Above: Michela Melillo and ice dance partner Karl Schapfel perform a powerful program depicting her Mayan culture. Photos by Daphne Backman
By Harry Thompson
The first time Michela Melillo stepped foot onto the ice inside the iconic Ingalls Rink on the campus of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, she knew she was entering a world of magic and wonder.
“I remember it was so big, and the ice was so white and there were so many flags of different colleges. I stepped on the ice and I was like, ‘this is my sport,’” Melillo recalls.
Those feelings, she says, are as fresh today as they were back when the 7-year-old laced up her first pair of skates.
“Skating on ice felt like magic. I immediately enrolled in the Learn to Skate program, and from that day forward I never looked back. Skating became more than a sport for me; it became my passion and my journey.”
Melillo’s is a journey that is as rich as her Mayan heritage. Born in Guatemala, she was adopted when she was just 6 months old and brought to the small Connecticut town of Madison. She arrived in the winter of 2005, wrapped in a puffy pink coat to shield her from a cold she had never experienced. Some of her earliest memories are of the early morning drives along the Connecticut coast with her mother to reach the rink to practice before school.
“I remember being on the ice and seeing the sun coming up through the windows in the rink. It was just beautiful,” Melillo says. “I would be skating around the rink and the sun would hit the ice. Sometimes it would be just me out there. I can’t even describe the feeling. It was just magical.”
While she no longer skates at the rink affectionately known as “the Yale Whale,” she still drives past it on her way to the University of New Haven campus, where she is a freshman communications major studying digital media and public relations.
A self-proclaimed book junkie, Melillo has always been drawn to storytelling. Skating with her long-time partner Karl Schapfel, she continues to honor her native roots through their ice dancing programs. Together they have continued to hone their artistic craft as they pursue their goal of one day competing in the Olympics.
Recently, the pair competed in the National Qualifying Series in Henderson, Nevada, where they placed seventh in the senior division.
“I hope to leave my mark by telling meaningful stories through skating and showing pride in my heritage,” Melillo says. “On the ice, I want to inspire others to express themselves and embrace their roots. Off the ice, I hope to be a voice for inclusion, encouraging others to stay true to who they are and make their own impact.”
With Schapfel living in Lexington, Massachusetts, and Melillo living on the coast of Long Island Sound, the pair have faced the challenges to finding enough time to train. Mostly, they meet halfway in Cromwell, Connecticut, where they skate at the Champions Ice Center under the tutelage of their coach and choreographer Svetlana Kulikova.
An accomplished ice dancer back in her native Russia, Kulikova has worked hard to create a program that allows Melillo to celebrate her rich Mayan culture.
“The way she choreographs our programs is just fascinating,” Melillo says. “I try to move the way she moves, but I also try to put my own touch to it. When we perform, it’s not just me trying to copy what she does, I also try to do what I feel. She creates the steps and then we add the cherry on top.”
When she’s on the ice, Melillo is skating for more than just herself and her partner. She is representing the many boys and girls of different cultural backgrounds that make skating such a warm and welcoming community for everyone.
“You’re not defined by your culture; you are defined by what you love and what you’re passionate about,” she says. “I hope that other people see that when we’re on the ice. We’re not only having fun, but we’re also enjoying what we do. I love performing, not only for the judges, but also for the crowd.”
And just as Melillo grew up looking up to skating icons such as Kristi Yamaguchi, Michelle Kwan and Madison Chock, she hopes to inspire other boys and girls of various cultures and backgrounds to pursue their own paths in the sport.
“When I’m skating, I hope there are girls or boys who look like me and realize that they could do it too,” she says. “I believe in diversity and think every skater from different cultures is actually beautiful and unique. When I’m on the ice I try to make sure everyone is included. I hope that inspires other people that no matter what you look like you should follow your dreams and do what you love.”