Emma Goodstadt (18) and Christian Bennett (20) are a new Canadian junior ice dance team this season.

Tell us about your individual skating journeys, including any early special memories.
Emma Goodstadt (EG): I began skating at the age of 3 as a part of the CANSkate program at my home club in Oakville, Ontario. After participating in several seasons of singles competitions, a new opportunity arose in 2016 when the ice dance director of my club approached me to form a partnership with another young skater. That marked the beginning of my seven-year-long ice dance career and counting. An early memory of mine is skating on the ice rink that my dad used to build for my sisters and me every winter. I remember coming home from school and skating with my sisters until the sun went down, spending hours perfecting the new tricks we would learn at practice.

Christian Bennett (CB): I started my skating journey at 10 years old in Charlotte, North Carolina where, despite its lack of presence, I continued to grow and train hard with the resources I had. Despite the geographical setback, my partner and I at the time became the first ice dancers from Charlotte to qualify for Nationals!

What drew you to ice dance?
EG:  What I have always enjoyed about ice dance is getting to share all of the experiences and emotions that come along with training and competing with someone else. You can always count on your partner to support you through the occasional tough training session, and when the time comes to compete you have someone there to celebrate the victories with, big or small.

CB: I grew up riding horses with my mother. That was her sport and through her love for horses, I fell in love with them as well. As fate would have it, I ended up, by happenstance, mentioning to a mother at our farm I liked to ice skate. One of her daughters took from US coach Gary Shortland who would become my coach for roughly the next decade. Skating taught me the joy of competition, the mastery of technicality, and the value of self-improvement.

Tell us how your partnership started (Partner Search, training mate, etc.) Describe the tryout.
It all started in 2018 when I (Christian) was training in Canada for a few days with Emma’s coaches. Emma’s partner at the time was sick, which the coaches used as an opportunity to stick us together for a few tryouts, nothing groundbreaking. However, upon getting off the ice my mother privately commented to me, “Y’all look great! I wish she was looking for a partner!” Little did she know how poignant that offhand comment would become. Fast forward 4 years, and horses, once again, played a pivotal role in this skating moment. Our partnership started through a random conversation over Instagram when I saw Emma’s post from a big horse show. Upon messaging her, we talked about our mutual connections to riding, which bled into catching up and realizing we were both in between partners. After suggesting a tryout to her and her coaches, I found myself on a plane to Canada within a few weeks.

What is it that you already like most about dancing with your new partner?
EG: I like the passion that Christian brings to training every day. It motivates me to work harder and push myself as hard as I can. We have also already become great friends which has made training extremely enjoyable! Together, we have been able to discover a perfect balance of fun and seriousness that we bring to the rink every day, and it makes for a highly productive way of training.

CB: Despite us still getting to know each other, what makes our training so enjoyable is her personality. Multiple times a day, we find ourselves unable to function due to fits of contagious and uncontrollable laughter. It adds a lovely and lighthearted energy to the otherwise stressful and intense training that all skaters partake in. In contrast, this is her extremely hardworking and driven demeanor. When she puts her mind to something, it gets done. This spans from choreography to school. It is both inspiring as well as invaluable to our progression.

What experiences do each of you bring to the partnership? (International competitions, training, etc.)
Emma has previous international experience with NextGen and Skate Canada. She has partaken in multiple Junior Grand Prix events and has used these experiences, coupled with a great social web of friends and colleagues to assist in their progression as a new team for Skate Canada. Christian has spent a lot of time working with and studying the artistic and technical elements of a diverse range of skating styles, which has brought a more well-rounded and diverse approach to our training and choreographing.

What has been the most significant adjustment for each of you so far in the partnership?
EG: A big adjustment for me has been learning how to push myself out of my comfort zone when it comes to the interpretation of our programs. Christian is very expressive and is excellent at channeling characters we’ve chosen to portray, and for me to match his level of presentation I have had to put a lot of work into my acting abilities as well as developing more confidence in myself both as a skater and as a person.

CB: For me, the patience of progression has been difficult at times. In skating, especially with new teams, you will find certain struggles that will only be overcome with time. No matter how hard you work them, things like communication, tracking, and chemistry all take time to develop as much as they do hard work.

Tell us about your training site. (Location, facilities, dance mates, classes, etc.)
EG: We train at the Scarboro Figure Skating Club in Scarborough, Ontario. It is a historic club which recently celebrated 70 years of operation. We train alongside a wonderful collection of athletes including Canada’s sweethearts, Piper Gillies and Paul Poirier

Who are your coaches?  Did either or both have to relocate? If so, tell us about the move(s).
EG: Our coaching team is Carol and Jon Lane, as well as Juris Razgulajevs and Marć-Andre Servant. I moved to Ontario from the States and it was quite an intimidating hurdle. The transition happened as smoothly as it could thanks to the warm welcomes from my new teammates as well as Emma’s family.

