this year's team. The Chipettes are a "synchronized skating team" that performs a series of technical moves synchronized to music. This year the song is Herb Alpert's Tijuana Taxi -- the coach thought Charlie could be like the "taxi driver" and was really very excited. I talked to Charlie about whether he wanted to participate and he thought it sounded interesting. I worried just a bit that other kids might try to tease Charlie for being a "Chipette" -- as far as I'm aware there have never been any boys on the Chipettes before. So I suggested to Elva that it would be nice if we could change the billing to something like "Chip and the Valley Ice Chipettes" to give him an out. She agreed and Charlie joined the team.
Most of the practice sessions have been devoted to learning particular sequences: there are sections where the skaters form blocks, circles, lines and wheels. They worked through each one individually, sometimes on the ice and sometimes just on the floor and, although they've heard the music, they mostly just worked through it counting the steps. Elva has also been working one-on-one with Charlie during the practice time after basic skills lessons on Sundays.
Last night, they tried to put it all together with the music for the first time. It was both funny and remarkable: funny because they missed the transitions, ran late, and are still generally confused at each point where they need to switch. Remarkable, for how well it came together over just three times through. They still have a couple more practice sessions before their first show and it's clear that it's really coming together.
Chip and the Valley Ice Chipettes will perform three times this year: for a UMass hockey-game half-time show (March 6th), the Amherst Skating Club Ice Show (March 13th), and the Greenfield Ice Show (March 20th). It should be great!