Julie Patterson

An experienced professional skater since 1979, Julie Patterson joined Ice Capades in 1983, starring as a performer for ten years. Her influence in the sport went beyond just the on-ice show. Quickly she became as interested in the coaching and skating development aspects of the sport, and before long was looking to that as a career move.

In 1992 Patterson took over as performance director for Ice Capades, and within two years Olympic medalist Dorothy Hamill had named Patterson the performance director for Dorothy Hamill International. Although Patterson continued to tour with Ice Capades in such classics as "Hansel, Gretel, The Witch And The Cat" and "Cinderella, Frozen In Time," she saw her new direction.

Hamill soon named Patterson director of skating, and in 1995, Patterson added production manager to her title. Before joining the Ice Den staff, she spent two years as vice president of skating for Ice Capades, where she was responsible for hiring and training more than 100 skaters for three touring shows, including MGM's "The Lion Roars."

Patterson's role continues to be that of a teacher at the Ice Den. From Learn To Skate programs through Parent & 'Pups,' Ice Cafe and even Power Skating, she is credited with having turned the Ice Den into one of the nation's fastest-growing ice skating facilities in less than a year.

PSA Rated: Master Program Director and Master Group

Doug Ladret

Two-time Olympian and Canadian pair skating champion Doug Ladret serves as the Ice Den's Director of Figure Skating Development. Ladret and his former skating partner, Christine Hough, skated to a variety of international medals. The team made five trips to the World Championships and came away with Canada's top spot in the 1988 Canadian Championships.

As professionals, the team performed with Stars On Ice before Ladret went on to serve as Performance Director for the Stars On Ice tour in 1997.

Ladret is the recipient of an Emmy Honors Certificate for choreography on the CBS television special "Scott Hamilton: Upside Down."

Ladret began his coaching career in Barrie, Ontario working with World & Olympic skaters. In the short time since the Ice Den opened, his current crop of up-and-coming skaters have developed into National & International Champions. He is in constant demand as a choreographer for former World & Olympic Champions as well as professional ice shows.

Ladret is also a frequent presenter at national & international seminars across North America.

Ryan O'Meara

The Ice Den’s has officially named 2006 Olympic ice dancer Ryan O’Meara as its Dance Director.

O’Meara partnered with Jamie Silverstein and in the spring of 2005. They excelled rapidly under coaches Igor Shpilband and Marina Zoueva, winning the compulsory and free dances at the Lake Placid Ice Dancing Competition in August. Their finishes helped secure them a spot on the 2005-06 U.S. Figure Skating National Team, and they finished fifth at their Grand Prix event in October, Smart Ones Skate America. They went on to place third at the 2006 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships, earning them the final space on the 2006 U.S. Olympic Team. Just 10 months after forming a team they traveled to Torino, Italy, where they finished 16th out of 24 teams.

O'Meara formerly skated with Lydia Manon from 2003-2005, winning the bronze medals at the 2005 Four Continents Championships and the 2005 U.S. Championships. He has not ruled out a return to competitive skating, though his present focus is shifting to coaching and teaching others.

O’Meara joins one of the top professional skating staffs in the country. Lead by former Ice Capades Vice President, Julie Patterson and 2-time Olympic pair skater Doug Ladret, the Ice Den skating department currently ranks first in the nation for learn-to-skate registrations and continues to produce top national and international figure skaters.