Rohene Ward

Rohene Andre Ward (born June 28, 1983) is a retired American figure skater and choreographer. He competed four times at the U.S. Championships, in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008. He also competed for Puerto Rico and is the 2004 Puerto Rican national champion.

Rohene Ward
Ward performs a layback spin in 2008.
Born (1983-06-28) June 28, 1983
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Figure skating career
CountryUnited States
Skating clubStarlight Ice Dance Club

Career

Ward is known for his flexibility, athleticism, and charisma, as well as jumping and spinning in both directions.[1][2] His moves include the cantilever, the hydroblade, and the splits.

Ward was coached by Page Lipe in Minneapolis for 18 years.[3] He attended North Community High School where he graduated in 2001.[4] In 2005, he began training under coach Robin Wagner.[2]

In 2007, Ward and Lipe co-coached Kirsten Olson. In 2007, he began co-coaching with Kori Ade in Highland Park, Illinois.[5] At the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Saint Paul, Minnesota, he became the first U.S. coach to compete in the national championships while also coaching another participant (Olson in the junior ladies' competition).

During the 2010–11 ice show season, Ward played Aladdin in Holiday on Ice's (HOI) European tour. He was then asked to be a principal skater in the HOI shows "Speed" and "Speed II", touring parts of Europe from the Netherlands to Norway from 2011–2013.[6] In the 2013–14 season, he performed as a principal in the new HOI production of "Platinum"[7] in France and Germany.

In spring 2013, Ward and Ade moved to Monument, Colorado[5] to further expand 7K Skating Academy. They have coached several top students, including Jason Brown.


Choreographer

Ward is also a choreographer, working with a variety of skaters, including Brown,[8][9] Courtney Hicks, Jordan Moeller, and Mariah Bell.[4] In his choreography, he avoids music with lyrics, saying that "It inhibits the ability to create, because the words dictate."[4] His choreography won critical acclaim when Brown's long program "Riverdance" ("Reel Around the Sun" by Bill Whelan) created an internet sensation, garnering more than five million YouTube hits following the 2014 US Championships.

Ward won "Choreographer of the Year" at the 2015 PSA conference in Bloomington, Minnesota. He won a second time in 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. In between, Ward choreographed the opening ceremonies at the 2016 U.S. Championships.[10] Ward won his third and fourth choreography awards in 2021 and 2023. In 2023, he also took home the Inspire award.

In 2020, Ward and Brown co-choreographed a tribute to Alvin Ailey set to Nina Simone's version of "Sinnerman," which Brown competed in both the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons, including at the 2022 Winter Olympics.[11]

As of April 2021, Ward coaches at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois.[11]

Skaters who Ward has choreographed for include:

Programs

Season Short program Free skating
2013–2014
[7]
  • Din Da Da
    by Kevin Aviance
  • Weather Storm
    by Craig Armstrong
2007–2008
2006–2007
  • Eleonore
    by Maxime Rodriguez
2005–2006
[12]
  • Primavera Portena
  • Oblivion
  • Tango Ballet
    by Ástor Piazzolla
2004–2005
  • The Messiah Will Come Again
    by Roy Buchanan
2003–2004
2002–2003
2001–2002
  • Medley
    by Michael Jackson
  • Violin Fantasy on the opera Turandot
    by Giacomo Puccini
    performed by Vanessa-Mae
2000–2001

Results

International
Event 96–97 97–98 98–99 99–00 00–01 01–02 02–03 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07 07–08
Schäfer Memorial8th
Triglav Trophy2nd J.
National[12]
U.S. Championships5th N.6th J.14th16th17th18th
Puerto Rican Champ.1st
Midwestern Sectionals3rd N.7th J.6th J.1st J.3rd5th3rd6th3rd6th2nd
UGL Regionals4th N.1st J.6th J.1st J.2nd J.2nd1st1st1st
Levels: N. = Novice; J. = Junior

References

  1. Bangs, Kathleen (October 26, 2005). "Rohene Ward: Under the Radar". Golden Skate. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008.
  2. Ong, Bao (13 November 2007). "Life on the edge". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Saint Paul, Minnesota. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  3. Berlot, Jean-Christophe (March 17, 2014). "Choreographer Ward creates pieces of art for Brown". IceNetwork.
  4. Hewitt, Chris (January 20, 2016). "U.S. Figure Skating: Rohene Ward finds choreography is music to his ears". Pioneer Press. Archived from the original on January 20, 2016.
  5. Brannen, Sarah S. (May 15, 2013). "Ade and Co. find new home in Rocky Mountains". IceNetwork.
  6. Elfman, Lois (June 21, 2012). "Performing is a holiday for Rohene Ward". IceNetwork.
  7. Brannen, Sarah S. (May 21, 2013). "Tour skater Ward decides on competitive return". IceNetwork.
  8. Clarey, Christopher (February 12, 2014). "For Skater Jason Brown, a Disciplined Approach Yields Joy on Ice". The New York Times.
  9. Walker, Elvin (July 10, 2011). "Brown is ready for anything – except a haircut". Golden Skate.
  10. Lueck, Shane (December 10, 2015). "Rohene Ward: From Competitor to Performer to Coach". Lavender.
  11. Rutherford, Lynn (13 April 2021). "Jason Brown, Rohene Ward seek to spread the light with "Sinnerman" program". NBC Sports. Stamford, Connecticut. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  12. "Rohene Ward: 2006 Nationals bio" (PDF). U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2011.
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