Private Lessons

For skaters needing a private instructor, Medibank Icehouse Figure Skating Academy has coaches that specialize in singles, pairs, and ice dancing.  The following instructors are available for private lessons:

To make a booking please contact the coach directly.

Amber Briant - 0421 813 823, amberbriant@hotmail.com

Amber has been involved with ice skating for most of her life and has been coaching for the past 8 years.  Her personal achievements include representing Australia and Germany at the world championships for synchronized skating and Australian Champion in pairs skating.  Amber is trained in classical ballet, tap and jazz and enjoys choreography.   Having spent much time traveling the globe training with some of the worlds best coaches and teams Amber looks forward to developing synchronized skating for Victoria.  Her students in figure skating and synchro have medaled at numerous competitions including state and national level.  Amber is qualified with a degree in Sport and Exercise Science and is available to train skaters off the ice for strength, flexibility, fitness and dance.   Amber has experience working with children of all ages in schools and always aims to challenge children and provide them with a fun and safe environment to learn.  Amber is keen to share her skills, knowledge and love of the sport with up and coming skaters.

Angela Daniel - 0425 025 226, angela_daniel@hotmail.com 

Hello my name is Angela Daniel, I have 22 years experience in figure skating and I have been teaching learn to skate since I was 12 years old. Figure skating has always been a large part of my life and with me I bring an enthusiasm and passion for the sport to my students. I have achieved gold metal standing in dance and skating skills and the majority of my skating career was spent in synchronised skating where I represented Canada all over the world and at the world championships. From this experience my specialty is in establishing strong core skating skills in my students. In my opinion, having strong basic skating skills is what sets competitors apart and establishing these skills at a young age will help them develop into better skaters in the long run. I am comfortable working with any skill level and encourage a fun, co-operative student coach relationship in order achieve goals and inspire the love of the sport in my students. I am happy to take on new students so please contact me if you feel I am the right fit for you.

Ashley Collins - 0415 126 220, ashleyc36@gmail.com

Ashley Collins is originally from Canada where she trained as a competitive figure skater for over 15 years.  In her time of figure skating, she became an accomplished Gold medalist in Freeskate & Ice Dance recognized by the Canadian Figure Skating Association.  She naturally transitioned into coaching skating in 2005, and with her passion and experience, continues to coach in Melbourne today. 

Dorothy Bisset - 0402 787 204, dorothybisset@gmail.com

Dorothy Bisset (Smith) is one of Australia’s highest credentialed and most experienced ice skating professionals, both in terms of her personal achievements as a skater, and as a professional ice skating coach and senior national judge.  Dorothy’s achievements as a skater include being two times bronze medalist at the World Professional ice dancing championships (the only Australian to do so), and Australian Professional ice dancing champion. Along the pathway to these successes, Dorothy has been crowned the Australian and Victorian senior and junior ice dancing champion, and as a singles skater the Victorian junior ladies champion and Victorian senior ladies bronze medalist. Dorothy has also attained the somewhat rare distinction of reaching gold medal status in all 3 disciplines of figures, free skating and ice dancing.  At the conclusion of Dorothy’s competitive career she joined the world renowned ice show ‘Holiday on Ice’ and traveled extensively overseas with this famous show. She has also performed in a multitude of professional ice shows here in Australia.  As a professional coach of young skaters, Dorothy’s pupils have won an array of Australian and Victorian titles, from primary level through to novice, junior and senior, in both singles and ice dancing. She has also taken skaters to compete in international competitions. Many of these skaters have continued on to professional careers as ice skating coaches or principle skaters in ice shows around the world.

  

Karolina Korfanty - 0413 741 672, karolina@bunique.com.au

 

Karolina has been involved in figure skating since she was very young and learnt to skate in Perth under Russian and American tutorage. She has won many medals including gold whilst competing in Ladies Singles Skating, Ice Dance and Artistic divisions. Karolina went on to complete Bachelor of Applied Science (Sport Coaching) at Deakin University. This helped broaden her knowledge in biomechanics, sport psychology, motor learning & development, exercise programming, exercise prescription and coaching techniques which she now incorporates into her coaching. Karolina has a passion for the sport which is clear when she teaches and she is comfortable working with grass root through to State and National level skaters as well as people of all ages. She specialises in on ice technique, choreography and off ice development in the areas of free skate singles and ice dance. She also has ballet and jazz dance training. Karolina is a current Sport Trainer Level 1 and is a member of both Sports Medicine Australia and the Australian Professional Skaters Association. 

 

 Kristen Avis - 0420 451 428, kristenavis@gmail.com

 

Kristen was a competitive singles skater in Canada from the age of seven. She trained in Vancouver at the Burnaby 8-Rinks Centre of Excellence with Joanne McLeod and upon retiring, she completed her NCCP Level 1 coaching certification and joined the coaching staff. As a competitor, she achieved her Gold tests in the 3 disciplines of Freeskating, Ice Dance, and Figures/Skills. She was on the Junior National team and competed in Junior Grand Prix international events and several North American Challenge competitions in Canada and the United States. She won Pre-Novice ladies Canadian Championships in 1998, Novice ladies National Championships the following year, and competed in both the Junior and Senior level for several years. She specialized in jumping, speed and power in her skating. She was often a guest skater at training seminars across Canada and at club ice shows in British Columbia. As a coach, she aims to produce a well-rounded skater and excels in off-ice training and jump technique. She has taken her students to competitions across Canada and loves to to pass on her knowledge to younger generations who share her love of skating. 

