01x05 - My Power

[bunniefuu]

FSH, how you feeling?

Fantastic! Terrific!
Great! All day long!

The season is short.

We do so much
in the matter of months.

They go to competitions.

They put on productions.

Now is the next chapter

and it’s bigger
than getting on the ice.

We dreamed
of having ambassadors

to go across the globe,

and introduce skating
to another cohort of girls.

We're actually supposed
to teach them how to skate.

And then they're going
to teach us how to surf.

We're also gonna perform
for them.

We already had
such a long season,

and now we get to bring it all
into one last moment.

It's gonna be a start
for a new journey.

So we're so far away
from where I come from.

I never thought my skating
could get me this far.

You know, I recently heard

that a spot opened up
for the South Africa trip.

I-- Basically,
here's how it happened. Okay.

I was on my way home
from school at the bus stop.

- And they called me.
- Tori, you have been selected.

Tori, you are going
to South Africa!

Yay! Really?

♪ R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me ♪

♪ R-E-S-P-E-C-T ♪

One of the girls,
she dropped out.

And now
because I was the alternate,

I'll be getting to go
to South Africa.

That's crazy.

♪ I get tired, keep on tryin' ♪

♪ You're runnin' out of fools
And I ain't lyin' ♪

Hi!

Hi, everybody!

Hi! Hello!

Welcome, Cape Town.
It's great to see you.



Nine Miles
is the organization

that FSH is collaborating
with on this trip.

They're a surfing program
for youth in Cape Town.

What they do is really similar
to what we do

at Figure Skating in Harlem.

It's so in line with our mission

of building sisterhood
and community.

And it's really cool
because they use melted water

and we use frozen water.

Hi, everybody! Can you guys hear me?

Yeah!

Guys, so we are so excited
for this journey.

I am very excited now that
I am going on the trip.

I'm not 100 percent sure
I want to be

a skating coach in the future.

But it's not just about that.

It's also about creating
a new sisterhood.

Hi, I'm Tori.

I'm 14 years old,
and I'm tranquil.

Hi, my name is Ashley.

I'm 17 years old,
and I am adventurous.

Hi, my name is Adrianna.

I'm 14 years old,
and I'm amazing.

Fantastic, Kilo!

Swag, I see y'all!

- See you later. Bye.
- Okay, bye.

We're gonna be coaching, like,

people who have
never skated before

in their entire lives.

And it would not feel right

if we didn't prepare for this
in the best way possible.

All right, let's go.
Let's go, let's go, let's go.

Go all the way up the stairs.

All the way up the stairs.

Find a seat on the floor.
Turn off your voices.

Okay. Um, I want to go
over coaching first.

I don't really do coaching,
obviously.

So, and this, I don't know.
It's kind of weird,

and I think
it's really difficult

to explain things,
especially if I don't know

how-- What works best for them.

When we're teaching someone

that's a beginner, right?

Until they get to a point where
they're no longer a beginner,

you don't want to introduce

complicated things
for a simple task.

Don't be afraid to help them

and usually when you're working
with beginners,

two hands is better than one.

Anybody else?

Anybody else want
to share, Tori?

Knowing I've been coached
my whole entire life,

it's kind of weird being
a kid coaching another kid.

Don't stop being yourself

because you're taking
on a new role.

Who you are is what makes
you special as a coach, right?

Still be you. You're funny.
You're high energy.

You make…
you make me smile.

You make me laugh, right?

So the best way
for people to know you

and feel comfortable with you
and feel connected to you

and all those great things
that you want

your student to feel,
is to be you.

Go home.

I want you to look
at yourself in the mirror

the way you do your TikToks.

I've never seen you guys

go so full out on anything
except for a TikTok.

All of this,

and the same way that you have
all this energy for TikTok

and the chat snaps

- and all that.
- Chat snaps?

- Come on, now.
- Y'all need to have

- that same energy.
- You're not that old.

Y’all, this is not…
this is not TikTok practice.

That's-- No, no,
no, no, no!

♪ Oh, my God, who is she? ♪

♪ Lookin' like money
when I step on the scene ♪

♪ Oh, we feeling pristine ♪

♪ In my crop top
and my baggy jeans ♪

We made it!

High fives, we made it safely.

We are in Cape Town.
Are you excited?

Whoo!

Oh, look,
it's Nelson Mandela.

That's my boy right there.

When a man has done
what he considers to be the duty

to his people and his country,
he can rest in peace.

