Renee Roca
Encyclopedia
Renée Roca is an American
ice dancer
and choreographer. She is a three-time U.S. national champion with different partners. Competing with partner Donald Adair
, she is the 1986 U.S. national champion
. She later teamed up with Russia
n skater Gorsha Sur
, with whom she is the 1993
and 1995 U.S. national champion
.
. Their most successful season was 1985–86, in which they won 1985 Skate Canada International
, 1985 Skate America
and the 1986 U.S. national title. She also achieved her highest World placement, 6th at the 1986 World Championships
. The following season, they won the U.S. silver medal. He decided to retire ten days before the 1987 World Championships
, stunning Roca who had hoped to qualify for the 1988 Winter Olympics.
After that partnership ended, Judy Blumberg
and Brian Boitano
helped pair Roca with Jim Yorke. Roca and Yorke placed 4th at the 1988 U.S. Championships
. They withdrew from the 1989 event.
Roca left competition and began working as a skating choreographer. She choreographed the free program Jill Trenary
used to win the 1990 World Championships
.
In early 1990, Russian skater Gorsha Sur
, who had defected to the U.S. the previous month, was advised to contact Roca by Belgian skater, Jirina Ribbens. Ribbens noted, "Of all the U.S. ice dancers, Renee's style is the most European. She has a classically elegant and dramatic flair, more like a ballerina than a ballroom dancer." Roca and Sur worked together in Detroit for two weeks and were soon invited to audition for tour organizers and to compete at professional competitions. A year later, the International Skating Union changed its eligibility rules, allowing professional skaters to reinstate as amateurs to compete at the World Championships and Olympics; Sur convinced Roca to return to eligible competition.
The pair choreographed for Elizabeth Punsalan
and Jerod Swallow
the free dance they used to win the 1991 U.S. Championships
.
Roca began competing with Sur in the 1992–93 season. They were coached by Sandra Hess in Colorado Springs, Colorado
. Roca and Sur won the 1993 U.S. national title
.
Roca and Sur hoped to win the United States' single berth to the ice dancing event at the 1994 Winter Olympics
. To do so, the couple had to not only win the 1994 U.S. national title but also receive accelerated citizenship for Sur due to the Olympics' citizenship requirements. A Republican Representative and Democrat Senator, both from Colorado, lent their support to speed up Sur's naturalization in Congress. It was argued that his case differed from other athletes because not speeding up the process would hurt an American citizen, Renee Roca. However, their efforts were stymied in late December 1993 when the United States Olympic Committee denied a request for a waiver to the requirement that athletes be citizens by the national championships. In addition, their main rivals for the Olympic spot, Punsalan and Swallow, were involved in a letter-writing campaign to Congress to prevent Sur from receiving expedited citizenship.
During a warm-up at the 1994 U.S. Championships
, Roca was skating backward and collided with the team of Galit Chait
and Maksim Sevostyanov, fracturing a bone in her left arm. Two hours later, she returned from the hospital with her arm in a cast and decided to try to compete. They placed second to Punsalan and Swallow in the rhumba, however, Roca was unable to secure a firm grip with her left hand. The couple was ultimately forced to withdraw from the rest of the competition.
Roca and Sur returned to competition the following season and defeated Punsalan and Swallow at the 1995 U.S. Championships
to reclaim their national crown.
At the 1996 U.S. Championships
, their fortunes reversed again and Roca and Sur placed second to Punsalan and Swallow. Roca and Sur retired from eligible competition at the end of the season and toured with Stars on Ice
.
Roca also choreographed the short program that Nicole Bobek
used when she placed first at the 1995 Worlds
in that segment and the program Alissa Czisny
used to become 2011 National Champion and 2010-2011 Grand Prix Final Champion. Roca was a choreographer on the television show Skating with Celebrities
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ice dancer
Ice dancing
Ice dancing is a form of figure skating which draws from the world of ballroom dancing. It was first competed at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1952, but did not become a Winter Olympic Games medal sport until 1976....
and choreographer. She is a three-time U.S. national champion with different partners. Competing with partner Donald Adair
Donald Adair
Donald Adair was an American figure skater. He competed in ice dance with partner Renée Roca, and the duo won the gold medal at the 1986 United States Figure Skating Championships. An injury led to Adair's sudden retirement from competitive skating prior to the 1987 World...
