Interview with Skating Fairy Rolls

By Samantha Bache

Meet Camilla, the magical force behind SkatingFairyRolls and founder of ManilaSk8Dance — a vibrant skate dance community bringing creativity, movement, and fairy-inspired artistry to roller skating in the heart of Manila. From graceful flow to fierce coaching, Camilla’s journey blends passion, community, and a sprinkle of magic on wheels.

What inspired you to start roller skating, and how did your style evolve into the unique “skating fairy” aesthetic we see today?

I actually tried roller skating for the first time when I was 24 at this super old rink — I kept falling and told myself, “Nope, this isn’t for me.”

Fast forward to 2021, I had just lost my design job in China during the pandemic and was stuck back home, jobless, hopeless, and honestly depressed. Everything felt dark… until one day I saw roller skaters on Instagram — gliding, dancing, glowing. They looked like they were flying. That moment lit something in me. I bought my first pair of skates right away.

I got obsessed — watching skaters, learning, falling, getting back up. I started drawing skaters with wings because that’s how I saw them — magical, healing, like fairies. And as I kept skating, I started to feel like one too.

That’s how skatingfairyrolls was born. Skating saved me, helped me reconnect with myself, and now I just wanna share that light with others.

Skating dance is a beautiful blend of movement and art — how do you develop your choreography or freestyle? Do you have any rituals or favorite music to skate to?

When I started skating again in 2021, I discovered rhythm and jam skating on Instagram — it was my first time seeing people dance on wheels, and it completely changed everything for me. Before that, I only knew about park skating, derby, speed, or figure skating.

I was especially drawn to the Black skating culture in the U.S. — their style, the cyphers, the community, the smoothness and power in how they move. It inspired me so deeply and gave me a goal: to one day skate with that same kind of flow and confidence.

My ritual? I study. I save videos of amazing skaters, I watch them over and over, slow it down, try to copy the moves. I skate to slow music that helps me connect to my body, and I film myself to track my progress. I hyper-fixate on one move until it feels right. That’s how I learn — through deep admiration, repetition, and a lot of love for the style I look up to.

Can you tell us about your favorite skate spots in Manila? How do the city vibes influence your skating?

My favorite skate spot? Honestly… my own home. I’m an introvert, so skating in my personal space feels so grounding. No pressure, just me, my skates, and my flow. Those solo sessions feel almost like a trance — it’s where I connect with myself the most.

But if I were to take you skating in Manila, I’d bring you to Ayala Ave on a Sunday morning — it’s car-free and full of good vibes. That’s where we started building our community, ManilaSk8Dance. It’s a space for learning, vibing, and dancing on skates together. We drill moves, hype each other up, and just share the joy of skating as a community.

Do you remember your first proper fall? How did you bounce back from it, both physically and mentally?

My first real fall was back in 2014 when I tried skating for the first time — I couldn’t even move forward without falling, and it frustrated me so much that I quit on day one. I told myself, “Skating’s not for me.”

Fast forward to 2021, I gave it another chance after getting inspired online — and yep, I kept falling again! But this time, I knew how to fall safely thanks to all the tutorials I studied on IG and YouTube. I learned how to protect myself, and that made a huge difference.

But my funniest (and most painful) fall? Trying to copy a skater doing arabesque— I thought I could do it… and ended up landing hard on my tailbone. That moment humbled me real quick. It taught me not to rush. Skating is all about building slowly — mastering the basics and respecting the process.

Falling is part of it, but so is getting back up and trying again. Always.

Tell us about your current skate setup — what skates, plates, wheels, and toe stops are you riding right now, and why do you love them?

My current fave setup: Riedell 3200 boots — super stiff for support but still comfy inside. I’m using Arius plates, which I love because they’re so light and responsive.

For wheels, I switch depending on where I skate: Fomacs for smooth floors, Radar Crush for outdoor, and Pigeon 101A for both indoor and light outdoor spots.

I used to love my hand-made jam plugs (perfect mix of grip and slide!), but since they’re out of stock, I’ve been rotating between Sure Grip dance plugs and Atom Bionic jam plugs.

What does rollerskating feel like to you, in your body and spirit?

