Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – The Forum in Presque Isle became a menagerie of wild animals of both tropical and frigid climes as members of the Northern Region Skating Club of Maine donned their skates to perform in their 26th show Animals On Ice on Saturday, Mar. 7.
This year’s show featured a variety of popular rock songs and theme songs of some famous cartoon movies. Organizers began planning in July for the spectacle.
Ian Michaud, of Mapleton, performed for the first time as a penguin from Happy Feet. The 6-year-old practiced his waddling and one foot glide from his basic three class in the number. “It’s fun,” said Michaud about the show.
Playing the part of a Siamese cat, Ariana Babineau, of Easton, skated in her fourth year at the ice show.
“It’s just so much fun being with other people you skate with all the time, and pretending to be animals,” said the 14-year-old.
Babineau, a fan of Sasha Cohen, practiced her jumps and spins multiple times during her lessons to prepare for her three performances in “Welcome to the Jungle,” Batman and the Siamese dance. “I really like to show people how good I’ve gotten at figure skating, so I work hard,” she said.
Despite the inclement weather, community members filled the bleachers for the two performances.
“Everything went smoothly, and everyone had a good time,” club president Haley Kelley. “Everyone really seemed to enjoy the music and the costumes.”
Participants included Jessica Aube, MacKenzie Beaulieu, Paige Beaulieu, Ariana Babineau, Macey Barker, Alison Bell, Carly Bell, Delia Bonner, Emma Bonner, Paul Bonner, Meg Boone, Michaela Bragg, Conner Cain, Ciara Campbell, Chelsey Carroll, Mari Cochran, Emily Collins, Kimberly Cook, Shayna da Cruz, Jocelyn Davis, Kaylee Doody, Kristen Gingrich, Gracie Griffeth, Alyssa Guimond, Melanie Guimond, Jenica Harris, Sarah Hebert, Lee Ireland, Megan Jellison, Lisa Jones, Haley Kelley, Sasha Kilroy, Kristina Lord, Sedona Lucas, Allison Madore, Ian Michaud, Shae Michaud, Sarah Owens, Lynn Peli, Alexandria Peterson, Ariana Peterson, Thomas Peterson, Dana Piro, Mia Piro, Abbey Player, Grace Player, Brandon Poitras, Emily Poitras, Cortney Rector, Caitlyn Roix, Jessica Scott, Pam Searless, Sarah Sjoberg, Katie Smith, Kelsie Spooner, Kerstee Spooner, Jim Tompkins, Anna Trombley, Alyssa Trombley, Monique Waugh, Taylor Webster, Amanda White, Elizabeth White, Katelyn White, Samantha White and Madison Zeigler.
For more photographs of the ice skating performers, please turn to page 10b.
Photos by Meridith Paterson
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson
IN THE LINE OF DANCING CHICKENS are, from the left, Alison Madore, Taylor Webster, Macey Barker, Emily Poitras, Grace Player, Meg Boone, Kerstee Spooner and Elizabeth White.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson
WE BEES STICK TOGETHER. Skaters are, from the left, Madison Zeigler, Emily Collins, Brandon Poitras and Amanda White.
A BUNCH OF BUSY BEES. Brandon Poitras, Connor Cain, Paul Bonner, Thomas Peterson, Madison Zeigler, Emily Collins and Amanda White skate to a song from The Bee Movie with helpers Jessica Scott and Shayna da Cruz.
FEELING THE NEED FOR CHEESE, (above) Katie Smith dons a mouse costume to perform in a number from Ratatouille. 
FISHES IN A CIRCLE. McKenzie Beaulieau, Jenica Harris, Alyssa Guimond, Sarah Owens and Paige Beaulieau perform a number from Shark Tales.
SARAH SJOBERG (right) skates while watching her Siamese cat twin during the duo number.
DOING A LITTLE TWIRL to “Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog” are Paige Beaulieau (left) and Sarah Owens (right).
BAT GIRL ABBEY PLAYER shows off her spinning technique.
ALL THE PENGUINS IN A ROW performing Happy Feet for the audience are, from the left, Mia Piro, Ian Michaud, Anna Trombley, Shae Michaud, Ariana Peterson and Gracie Griffith.