, she is the 1986 U.S. national champion
United States Figure Skating Championships
The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters...
. She later teamed up with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n skater Gorsha Sur
Gorsha Sur
Georgi 'Gorsha' Sur is a former ice dancer who represented the United States and the Soviet Union. With Svetlana Liapina for the Soviet Union, he is a two-time World Junior medalist. With Renée Roca for the U.S., he is a two-time U.S...
, with whom she is the 1993
1993 United States Figure Skating Championships
The 1993 United States Figure Skating Championships was the United States Figure Skating Championships of the 1992-1993 figure skating season. They were the national championship to determine the national champions of the United States. They were held in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to determining...
and 1995 U.S. national champion
1995 United States Figure Skating Championships
The 1995 United States Figure Skating Championships was the United States Figure Skating Championships of the 1994-1995 figure skating season. They were the national championship to determine the national champions of the United States. They were held in Providence, Rhode Island.Skaters competed in...
.
Career
Early in her career, Roca competed with Andrew Ouellette. She later teamed up with Donald AdairDonald Adair
Donald Adair was an American figure skater. He competed in ice dance with partner Renée Roca, and the duo won the gold medal at the 1986 United States Figure Skating Championships. An injury led to Adair's sudden retirement from competitive skating prior to the 1987 World...
. Their most successful season was 1985–86, in which they won 1985 Skate Canada International
1985 Skate Canada International
The 1985 Skate Canada International was the Skate Canada International competition of the 1985–1986 figure skating season. Medals were awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing....
, 1985 Skate America
1985 Skate America
The 1985 Skate America was the Skate America competition of the 1985–1986 figure skating season. The event was organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. Medals were awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.In 1985, Skate America was...
and the 1986 U.S. national title. She also achieved her highest World placement, 6th at the 1986 World Championships
1986 World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
. The following season, they won the U.S. silver medal. He decided to retire ten days before the 1987 World Championships
1987 World Figure Skating Championships
-Medalists:- Medal table :-Men:-Ladies:-Pairs:-Ice Dancing:-Reference:** Result list provided by ISU* *...
, stunning Roca who had hoped to qualify for the 1988 Winter Olympics.
After that partnership ended, Judy Blumberg
Judy Blumberg
Judith Ann "Judy" Blumberg is an American former ice dancer.Blumberg was born in Santa Monica, California. She and Michael Seibert won the 1981-1985 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and the 1983-1985 World bronze medalist. They placed 7th at the 1980 Winter Olympics and 4th at the 1984 Olympics...
and Brian Boitano
Brian Boitano
Brian Anthony Boitano is an American figure skater from Sunnyvale, California. He is the 1988 Olympic champion, the 1986 and 1988 World Champion, and the 1985-1988 U.S. National Champion. He turned professional following the 1988 season...
helped pair Roca with Jim Yorke. Roca and Yorke placed 4th at the 1988 U.S. Championships
1988 United States Figure Skating Championships
The U.S. Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition organzied by the United States Figure Skating Association. In addition to determining the national champions, the event was used to determine the U.S. teams for the World Figure Skating Championships and the Winter...
. They withdrew from the 1989 event.
Roca left competition and began working as a skating choreographer. She choreographed the free program Jill Trenary
Jill Trenary
Jill Ann Trenary is an American figure skater. She was a 3-time U.S. champion and won the World Figure Skating Championships in 1990....
used to win the 1990 World Championships
World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
.
In early 1990, Russian skater Gorsha Sur
Gorsha Sur
Georgi 'Gorsha' Sur is a former ice dancer who represented the United States and the Soviet Union. With Svetlana Liapina for the Soviet Union, he is a two-time World Junior medalist. With Renée Roca for the U.S., he is a two-time U.S...
, who had defected to the U.S. the previous month, was advised to contact Roca by Belgian skater, Jirina Ribbens. Ribbens noted, "Of all the U.S. ice dancers, Renee's style is the most European. She has a classically elegant and dramatic flair, more like a ballerina than a ballroom dancer." Roca and Sur worked together in Detroit for two weeks and were soon invited to audition for tour organizers and to compete at professional competitions. A year later, the International Skating Union changed its eligibility rules, allowing professional skaters to reinstate as amateurs to compete at the World Championships and Olympics; Sur convinced Roca to return to eligible competition.
