Junior skater Beck Strommer may not always be on the ice, but the artistic side of the sport is never far from his mind.
Ever since he ventured into choreography a little over a year ago, he has kept his ears open for music that may work for a skating routine. When he hears a song that strikes his attention – whether it is a tune on the radio or a brief snippet in a commercial – he does an immediate search for the piece online. He will put headphones on, close his eyes and picture gliding across the ice to the sound in his ears. If the song still feels right after that first listen, he will add it to a running playlist he has created on Spotify. When it comes time to begin choreographing for an upcoming routine, he will send his top five choices to Drew Meekins, his choreographer, and they will begin turning an abstract vision into concrete reality.
"It all starts from the music," said Strommer, who choreographed both his programs this season. "There is a little bit of planning that goes into it, but the base of everything I choreograph comes from a level of improvisation. I start to pick and choose pieces [to use] and then I slowly start to put [the puzzle] together."
Although his hat as choreographer is relatively new, Strommer has always had an affinity for the performance aspect of the sport. From the time he began skating at age 10, he was fascinated by choreography's ability to elevate a routine to the next level. It was not until he began working with Meekins just over a year ago that he got to try his hand at organizing a performance.
The pair met after he moved to Colorado Springs in the spring of 2022. They hit it off almost immediately, bonding over their shared interest in the craft. Although some choreographers are stringent about the moves in a performance being strictly their own, Meekins was always open to incorporating Strommer's ideas.
"[His open mindedness] is really interesting, because I think it shows a level of it's not about him, it's about the program that he's creating," Strommer said. "I think for someone like me, who was really creative, who has always been really creative with movement and skating, I think it was just such a good relationship."
Meekins taught Strommer to be purposeful in the movements he incorporated into a program. Rather than tossing elements in simply to impress the audience, he needed to look at a performance holistically as he decided what moves to include and where.
"You should be telling a story," he said. "You should be really thinking about the program and thinking about these movements and why you're doing them. I think that's really one of the biggest things that I took away from working with him."
Understanding the nuances of choreography has not only allowed Strommer to develop a new set of skills, but it has also enhanced his showmanship on the ice. Now, rather than his programs just being another performance, he is more deeply invested, which he feels has led to a higher quality of skating.
"I think while I still have a lot to learn, I really connect to the programs more," he said. "I think it's really interesting when you have to build a step sequence for yourself for the first time, and no one's telling you, 'Do these steps' because it forces you to think about what steps are needed to achieve the levels. If I'm building my subsequence by myself for the first time, I think, 'Okay, what turns do I need to have to achieve a Level Four? Do I have enough body to achieve a Level Four? Am I rotating in equal directions?'
"I think it makes you be really aware of your program. It creates a much larger sense of familiarity … because you really have to be in tune with what you're doing."
Last season, his free skate was performed to Cody Fry's "Eleanor Rigby" while he took the ice to Club de Belugas' "Hip Hip Chin Chin" for his short program. His intimate relationship with both songs allowed him to continue performing at a high level as he took first at the junior level at both the 2022 Cranberry Cup and 2023 Midwestern Sectional Singles Final.
This season, he has already won gold in the junior event at the 2023 Cranberry cup. But while he is proud of his accomplishments, he is not focused solely on results as he looks to upcoming competitions.
"I don't really want to put too much pressure on placements," he said. "I kind of just want my personal performances to speak for themselves… [and] I just want to show I've matured as a skater, as an artist [and] as a choreographer."
Strommer certainly seems well on his way to his goal. This season, he reprises his short program to "Hip Hip Chin Chin" and is the sole choreographer for his free skate to Roberto Cacciapaglia's "Tree of Life Suite."
Following his free skate at the 2023 U.S. Junior Team Cup, an official approached him with kind words about his presentation.
"The 'Tree of Life' was music that I've always wanted to skate to, [but] I hadn't felt like I could really pull it off until this season," he said. "It's very grand music, and I hadn't felt mature enough. When I finished and got all of the great feedback on it, it was very gratifying for me."
If that event is any indication, this upcoming season will be a bright one for Strommer. Not only will he be able to showcase his growth both on and off the ice, but his exploration into choreography will undoubtedly allow him to give performances that will linger in the audience's minds long after he leaves the ice.
Catch Beck Strommer at the Junior Grand Prix this weekend in Linz Austria. For a full schedule, results and more, visit the Junior Grand Prix Competition Central on the U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone.