♪ I'm on top of the world ♪

♪ I'm on top of the world ♪

I've never stepped
foot into this continent.

Getting to be here
with my teammates,

well, my friends,

and, like, getting to explore
South Africa with them

is definitely very exciting,
and I can't wait

to share my love of skating
with other people.

Three, two…

Ay, ay!

Oh!

Why don't you go full out like
that when we do run-throughs?

♪ That's why they watch me
Watch me ♪

♪ Watch me, watch me ♪

She’s about to wipe out.

Wipe! Out!

I don't think
I've ever been this

far away from home before.

It's pretty scary for me.

You know, she's secretly
a mermaid, that's why.

I just know, like,
when I get to college,

it's gonna be like kindergarten
all over again.

I feel like
this is kind of, like,

the closest experience
I'm gonna have to, like,

you know, leaving my mom.
So, yeah. I didn't cry.

I got close. But, yeah.

I guess the reality just
hasn't hit me yet

that I am in South Africa.

I think when I meet the girls is
when I'm gonna actually realize

that I'm in
a whole nother continent.

Because I'm meeting girls

who are sort of like me
but also not.

So I feel like that's going
to really be my wake up.

Oh, what's that?

Girl, that's what
we're about to get on.

- That?
- Yeah.

Listen, ladies,
Nine Miles is here.

Let's give them
a high energy hello, smile.

Even, you know,
smile through our fear,

even if you go out
to the top of the mountain.

- Hi.
- Hello!

- Oh, my gosh!
- Hi!

- Hi, morning!
- Hi, morning!

I didn't expect the girls
to be so friendly.

When we saw them

for the first time,
they were running up to us

and giving us hugs. It's like,
I don't even know you.

Why are you being so nice to me?

Ladies and-- Ladies and ladies.

And ladies and ladies.

Right.

So we just want to do a quick,
quick, quick, quick energizer.

So we're going
to show you first,

and then you guys
are going to fall in, float in.

Right.

When we met them today,

that's when we
really started connecting

'cause we exchanged our cheers.

and it was just, like,
so much fun.

It set, like,
a really amazing vibe.

Um, how-- What's the height?
Like, um…

Oh, oh, oh, uh-uh, uh-uh.

We're here today
in Table Mountain.

"Where's the barrier?"
is my question.

Oh, I see
we're really high today.

Okay, we're stepping
back a little bit.

Say cheese.

We're a bunch of crazy,
funny people,

and we really have
that kind of energy,

and they also do, too.

I can feel you squeezing
my arm so hard

that my blood is not

going through my veins.

So we've gotten so close
to Nine Miles so quickly.

It's great being with them.

Laughs, the joy.
It's just very nice.

Okay. Okay.

Oh, do y’all know this dance?

It was nice meeting the girls.

At first I was nervous,

but they were friendly
and caring.

Nicki Minaj,
Nicki Minaj, Nicki Minaj.

Yeah, she’s a Barb.
She’s a Barb.

- Oh, yeah. You're a Barb.
- What's your favorite song?

- High School.
- How's it go?

Clean version.

I thought you knew

- every song.
- Okay, clean version.

I know Roman's Revenge.

Of course you know.

We just, like,
bonded over so much stuff,

and I was surprised,
and we were like,

rapping together.

♪ Pull up in the monster
Automobile gangsta ♪

♪ With a bad girl
that came from Sri Lanka ♪

♪ Yeah, I'm in that Tonka
Color of Willy Wonka ♪

That's gonna be stuck
in my head all day.

Oh, my God.

I hope someone
can save me from drowning.

- So-- Oh.
- I can take this.

Oh, really?

Well, that's my friend.

You can see me struggling.

Some of us are really nervous
to go into the water,

because, you know, it's cold.

I'm scared of water,

but I'm always willing
to try something new.

So, I mean, I was like,
you know, that's cool.

You got this, Ariyana.

I'm pretty sure
you can surf out in, like,

Long Island or something.

But I'm in a different country
surfing.

Being able to go
to a different continent,

leave my comfort zone
with other people

who do another crazy sport,

it truly shows
if you're willing to learn,

if you're willing to push,

the world is endless
at that point.

Oh! Whoo!

♪ That's right
That's right, uh ♪

♪ Uh, that's right
That's right, yeah ♪



We're looking forward to going

to Robben Island
because by us going,

we get a wider perspective

and learn
about South Africa history.

Welcome to Robben Island.

I'm going to take you through
this prison experience.

I am one of many who will also
serve time in this prison.