The pair choreographed for Elizabeth Punsalan
Elizabeth Punsalan
Elizabeth Punsalan or Swallow is an American ice dancer. With her partner and husband Jerod Swallow, she is a five-time U.S. national champion, two-time Skate America champion, and competed twice in the Winter Olympics.- Career :Early in her career, Punsalan competed with Christopher Rettstatt,...
and Jerod Swallow
Jerod Swallow
Jerod Swallow is an American ice dancer. With his partner and wife Elizabeth Punsalan, he is a five-time U.S. national champion, two-time Skate America champion, and competed twice in the Winter Olympics....
the free dance they used to win the 1991 U.S. Championships
1991 United States Figure Skating Championships
The U.S. Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition organzied by the United States Figure Skating Association. In addition to determining the national champions, the event was used to determine the U.S. teams for the 1992 World Figure Skating Championships. Skaters...
.
Roca began competing with Sur in the 1992–93 season. They were coached by Sandra Hess in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
. Roca and Sur won the 1993 U.S. national title
1993 United States Figure Skating Championships
The 1993 United States Figure Skating Championships was the United States Figure Skating Championships of the 1992-1993 figure skating season. They were the national championship to determine the national champions of the United States. They were held in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to determining...
.
Roca and Sur hoped to win the United States' single berth to the ice dancing event at the 1994 Winter Olympics
Figure skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics
Referee:* Britta LindgrenAssistant Referee:* Gerhardt BubníkJudges: Wendy Utley Jan Olesinski Jarmila Portová Alfred Korytek Yang Jiasheng Margaret Ann Wier Noriko Shirota Audrey Williams Jan Hoffmann Monique Petis -Pairs:...
. To do so, the couple had to not only win the 1994 U.S. national title but also receive accelerated citizenship for Sur due to the Olympics' citizenship requirements. A Republican Representative and Democrat Senator, both from Colorado, lent their support to speed up Sur's naturalization in Congress. It was argued that his case differed from other athletes because not speeding up the process would hurt an American citizen, Renee Roca. However, their efforts were stymied in late December 1993 when the United States Olympic Committee denied a request for a waiver to the requirement that athletes be citizens by the national championships. In addition, their main rivals for the Olympic spot, Punsalan and Swallow, were involved in a letter-writing campaign to Congress to prevent Sur from receiving expedited citizenship.
During a warm-up at the 1994 U.S. Championships
1994 United States Figure Skating Championships
The 1994 United States Figure Skating Championships was the United States Figure Skating Championships of the 2009-2010 figure skating season. They were the national championship to determine the national champions of the United States. They were held in Detroit Michigan. In addition to determining...
, Roca was skating backward and collided with the team of Galit Chait
Galit Chait
Galit Chait is a former Israeli ice dancer with partner Sergei Sakhnovski. They competed internationally for Israel from 1995 to 2006.- Personal life :Chait was born in Israel and moved to New Jersey as a child with her parents...
and Maksim Sevostyanov, fracturing a bone in her left arm. Two hours later, she returned from the hospital with her arm in a cast and decided to try to compete. They placed second to Punsalan and Swallow in the rhumba, however, Roca was unable to secure a firm grip with her left hand. The couple was ultimately forced to withdraw from the rest of the competition.
Roca and Sur returned to competition the following season and defeated Punsalan and Swallow at the 1995 U.S. Championships
1995 United States Figure Skating Championships
The 1995 United States Figure Skating Championships was the United States Figure Skating Championships of the 1994-1995 figure skating season. They were the national championship to determine the national champions of the United States. They were held in Providence, Rhode Island.Skaters competed in...
to reclaim their national crown.
At the 1996 U.S. Championships
1996 United States Figure Skating Championships
The 1996 United States Figure Skating Championships were the United States Figure Skating Championships of the 1995-1996 figure skating season. They were a national championship to determine the national champions of the United States....
, their fortunes reversed again and Roca and Sur placed second to Punsalan and Swallow. Roca and Sur retired from eligible competition at the end of the season and toured with Stars on Ice
Stars on Ice
Stars on Ice is a touring figure skating show produced by IMG. It was originally conceived in 1986 as a vehicle for IMG client Scott Hamilton, who had been released from his contract with Ice Capades, after being told that male skaters do not sell tickets...
