doreen hoppe
Leyton
Doreen Hoppe had always known that her passion for ice skating was there to
stay. She started skating at the age of 9 and at 21 turned professional and
began coaching. During her years as an amateur skater, she concentrated on all
disciplines; figures, free and dance, whilst obtaining the necessary
qualifications to progress into her career as a coach. As a teenager Doreen
decided to focus on ice dance, skating in National and International
competitions. She competed in British Junior and Senior Championships and was
also part of the British team to compete Internationally. As Doreen’s career in
coaching started, she knew that she was fulfilling her dream in the skating
world, which went from strength to strength. In later years she found her niche
coaching dance couples both nationally and on the international circuit. She
very much enjoys the aspect of choreographing dance routines, whether it be for
competitive skating or shows. Doreen has also travelled extensively throughout
Europe with her couples to gain an insight into how other European coaches
approach different techniques. Alongside the coaching, opportunities came her
way within the TV world, appearing in various programmes including: BBC1
Strictly Ice Dancing, as a judge alongside Craig Revel Horwood Sky Sports Living
for Sport Iceland Commercial ITV Anglia; teaching news presenters how to skate
in 6 weeks Gok Wan’s How To Look Good Naked, where she choreographed a dance
routine NISA TV, commentary at the British Championships 2009 and more recently
at the Junior Grand Prix, Sheffield. Over recent years, Doreen trained to become
a Technical Dance Specialist due to the IJS system replacing the 6.0 system.
Having successfully completed this, she then went on to Frankfurt, where she
qualified as an ISU Technical Specialist. In recent years she has officiated in
many National and International events. Doreen organises and runs the Coaching
Assessment days with on and off ice workshops. She is currently coaching at Lee
Valley Ice Centre where she is still living out her passion for skating, passing
on her vast knowledge to other aspiring skaters.