Hopefully,
by the time we leave here,

we have a better understanding
of where we come from.

So, are you ready?

Please come in.

This is a prison we used
to imprison

black-colored Indians,

and Nelson Mandela
was a prisoner here.

I've been on trips to, like,

historic places
before in New York,

but, like, since we were
getting toured by a person

who actually
lived that experience,

it was like going
back in time.

We even saw the cell
where Nelson Mandela was held.

To think that you're
in the same place

where a bunch of people
were like…

like, put in for
all the wrong reasons,

it's like, really
kind of emotional.

So home is Harlem,
but why figure skating?

It's more of a community,
not even just like,

- skating itself.
Not just the sport, like,

- everyone.
Oh, okay.

It brings
the community together.

- Okay.
It's almost like what we saw

a few days ago when we were
with the Nine Miles girls.

- Yeah.
- And they had a whole community

and they were
all supporting each other

and building each other up.

And that's kind
of what we are as a community.

Africa is your ancestral home.

And if we know who we are,

it is easy to take pride
of ourselves.

- Mm-hmm.
- Yeah.

That's what black
consciousness teaches us.

We South Africans,

we have a legacy
of racial discrimination,

enacted into law,

and used to oppress
the people of this country.

The experiences
of South Africans

are also the experiences
of those around the world.

So, fight for what
you believe is correct.

Cape Town, how you feeling?

Fantastic! Terrific!
Great! All day long!

It's important
to get to know each other

as people and make friends.

The essence of that
is we are each brother's keeper.

You can start alone,
and tomorrow there's two of you.

The other day there
are three of you,

and you've started a movement.

We're kind of building
a movement in a way.

Skating in South Africa
is a big opportunity.

It's like
a life-changing experience

to go back to, you know,
where my ancestors were from.

But skating
in South Africa

as girls of color
with our team is even bigger.

It's not only showing us
what we could do,

but also showing
what other girls could do.

Well, this is a proud moment.

You did a lot of work
for this moment right here.

People are actually going to see
you and your element on the ice.

We get to show off
our skills, and basically, like,

we're showing
the South Africa girls

what Harlem girls are like.

Ila actually told me,
I can just, you know, be myself

and I don't have to be like,

and then you got to do this

and like follow curriculum
and everything.

- Can we give them our best?
- Yeah!

I need to hear it louder
from the gut.

Ashley!

Ashley!

- Yes?
- Awesome. So we a team.

Come on, come on, FSH.
On and on it.

- One, two, three.
- FSH!

Okay, be careful,
be careful, be careful.

It's been an amazing time
that we've had so far.

Now, I'm just really excited
to see what our girls do.

That's really on them,

because they're gonna
be the coaches now.

All right,
you're gonna march like this.

Okay.

You gotta stand up like this.
Look, you see me? Look.

Like this, like an airplane.
Like...

But you got to be like this.

Yeah.

You okay?
Have your arms out like this.

All you got to do is just
believe in yourself, basically.

When they first stepped
onto the ice,

it made me remember
when I first stepped on the ice,

'cause it wasn't easy for me.

You nervous?

You got this. Okay.
And if you fall, it's okay.

The whole point of this
experience is if you fall,

you just get back up.

Make sure to step
over the yellow thing.

Right there. Okay.

Stand still.

Have arms out to the side,
don't look down.

To, like, bring the girls
on the ice,

it was a realization of,
like, wow,

this skating thing
isn't easy as I thought.

It's kind of the same thing
with their surfing.

That was really hard for me,
but it was really easy for them.

Push.

You're basically a natural.
You're basically a natural.

- Oh.
- I got you. I got you.

I got you.

Okay, you're good. You're good.

Every time when
I thought I couldn't do it,

Tori reassured me
that I can do it.

And she told me every time,
"I got you, I got you."

I'm gonna catch you.

If you… if you start to fall,
I'm gonna catch you.

And then I was like,
she's experienced,

so I have to calm down
because I'm in good hands.

Okay, look at my feet.
Look at my feet.

When you move,
push off this foot. Go like--

Every time
when Tori left my hand

and I went on my own,

then I was like, "Oh,
professional, professional."

Tori did

a really good job.

Tori has such
a great personality,

and she's so personable.

Okay. Okay. Okay.

Now she's, like,
using that to her advantage…

…rather than using that
to chitchat and joke around.

Keep your arms out,
T position.

They inspired me

and I feel like all together
we inspire each other

and we have to push each other

because you can fail
a hundred times

but at least
once you'll get it right.

