A Night of Movie Magic with the Princeton Figure Skating Club

On Feb. 23, The Princeton University Figure Skating Club hosted their show, “Night at the Movies.” As skaters warmed up, their skates cut against the ice to booming cheers and roars of applause.

The first half of the show featured solo, duo, and synchronized team performances to well-known soundtracks from movies like “The Lorax,” “Mamma Mia,” and “Moana.” Costumes included animal ears and tails for “The Lion King,” as well as orange mustaches and knee-high green socks for “The Lorax.” The synchronized team also wore brightly colored, bedazzled outfits with wings to accompany the “Rio” piece.

After a brief intermission, the show continued with tracks from “Wicked,” “Tangled,” “The Godfather,” and “The Great Gatsby.” The breathtaking performance of Zach Yaninek ’26 to a James Bond medley was a highlight of the show. Despite the complexity of his moves, he delivered a performance that felt truly effortless. The medley featured a mixture of beautifully somber moments and dramatic peaks. Yaninek mirrored these moments of varying intensities with his movement.

While whirlwinds of skaters demonstrated their talents on the ice, skaters who weren’t performing cheered the skaters on by waving their phone flashlights and arms in sync to the rhythm of songs. Audience members also joined by stomping their feet on the bleachers to demonstrate their support.

With camaraderie and class, the Princeton Figure Skating Club’s show “Night at the Movies” truly embodied the essence of cinematic magic, showcasing each skater’s dedication and love for their craft. Through the skaters’ bright facial expressions and smiles, Princeton’s skaters not only have an incredible talent but also a genuine passion for their sport. While speaking to The Daily Princetonian, Victoria Spradlin ’28 shared that the show “inspires people to join the club, support, and come to more shows” and that their efforts “give the sport more visibility on campus.”

In an interview with the ‘Prince,’ Mandy Kao ’28 shared that “watching the rest of the talented, motivated people on the team” inspired her, calling the figure skating team “small but mighty.”

While speaking with the ‘Prince,’ skaters shared that the club’s spring performance came early due to the rink’s early closure for renovations. Yet, as the group displayed all night, they have plenty of movie magic left for future performances.

Monica Zepeda is a contributing writer for The Prospect and a member of the Class of 2028. She can be reached at mz9063@princeton.edu.