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Attention all Ice Capades Alumni! The Ice Capades Reunion is June 21 and 22, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV. For information, please go to http://www.tdc.ca/icecapades/2010reunion.htm
INGA SCHILLING: DANCER, SKATER, DESIGNER
Written by Janet Wright
For years Inga Creations warm-up suits and skating apparel were the staple of every young female skater. Some coaches dressed their students in the same style and color of “Ingas” to identify their rink and club. In 1970 Inga Schilling, frustrated that her students did not have proper warm-up suits began knitting them. The demand
was so great by 1971 she went into full time production.
“I started with one industrial sewing machine. It took me forever to thread that thing,” Schilling laughs. “I finally had to hire some one.”
Her determination to succeed started in Germany where her childhood and teenage years were spent in a dance studio training to be a classical ballerina. She was exposed to theatrical skating at age 19 when she followed an aunt who was performing in the Eisballett Baier starring Maxi and Ernst Baier, 1936 Olympic pair champions. Schilling joined the show as a spotlight operator. Her stumbling, yet graceful, attempts to skate were noticed by Willi Schilling, a performer in the show, who became not only her teacher but eventually her skating partner and husband.