Harlem Ice Docuseries Premieres on Disney+ | U.S. Figure Skating

featured in “Harlem Ice.” The five-part docuseries follows sisters Tori and Ashley, newcomer Adrianna, and FSH veteran Ariyana as they “make their mark and help to put Harlem Ice on the map.” Each episode chronicles the organization’s preparation for competition and performances, culminating in a “life-changing global experience” as FSH skaters bring the lessons of skating all the way to South Africa.

“We always had this dream to be able to have our students become the teachers, go somewhere where skating hadn’t blossomed yet and introduce it peer to peer,” FSH CEO Sharon Cohen told U.S. Figure Skating after the trip in 2023. “Many of our students have roots in Africa and feel a connection there, so we thought South Africa would be a fantastic place to start.”

“Breaking down barriers is really the heart of this,” she continued. “Whether it’s cultural, racial, in sport, outside sport — we’re all human. We share the same values, and those feelings of friendship are what sustain us and that connection.”

True to the mission and heart of the organization, the trip featured in “Harlem Ice” was planned to provide skaters the opportunity to serve as global ambassadors for the sport and bring the benefits of figure skating to a community without access, much like FSH has done for the communities around upper Manhattan. Once considered the “Capital of Black America,” about 56,000 African Americans live in Central Harlem, amounting to 44% of the population according to city data — a stark contrast from the U.S. Figure Skating fan profile, whose demographic is only 2% African American.

By streaming to 159.8 million Disney+ subscribers, “Harlem Ice” will bring the global mission and impact of FSH to a massive international audience, complete with a star-powered team that includes director Samantha Knowles, executive producer Ron Howard, WNBA great Robin Roberts, and Brian Grazer. Throughout the series, skaters are guided by coaches Ila Epperson, Katie Thordarson, and Vashti Lonsdale, who bring their own experiences and insights to empower FSH athletes — and “Harlem Ice” viewers — to “find their passion,” “find their place,” and “find their power.”

“When we skate on the ice, we make a statement,” Thordarson says in the series trailer. “We are girls of color. And we’re powerful.”