She would continue coaching until the age of 93, and was remembered by the figure skating world as an innovator who brought unprecedented creativity to her sport. Ellen Burka encouraged creativity on ice, asking her skaters to find a connection with their music, all while demanding technical excellence. The celebrated Canadian figure skating coach died Monday at the age of 95. “I truly believe there would not have been a Toller Cranston without Ellen Burka,” choreographer Sandra Bezic told The Canadian Press. After the war, Burka won two Dutch national skating championships before she, Jan and their two daughters emigrated to Toronto.

Source: thestar September 14, 2016 00:11 UTC