Roller skating feels like flying. Every time I skate, my body and mind feel light, free, and happy. It’s my way of expressing myself without words — just movement, flow, and feeling.

When I skate, it’s like I’m floating through my emotions. I feel connected to my body, my joy, and even my pain. It’s my form of freedom — to move, to create, and to just be.

You founded ManilaSk8Dance, which has built an amazing community around skate dance. What are some memorable moments from growing this community?

I founded ManilaSk8Dance because I wanted to share my love for skating — it started Feb 2024 with Sunday morning classes on the car-free streets of Makati. It was hard to find a space to skate for free, so we are so glad that there is a street that closes the road every Sunday morning here in Makati, Philippines.

Every Sunday is memorable for me and every Sunday feels special. We drill together, laugh, fall, cheer each other on. It’s more than just skating — it’s connection, growth, and joy.

This community helped me find my purpose. We’re just getting started, and our dream is to keep spreading the art of rhythm and jam skating here in the Philippines — and show that there’s magic in moving together.

How do you encourage new skaters, especially girls, to join the skate dance world? Any advice for beginners feeling nervous to start?

I love sharing my skate videos online — they’re my journal, but also my way of inspiring other girls to start skating too.

My advice for beginners? Bend your knees, take it slow, and skate at your own pace. Don’t rush. You’re gonna fall, but what matters is that you stand back up and keep trying.

Most of all, do it because it makes you happy. If you’re having fun, you’re already doing it right.

What do you love most about teaching and connecting with your students?

What I love most about teaching is seeing my students grow. I get to be there from their Day 1 — watching them go from nervous to confident through their own hard work.

Every session feels meaningful, and we always end up having fun while learning together. It makes me so happy to cheer them on and help them reach their skate goals.

But more than just teaching skating, I believe skating can truly transform lives — just like it did mine. It’s about building confidence, finding joy, and discovering what you’re capable of.

Your skates and reels have such a magical, fairy-like vibe. What role does creativity and art play in your skating and content creation?

First and foremost, I’m an artist. I’ve loved drawing and moving to music since I was a kid, and I’ve worked as an illustrator too. So when I found skating, it became another way for me to express my art and play.

Art taught me that you don’t need to be perfect — you can make mistakes and still find beauty in the process. It’s not about the outcome; it’s about the joy in creating.

Skating is just that for me. The way I move, the way I edit my content — it’s all a form of expression. It’s how I share my love, joy, and creativity with the world.

What challenges have you faced as a female skater and community leader in the skating scene, and how did you overcome them?

Skating makes me feel happy and so confident — even when I was still new to the community. But early on, I started hearing negativity from some older skaters. Despite never seeing skating as a competition, I noticed that my progress, visibility online, and brand opportunities made some people uncomfortable.

There were comments questioning my skills, saying dance skating “isn’t real skating” — belittling the style I love the most.

It hurt, but I’ve learned that unkindness often comes from insecurity. I choose not to take it personally. I focus on growing, creating, and serving the skaters who do believe — in themselves and in this joyful, expressive style. That’s who I’m doing this for.

What are your dreams or goals for the future of your skating career and ManilaSk8Dance? Any exciting projects in the works?

My dream is simple: to keep going, keep skating, and keep serving the skate community. Roller skating is still pretty new in the Philippines — we didn’t grow up seeing it because most rinks closed down in the ’80s and ’90s. But I want to help change that.

I want skating to become part of our culture again. I hope to keep inspiring more skaters to carry the movement forward, to appreciate where this beautiful style comes from, and to grow together as a community.

My goal is to see ManilaSk8Dance flourish — to create a space where skaters can vibe, learn, and feel safe just being themselves. This space is for all of us.

If you could skate anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?

If I could skate anywhere tomorrow, I’d go to the U.S. and experience the iconic skate rinks. I’d love to learn and soak in every style — from Chicago JB Skating, Atlanta’s Skate Style, Cleveland freestyle, to Detroit Style and St. Louis Ballroom Skating.

Black skaters have been my biggest inspiration. Their style, history, and creativity shaped so much of what I love about skating, and I deeply respect that. I’d be so honored to learn directly from the roots of the culture.