  

 Lee Chaplin - 0458 364 717, lee.chaplin.icehouse@gmail.com

 

Level 3 Accredited Coach- Australian Coaching Council, Vice President Victorian Coaching Association, 30 Years experience, Professional Show Skater  International and National Shows, Coached and Trained Mariposa Canada, Experienced Coach, Positive and Caring, Coaching Beginner to Elite, all ages catered for, On Ice, Off Ice and Choreography

Philosophy; Create an Environment to Achieve  Your Goals

Working With Children # 0216855801

Mark Hochmann - 0418 591 300, markmer@optusnet.com.au

Mark commenced his ice addiction at the age of 10. His first skate with friends at Ringwood Iceland quickly led to more sessions, lessons, joining the figure skating club and, finally, owning his very own skates! This consigned his mum to many cold early mornings, evenings after school and weekends at the ice rink. No such thing as a climate controlled ice rink back then!  At 16, Mark took up pair skating winning the Victorian Novice Pair Championship and the bronze medal in the National Championship. A swap to ice dance followed and he had found his niche. Over a 10 year competitive career Mark and his partners won 3 championship medals, 4 state championships and 3 National Ice Dance Championships including the 1982 Australian Senior Ice Dance Championship. In 1985 he spent 3 months training with the Canadian National Junior Ice Dance training squad in Toronto returning to win the Victorian Senior Ice Dance Championship in 1986. Mark has the Gold Medal (Test 6) in Compulsory Dance and the Silver Medal (Test 5) in Free Dance.  Mark has performed in all types of amateur and professional ice shows. Amongst these were performances on the Don Lane show, television commercials, touring pantomimes on ice in Melbourne and Sydney, performances on tiny “tank” rinks in shopping centres, Melbourne City Square and the Exhibition Buildings. The highlight of Mark’s performance career was touring Australia as a segment soloist with Torville and Dean in 1984.  Since turning professional in 1987 Mark has coached ice dance and skating technique and still partners his students in ice dance skating tests up to test 6. He has a Level 1 Australian Sports Commission Coaching Accreditation and is an Australian Professional Skating Association approved mentor coach in Ice Dance.  Mark has a degree in applied science majoring in biophysics and instrumental science and master of applied science in research.  When not skating, Mark spends time with his wife and 2 children, working at the Royal Children’s Hospital and indulging in his other winter addiction of skiing.

Svetlana Maskevich - 0400 263 330, smaskevich@bigpond.com

Svetlana Maskevich has been in love with skating for nearly 30 years. Since she was 6 years old, the best coaches in Russia, including Alexei Mishin (coach of three Olympic Gold Medalists) and Tatyana Mishina, helped her to reach gold, silver and bronze medals in a wide variety of International and Russia-wide competitions.   At the age of 17 she found the other love of her career - live theatre - and decided to combine the two.  Her extensive performing career took her around the Globe to countries like Australia, Korea, Japan, South Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong Israel, France, Spain, Germany, England and many others.  Before settling in Australia Svetlana skated as a principal for the Imperial Ice Stars in their productions of Sleeping Beauty on Ice and Swan Lake on Ice. Many people around Australia and around the world enjoyed her performances and the many master classes she gave on behalf of the company.   Svetlana studied coaching at the Saint-Petersburg Academy of Physical Culture and Sport under professor Alexei Mishin. She graduated in 1999 as a Bachelor of Physical Culture and Sport, specializing in Figure Skating and has worked for a number of skating schools in Saint-Petersburg as a coach and choreographer.  Svetlana is excited now to bring her vast skating experience and her academic training as a coach to the Ice House and looks forward to passing on her knowledge to Australian skaters.  Hockey School

 Renee Badcock - 0414 975 861 renee.badcock@gmail.com

As an accredited coach and a qualified and experienced primary and secondary music teacher, my focus is in student centred coaching with strong attention to short and long term planning and goals. I aim for my students to enjoy their skating, and always focus on achieving their own personal best. I focus on fun, intuitive teaching, looking for well roundedness in student achievement, understanding processes, and learning skills for enriching life through skating.  

Originally from Tasmania, I have been coaching figure skating from beginners through to ISA levels since 2002, and teaching music since 2001, while also maintaining a career as a professional musician in shows and orchestras. My background in performing music and in classical and contemporary dance gives me a strong understanding in both choreography and artistry on ice, and my experience as a teacher has shown me that with patience and determination we can achieve any goal!

Cameron Medhurst - 0404 168 560 skatecam10@hotmail.com

Cameron is an eight-time Australian Mens Figure Skating Champion who represented Australia at 9 World Championships and 3 Winter Olympic Games (84, 88 and 92). He placed 10th in the World Championships and won medals at international competitions. 

He has been coaching for almost 20 years in Canada and Australia, with skaters from beginner level to National Competitors. He also specializes in figure skating choreography and travels interstate to develop skaters competitive programs. In recent years he has worked with Winter Olympian Cheltzie Lee and currently choreographs the programs for Senior Mens Champion Mark Webster.

Cameron has extensive Ice Show experience having worked with all 3 Major International touring ice show companies over the past 17 years (Ice capades, Disney on Ice, Holiday on Ice). He performed as a principal soloist during this time and more recently in a character/comedy role as principal clown in "Energia" (Holiday on Ice 2008-2011). Cameron is very happy to be back in his hometown and aims to share his knowledge and performance experience with the young talent here in Melbourne to help them realise their full potential. 

To make a booking please contact the coach directly.

For more information please contact us at:
programs@icehouse.com.au
(03) 8631 3997