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Mickey Bolek dances with parter Terry McIntrye at the 2009 Washington
Figure Skating Club’s New Year’s Adult Invitational. The performance
garnered them a Bronze Medal. Photo: Courtesy of Mickey Bolek
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Mickey Bolek has always loved to watch ice-skating. As a kid growing up in Baltimore, he was glued to the TV set during televised competitions and skated for fun during the winter. His obsession with skating continued throughout his life. He had the most elaborate and expensive ice skates, boots and blades just to skate recreationally. He often sent emails to friends of the air times of televised competitions so they knew not to call during those hours.
Just before his 40th birthday Mickey did what many of us never do – he turned his childhood dream into reality and became a competitive ice dancer.
“I don’t like to do anything small. I like to do it big. So five years ago I found myself a coach and said to myself, ‘This is it. I’m going to become an ice dancer.’
He chose ice dancing as his sport because it was the most injury free of all the ice skating competitions. “The sport came from ballroom dancing. There’s no jumping and no lifting partners overhead.” It became an Olympic sport in the 1970s.
Mickey searched for a coach and talked with her about his goals. “I wanted to train so I would be able to compete. I wanted to get to a point where I could go to the U.S. adult championships and get a medal. I also want to skate with competitors from all over the world.”
Five years later with several medals under his belt, Mickey loves the sport more than ever. “There’s nothing more calming or soothing than getting on a sheet of ice and having cool air massage your face. It’s the most relaxing thing I do all year long.” He finds skating a great stress reliever and a good way to center himself before beginning his often-long days at Michael Anthony Hair Salon (Michael Anthony is his given name) on C Street SE next to Eastern Market. “The rink is one place I can go in this area where I don’t have to discuss politics, religion or world affairs. It’s everything I thought it would be.”
Mickey loves the sense of community he feels with other skaters who are all ages, shapes and sizes. One might think that at 40 he was getting a late start into the sport but he said he’s met people who began skating in their 70s.
Mickey is a “Bronze” level dancer and has won several medals. Categories begin with preliminary, pre-bronze, bronze, pre-silver, silver, pre-gold and gold. Thirty-two compulsory dances are in each category. Each category requires dancers to perform the same steps to the same music. Mickey has competed at the New York Invitational and at the Edward Picken Pre-Am Dance Classic in Ashburn, VA. Each dancer chooses his/her own costume. “It’s fun to create a mood or feeling with a costume depending on the music.”
He now has a team of coaches. His primary coach teaches him the dance steps. His partner for competitions recently moved out the area. Until he finds another, his dance coach, who is female, can practice the routines and the steps with him. Another coach is teaching him the male body positions and his third coach teaches him free style skating.
Mickey spends at least five hours a week on the ice. He practices in the mornings before going to the salon and on Mondays, which is his day off. His five-year-old son Daniel is also developing a love of skating. He also has a fascination with the Zamboni – the machine that resurfaces the ice. Mickey said Daniel wants to play hockey someday. “We skate together all the time.”
Lessons and competitions have deepened Mickey’s passion for the sport. However, what Mickey didn’t anticipate is how hard ice dancing is. “I thought it would be simple, but it isn’t. Every fiber of your body has to be doing something. You have to be focused on everything at the same time – where you are on the ice, where your arms, legs and shoulders are placed. Turning backwards on one foot and balancing at a high speed can be quite scary. It takes total mind and body control as well as coordination.
“Ice dancing is also a terrific cardio workout. I’m constantly moving even during instruction. I just slow down and rarely stop.”
Because of the difficulty and intensity of the sport Mickey has found that it has taken him longer to achieve his goals than he expected. Next year he plans to compete in international competitions. Whether Mickey meets his objectives next year or not, ice dancing is something he expects he’ll be doing for the rest of his life.
Places to Ice Skate in the Area
- Gardens Ice House – Laurel
- Kettler Capitol IcePlex (where the Caps practice) Ballston Mall*
- National Gallery (outdoor)
- Fort Dupont – DC
- Mt. Vernon Ice Rink – Alexandria
- Fairfax Ice Arena
- Skate Quest – Reston
*Kettler Capitol IcePlex offers a senior skate for people 50 and over every Monday morning from 8 to 9:30 for $1.00 including skate rental. |