.
Roca also choreographed the short program that Nicole Bobek
Nicole Bobek
Nicole Bobek is an American figure skater. She is the 1995 U.S. Champion and World bronze medalist.-Biography:An only child, Bobek was raised by her Czech mother, Jana, and her friend Joyce Barron...
used when she placed first at the 1995 Worlds
1995 World Figure Skating Championships
The 1995 World Figure Skating Championships were the World Figure Skating Championships of the 1994-1995 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from ISU Member Nations competed for the title of World Champion...
in that segment and the program Alissa Czisny
Alissa Czisny
Alissa Czisny is an American figure skater. She is the 2010–2011 Grand Prix Final champion, two-time U.S. national champion, the 2007 U.S...
used to become 2011 National Champion and 2010-2011 Grand Prix Final Champion. Roca was a choreographer on the television show Skating with Celebrities
Skating with Celebrities
Skating with Celebrities is a celebrity reality television show that began airing on the Fox network on January 18, 2006. The show also aired in Australia on Network Ten in early 2006 and in New Zealand in October 2008. The show was the U.S. version of Dancing on Ice, which also aired in the U.K....
.
With Sur
| Season | Original dance Original dance The original dance was a segment of an ice dancing competition. It was usually the second of three programs, sandwiched between the compulsory dances and the free dance. Until 1994, it was known as the original set pattern dance... |
Figure skating Free dance (figure skating) The free dance is a part of an ice dancing competition. It is the second part of the competition to be contested, after the short dance.-Structure and content:... |
Exhibition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beethoven Sonata No. 9 Maria Maria (1956 song) "Maria" is a song from the Broadway musical West Side Story, sung by the lead character Tony. The music was written by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The song was published in 1956.... Bach Adagio Somethin' Else by Little Richard Little Richard Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and... and Tanya Tucker Tanya Tucker Tanya Denise Tucker is a female American country music artist who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13... Everything Must Change by Nina Simone Nina Simone Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music... I'll Be Seeing You by Mel Torme |
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| 1997–1998 | If You Go Away by Neil Diamond Neil Diamond Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present.... |
||
| 1995–1996 | |||
| 1994–1995 | Quickstep: | Fever Harlem Nocturne Red Blues |
|
| 1993–1994 | Summertime | ||
| 1992–1993 |
With Sur
| Event | 1992–93 | 1993–94 | 1994–95 | 1995–96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships World Figure Skating Championships The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion... |
11th | 10th | 14th | |
| U.S. Championships United States Figure Skating Championships The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters... |
1st | 1st | 2nd | |
| Skate America Skate America Skate America is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. It is organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. The location changes yearly... |
3rd | 3rd | ||
| Skate Canada International Skate Canada International The Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition organized by Skate Canada. It is the second competition of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies' singles, Men's... |
3rd | |||
| NHK Trophy NHK Trophy The NHK Trophy is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.... |
5th | |||
| Nations cup Bofrost Cup on Ice The Bofrost Cup on Ice was a figure skating competition held in Germany between 1986 and 2004. It was part of the Grand Prix series until 2003, when it was replaced by Cup of China. Following being booted out of the Grand Prix series, a new form of competition was introduced to the Bofrost Cup... |
4th |
With Yorke
| Event | 1987–88 | 1988–89 |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Championships United States Figure Skating Championships The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters... |
4th | WD |
With Adair
| Event | 1982–83 | 1983–84 | 1984–85 | 1985–86 | 1986–87 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships World Figure Skating Championships The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion... |
11th | 6th | |||
| U.S. Championships United States Figure Skating Championships The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters... |
4th | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | |
| Skate America Skate America Skate America is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. It is organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. The location changes yearly... |
1st | ||||
| Skate Canada International Skate Canada International The Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition organized by Skate Canada. It is the second competition of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies' singles, Men's... |
1st | ||||
| NHK Trophy NHK Trophy The NHK Trophy is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.... |
5th |
With Ouellette
| Event | 1979–80 |
|---|---|
| World Junior Championships World Junior Figure Skating Championships The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion... |
3rd |