Two minutes, two minutes.

So while
the girls are here

they'll also be performing
for the students

that they're teaching.

They'll be performing
to A Brand New Day from The Wiz,

and it really encapsulates
our shared experiences.

It is a brand-new day,
full of possibilities.

This is a new future.
This is a new narrative.

♪ Everybody look around ♪

♪ 'Cause there's a reason
to rejoice, you see ♪

♪ Everybody come on ♪

♪ And let's commence
to singing joyfully ♪

♪ Everybody look up ♪

♪ From the hope that
we've been waiting on ♪

♪ Everybody's glad ♪

♪ Because our silent fear
and dread is gone ♪

♪ Freedom, you see ♪

♪ Has got our hearts
singing so joyfully ♪

♪ Just look about, you owe it
to yourself to check it out ♪

♪ Can't you feel
a brand new day? ♪

♪ Can't you feel
a brand new day? ♪

♪ Can't you feel
a brand new day? ♪

♪ Can't you feel
a brand new day? ♪

♪ Can't you feel
a brand new day? ♪

Honestly, at first,
having new experiences

did seem overwhelming.

But I feel like
with every change

you develop more into, like,

who you are
and into a better person.

I feel like
they taught us hospitality

and even more of the sisterhood
and friendship aspect.

I honestly love it here.

So, I don't want to leave.

All right guys, come here.

So, Tori, you're with Angel.
Ashley, you're with Natalia.

Nadia, you're with Corey.

Zayda, you're with Aubree.
Adrianna, you're with Anastasia.

Okay, one foot glide.

You have, like, really good
posture when you go down.

Thing is, you just gotta
keep your leg behind you.

Here, try again.

Going to South Africa,

I learned to, like,
be able to coach.

Like, I felt like
a proud parent.

That's actually good.
It was good.

I didn't know
I would like it this much,

but I do, and I think
I'm pretty good at it.

Pretend like you're on a string,

or like a pole,
and you're stuck there.

And it's like,
you can't even move.

The only thing
you can do is turn.

I kind of use my own tactics,

you know, like referencing one
of my favorite games.

- Do you play Minecraft?
- No.

- Roblox?
- Yeah.

Okay.

So you know how in Roblox, like,

you run, like, you know how
the characters run, like…

In South Africa,
I realized that the same things

that make me a good performer

and a good skater
make me a good coach.

Just, like,
think of that, like…

And if I can coach,

then imagine what other things
I can do in the future.

I don't know what else to say.
You're doing good.

You did good.

Great job.

So we're actually
doing our alumni panel.

In the beginning of the season,

the thought
of leadership scared me.

But helping girls learn
how to skate in South Africa

kind of helped me.

We've got
an incredible moderator tonight.

She's a student,

by the way,
even though she's dressed like

- she's running Wall Street.

Right now, like,
I'm wearing my mom's blazer.

This is my mom's blazer,
by the way.

I feel like
it definitely brought out

some confidence in me,
because it made me feel like…

- I don't know.

Thank you
for that lovely introduction.

So, as she said, let's begin.

What life lessons have you
received from skating?

I feel like the best piece
of advice has just been,

you know, to go inside
and that you have

all the answers
that you need within you.

Yeah. I would say that
one lesson that I've received

is that you should
definitely practice self-love

because when
you practice self-love,

it moves on or it echoes
in everything in your life.

What an amazing motto.

The end of the season
was like a paradox.

It comes so slow,
but it comes so fast.

Good evening.

If you can welcome the students
of Figure Skating in Harlem.

We've worked so hard all season,

from the Ice Show,
to South Africa

and all these other amazing
pieces along the way.

I think that also really shows
how our legacy in Harlem

has solidified and grown,

which is really
a beautiful thing to see.

So at this time,
I'd like to invite the seniors.

I graduated!

"This is to certify
that Ariyana, me,

"has successfully completed
the educational requirements

"of the high school program."

This skating journey
is filled with firsts and lasts

that will lead you
to new worlds and pathways.

From my very first coach
to all my coaches,

I was taught
that there are no limits.

Reach for
your highest potential.

Many people may have a certain
view of me for who I used to be,

but I grew up
into the young woman

I am today
and grew for the better.

I could go on
and on about the women

who have entered this program

and left a little piece
of them with me.

Ariyana!
Ariyana! Ariyana!

I don't know if I could ever put
into words how much I love you.

We worked so hard
throughout the year.

