Parker Pennington leaves Carol Heiss Jenkins

[WeBeEducated]

A Cleveland news article reports that Pennington has relocated to Colorado Springs to train with Diane Ronayne(coach of Ryan J).
He was disappointed with a 4th place finish at Skate Detroit, and hopes to improve his artistry.
I think it was a wise move.
www.cleveland.com/sports

[valuvsmk]

A Cleveland news article reports that Pennington has relocated to Colorado Springs to train with Diane Ronayne(coach of Ryan J).
He was disappointed with a 4th place finish at Skate Detroit, and hopes to improve his artistry.
I think it was a wise move.
www.cleveland.com/sports

Why do you think that it was a wise move (seriously curious, since apparently Tim Goebel also thought so)?

[A.H.Black]

I'm not particularly surprised.

As for being a wise move, it might be. It seems evident to me that artistry is not Carol's highest priority. Her students are always well presented and polished. Tonia Kwiatkowski, especially was always very polished. However, creativity in music and interpretation as well as emotional expression is not a high point of most of Carol's students.

[WeBeEducated]

Parker's brother had already relocated to Delaware, Tim has been gone for the past 4 years, and Parker really didnt have a training partner there anymore of high caliber.
It is wise to be around a competitive environment of your peers in terms of age and skill level.
Parker will have that in Colorado, as well as a multitude of options for choreography, from Damon Allen, Christopher Dean, and Tom Dickson for example.

[valuvsmk]

Parker's brother had already relocated to Delaware, Tim has been gone for the past 4 years, and Parker really didnt have a training partner there anymore of high caliber.
It is wise to be around a competitive environment of your peers in terms of age and skill level.
Parker will have that in Colorado, as well as a multitude of options for choreography, from Damon Allen, Christopher Dean, and Tom Dickson for example.

Thanks for your thoughts!

[PAskate]

Official USFS release...

http://www.usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=26401&type=news

[robertp]

In my limited experience, I would agree with WeBe that the options of choreographers and their being more readily available may be helpful. Parker also noted the many opportunities available at the World Arena for dance classes including ballet and pilates, etc. It is a wonderful facility with an all around program for further development.

Parker is a nice young man from my experiences with him and I wish him well. He has accomplished so much over the years in his ongoing development into the great skater that he is becoming. It should be fun to watch Ryan J and he practice and perform together.

Good Luck Parker and welcome to Colorado.