Solo Q & A: Jade Wöhler
In this Solo Q&A, learn more about Jade Wöhler, a senior ice dancer from The Netherlands who trains with the Foy Ice Dance program at the Deen Figure Skating Club. Photos by Pietures.
Tell us about how your skating journey began. What drew you to the ice? Do you have any special memories?
I started taking figure skating lessons when I was 6.5 years old (I did skate earlier, but since I would only skate while holding my mom’s hand, I had to wait a bit to start taking lessons). I started skating because my older sister skated too (she still does), and since I look up to her, I wanted to do everything she did. At first I actually didn’t like the lessons, but my only friends were at the rink so I continued, and the longer I skated, the more I started to fall in love with the amazing sport. My favorite memories are the lessons I had with Wouter Toledo, he was an amazing support for me on and off ice and I will never forget him (unfortunately he died in 2018).
When and why did you choose to do solo dance?
About eight years ago I took some ice dance lessons with Ashley Foy Tervoort. I really liked those lessons, but when another trainer took over from her it got really boring so I decided that it was not for me. For some time I was taught by Rita Koen (I still take some lessons with her from time to time), she really helped improve my edges and learn more about them technically, and she taught me all the basics. I’m really thankful that she always believes in me, and helps me to be a better skater and person. Later, I started to get more and more injuries due to the huge impact from jumping (I get injured quicker because I have hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome), which made me too scared to jump (I was even thinking about quitting the sport entirely), this happened shortly before Ashley started doing solo dance lessons in Alkmaar (in the beginning of 2024). The moment I found out about those lessons I was really excited, so I joined. Solo dance has less impact on my joints which makes it possible for me to train more and get injured less.
What do you like most about Solo Dance? What kind of music do you like to skate to the best? Why?
I’ve always liked to practice skating skills, do challenging choreography, and competing is also really fun, and solo dance has it all! I like to skate to music thats allows you to skate with soft, ballet like movements, but I don’t like the typical classical music options, I like music that not everyone knows (I think it’s boring to do the same as everyone else) I want the judges not to fall asleep while watching me because they’ve seen it before, I want then to look up and enjoy it.
Tell us about your training site.
Right now I train in Alkmaar (in the Netherlands) with my coach Ashley Foy Terfoort, she makes ice dancing fun and keeps challenging me to be a better ice dancer. Right now I only have ice dance lessons once or twice a week (and I train by myself two times a week), but I’m hoping to have more lessons next year (right now there aren’t that much options because I’m also practicing for the end of year show with the figure skating club in Alkmaar).
Who choreographed your programs? What do you like best about them?
My choreographer is also Ashley; we are currently working on finishing my free dance, which will be based on the book/play “Andorra” by Max Frisch (it’s going to be very different from all of the programs that I had before, but it’s an amazing concept and I hope everyone else will love it too). Hanna Jakucs and Alessio Galli also helped with my free dance by adding arm movements, and correcting some of my steps. Soon we will start my rhythm dance, so I will be ready when the competitions start. I think Ashley is an incredible coach and choreographer, and also since I’ve known her for a long time it’s very nice to work with her.
Solo Dance is now an international discipline this season. Share your thoughts about this change.
Solo dance is an amazing discipline, it makes ice dance accessible for skaters that can’t find partners or don’t want one, and it’s also great for skaters that don’t jump for a variety of reasons. It’s wonderful to see that more and more skaters (including me) find their love for skating again because of this. Even though I’m glad that it is an international discipline now, I do think that many skaters would have benefited if it had happened earlier.
In skating, what are you most looking forward to this season? What will be your biggest challenge(s)?
I’m really looking forward to doing competitions again, I do hope that there will be more than one solo dance competition in the Netherlands so I will have more opportunities to compete nearby. The biggest challenge will likely be navigating the new solo dance circuit.
What do you think makes solo dance a special discipline?
It’s a relatively new discipline, so there are not that many solo dancers yet, but I think that it will also be one of the fastest growing disciplines.
If you could have a lesson with any ice dancer past/present, who would it be? Why?
I actually don’t have a specific ice dancer that I would like to have a lesson with. To be honest, I would be happy to have a lesson with almost any ice dancer, everyone has different perspectives and opinions which will all help me in a different way. If I had to choose someone, I would like to have some more lessons with Sherim van Geffen. He really helped me and hopefully he will be able to teach me more next season.
What are your favorite off-ice activities?
I love to do ballet, I’ve done it for almost my whole life, since I was 4 (I did take some breaks from it because I didn’t have enough time). I think that my ballet experience definitely contributed to my appearance as a skater. In my free time I also volunteer at my local hedgehog rescue (about once a week), I give them their medicines and make sure they are doing alright. I really like to stay productive and do useful things when I’m able to.