It's been a lot of ups
and downs, but…

I have coaches, I have people
who have taught me things

that you can take
with you forever.

And that's sort of
what drove me.

And it's time to wrap it all up.

You are going out
into the big world

to change and touch more lives.

On behalf of everyone
at Figure Skating in Harlem,

we present you
with your special FSH jackets.

Everybody, a round of applause
for our graduating seniors!

FSH, how you feelin’?

Fantastic! Terrific!
Great! All day long!

At the end of the year,

we have about a week
or so of skating,

and they do their testing.

It's like a tryout to test
what level you have.

Because every season,
you're a different person.

You evolve, right?
Your skating evolves, right?

You know, it just makes me more
excited for the next season.

This season was definitely

a game-changer for me.

'Cause I was on
two different teams.

And I got to go
to South Africa this year.

So it was definitely
really hard.

Today, I'm inspired
to land my axel.

I need this area
coned off cleared.

What I want to see first
is your back crossover

- to the back outside edge glide.
Can it be this way?

Let's do a flip jump.

Nice. Good save.

Hold it. One, two, three.

Can you do it the other way now?
Same thing.

Don't be your own worst critic.

I want to see you shining,

showing everyone
how brilliant you are.

I would love
to see a camel spin.

Can you do a camel spin?

Good. Axel.

Turn off the brain.

Just jump. Let your body do it.
Your body knows what it's doing.

Just let it go up and in, okay?

Edge. Foot in front.

Like, honestly, I can't.

- Huh?
- I can't land this.

It's okay.

We don't…
we don't have to land it.

It doesn't have to be perfect.

Just go. Just do it.

Good. Okay.

Do what you do best.

You don't have to do
all of that to be good.

You don't.

I did it.

So you can do it.

It's okay.

She's okay.

You're going to get it,
and it's going to feel so good.

You're going to be fine.
You're going to get it,

and you're going to be so mad
that you were this upset.

I feel like
I really get better

because of my teammates.

I learned from them.

When I fall, I get back up,
that saying.

When I first came
to this program,

I didn't know
anything about it,

and I thought it was mostly
just about skating.

I never expected
my connections to be so deep.

Like everybody makes it seem
like I've been here for years

when I've only been here
for one season.

So it's kind of surprising.

♪ This that kinfolk
This that skinfolk ♪

♪ This that w*r
This that bloodline ♪

I'm just really thankful

because my team made me
step into a new light…

…and find myself.

This is church.

♪ Oh, gotta protect my braids
Keep it locked in a safe ♪

This is like church.

♪ My power
They'll never take, ah ♪

♪ They'll never take my power
My power, my power ♪

♪ They'll never take my power
My power, my power ♪

Beautiful.
Give us a spin.

Ariyana.

Okay, I got y'all. Shoes.

I took off my heels,
so I got on my Uggs, you know?

My jacket is one-of-a-kind
FSH senior jacket.

- ♪ They feel a way, oh wow ♪
- ♪ Wow, wow, wow, wow ♪

- ♪ They feel a way, oh wow ♪
- ♪ Wow, wow ♪

Tori just goes like that,
"he, he, he."

- I don't do he-he, I do ha-ha.
- Yes, you do!

I do ha-ha.



All right, guys.

- Zap.
- Zap.

♪ My power, my power ♪

♪ They'll never take my power
My power, my power ♪

- ♪ They feel a way, oh wow ♪
- ♪ Wow, wow ♪

The new season.

- Excited?
- I am so excited.

- Yeah.
- Are you excited?

I'm so excited.

Leaders,
follow Miss Michelle.

Yes, take two sides.

Leaders, you're in the back.

Thank you. I love the hair.

You got 30 seconds.
Make sure your skates are on.

Bro, you are so slow.
I can't.

Can you leave me alone, please?

- No. Knock, knock.
- Who's there?

I feel-- Whoa,
did you hear that?

I just gotta--
My foot's gone to sleep.

Hold on.

♪ They'll never take my power
My power, my power ♪

♪ They'll never take my power
My power, my power ♪

♪ They feel a way, oh wow ♪

♪ They feel a way, oh wow ♪

Every time I sit down,

I'm, like, convinced
I'm gonna bop my head.

I've heard that your
on-ice persona was Nicki Minaj.

I wanted to ask you directly
so you could clear it up.

I mean,
they're both my favorite women

because they put a lot
of power into their songs.

On ice, it's a mix, but off ice,
it's really just Nicki.