The Dancing Dolemans

January 7, 2007
Article & Photo © J. Barry Mittan 

Ice dancing is a family affair for the Doleman family. The love of skating comes from Gina Doleman, started her skating career in Glace Bay on Cape Breton Island on the ponds playing hockey with her friends. After joining the local figure skating club, she became involved in dance and was soon paired up with her coach's son, Hans Peter Ponikau. They moved to Toronto to train under Roy Bradshaw and then later Bernard Ford. Aucoin and Ponikau competed at Canadians for many years, placing as high as third in senior dance in 1980 with Hans Peter Ponikau under her maiden name, Gina Aucoin. Doleman also competed internationally for Canada, winning events at St. Gervais, France and Garmish, Germany in 1979.

After becoming a figure skating coach, Doleman transmitted her love of the sport to her three children, Matthew, Andrew and Brittany, all of whom also became ice dancers. Matthew, the oldest of the siblings at 18, dances with Sophie Knippel at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ontario, with David Islam, Pavol Porac and Kelly Johnson. Johnson and Porac choreograph his programs. His former partner, Lauren Clemow Adams, retired after they finished third in novice dance in 2005. The couple will be competing at the junior level this season and hope to make the podium at Canadians after finishing eighth last season. So far this season, they finished 12th at the Junior Grand Prix in Courchevel, France. Matthew and Sophie are using "Jealousy" for their original dance and Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" and "The Way You Make Me Feel" for the free. Matthew started skating when he was five and switched to dance at nine.

Andrew, 16, is partnered with Maja Vermeulen, also 16. The couple has competed together for three years, finishing second in pre-novice dance in 2005 and second in juvenile in 2004. This season, they finished fourth at the North American Challenge in Burnaby, British Columbia. The two got together after Maja's coach asked Mrs. Doleman if she knew of any boys who were available and she replied that her son was looking for a dance partner.

Maja started skating when she was three on her parent's backyard pond. She switched to dance when she was 12 because a coach told her she had the natural ability to be a dancer. Andrew said he started skating when he was four "because everyone else in my family skated." He competed in singles until he was 14, reaching the provincial level, before his brother Matthew influenced him to switch to dance.

Maja and Andrew had the highest finish last season. They finished fifth nationally in novice dance in 2006 while training with Bernard Ford and Gina Doleman in Oakville. This season, they are also training at Barrie with David Islam and his team. Their free dance is to selections from "Lord of the Dance."

Younger sister Brittany, 10, still trains with her mother in Hamilton. She competed in juvenile dance last season with Matt Mills. They finished first at the Ontario Winter Games last season.

All of the siblings are still in school. None is sure about a future career, but Matthew has thought about becoming a fireman and Andrew is thinking of a business career. Both boys work at their uncle's garden center on the weekends. Other than normal teenage activities such as hanging out with friends and watching movies, the boys like to play basketball while Maja plays soccer. Matthew also is on the computer all the time talking to friends. He and Andrew along with fellow ice dancer Mitchell Islam also enjoy choreographing dances, with one of their most recent efforts called "Tricky".

All three children's love of the sport can only continue to flourish as they live out their skating dreams to represent Canada in international competition.

Sophie Knippel & Matthew Doleman will compete next week at the 2007 BMO Canadian Championships.