Who is choreographing your programs? Is someone else arranging your music? If so, please share those experiences.
Our coaching staff has done our choreography this year, Marc- Andre and Juris have been especially central in our routines’ constructions. Our music is cut by Rob, The Skating Music Guy. He has been essential in creating the vision we had for the music.

If you could have a lesson with any ice dancer past/present, who would it be? Why?
EG: I would love the opportunity to be taught by Patrick Chan, Canadian Olympian. I have always been so touched by his elegance and impeccable skating skills, as well as the way he can tell a story through his movements. A few months ago I went to watch Stars on Ice, where Patrick performed a beautiful program dedicated to his newborn son. It was incredibly touching and inspired me to channel my own raw emotions into my skating, as opposed to “turning on” a completely separate character.

CB: I would love to work with Natalia Linichuk. Spending time on the East Coast in the States, I saw first-hand the impact of her coaching prowess. After witnessing the generations of talented ice dancers and coaches she has produced, I would love to tap into her wealth of knowledge.

What is each of you looking forward to most this skating season? What will be your biggest challenge(s)?
EG: I am looking forward to competing at the Canadian National Championships in January 2023. The last time I competed at a national championship was in 2020 when my partner and I won the silver medal in Novice Ice Dance. I have such fond memories of that event and being surrounded by all of my teammates, coaches, friends, and family. This Nationals will be particularly special as it will be Christians’s first Canadian National Championships, as well as our first Championships as a team.

CB: I think I’m looking forward to meeting all my new competitors in Canada. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make so many new friends over the next season. The last few months have been full of new encounters and new memories that will not soon be forgotten. This whole season feels like a breath of fresh air, and I have a revitalization that I cannot wait to put into action for the proceeding months up until Nationals!

EG: One of our challenges this season will be learning how to best pace ourselves for the long season ahead of us. Both of our most recent seasons were cut short so we don’t know yet what it is going to feel like to compete for 7+ months in a row. We will need to pay extra attention to how our bodies are feeling both mentally and physically, and continuously check in with each other if we want to maintain momentum throughout the season.

Please share anything you would like our readers to know about you as a team.
Follow our skating journey on our social media!
Instagram: @ EmmaGoodstadt and @ Christianbennett.ice
X (Twitter): @ Emmagoodstadt and @ Cbreezyonice

by Anne Calder

The skating Carharts include siblings Adrienne (21), Helena (18), Veronica (13) and Marian (10).

Adrienne, Helena and Marian are competitive ice dancers. Adrienne and partner, Oleksandr Kolosovskyi represent Azerbaijan internationally. Helena and partner Volodymyr Horovyi are 2023 U.S .Junior silver medalists and Junior Grand Prix Series competitors. Marion and partner Denis Bledsoe are the reigning U.S. Juvenile gold medalists.

Veronica competes in women singles on the intermediate level and qualified last season for the U.S. Final.

The sisters began their skating journeys in New York City and now train at the International Skating Academy in Estero, Florida with World and Olympic coach Marina Zoueva.

They reflected with mixed emotions on their skating experiences while living and training in Manhattan.

“As much as I love and miss New York, it was tough to make skating and school work in the City environment,” Adrienne began.

“Helena and I would wake up at 4 a.m. My mom had everything ready for the day including our packed breakfast and school clothes. She drove us 30 minutes to the Chelsea Piers rink where we skated from 5 to 7:30 a.m. Afterwards, she drove 45 minutes uptown for us to attended Sacred Heart School. Our classes began at 9 a.m. and mom picked us up at 2 p.m. so we could skate again.

“She drove us out to Hackensack, NJ, where we skated from 3:30 to 7 p.m. On the drive home we’d do our homework in the car. Our mom worked non-stop to make it happen. It was just really difficult to make all the pieces fit. Life in Florida has been much more rewarding for us.”

As a toddler, Veronica often rode along with her sisters. On one such trip, she made an announcement.

Veronica skates at the 2022 Atlanta Open.

“I was two and a half years old. I don’t remember much, but my family had just adopted me from China. I spoke very little English. My mom would drive Adrienne and Helena to skate every day. I loved going everywhere with my mom, so she took me with them. She held me while we watched them skate. I loved seeing them glide across the ice – they looked so happy and beautiful. I turned to my mom and said, ‘Mommy, me skate too!”

Veronica has fond memories of those drives to New Jersey when she was older and skating.

“Mom would pick us up from school and drive us to Hackensack. We would talk about our day and sing along to music. After skating we would then all go home together. It’s one of my favorite memories with my sisters. It was a memory I missed when we moved to Florida.”

Marian remembers rising early in the morning and attending Sacred Heart School. She and Veronica followed the same schedule as Adrienne and Helena.

“Sometimes I’d go skate [at Chelsea Piers] and then school, but sometimes I’d just go to school. Then we’d skate until 7 p.m. in Hackensack. I was six and a half when we moved to Florida.”

Adrienne was the first to leave the family nest. When she was 15 she had reconstructive hip surgery. The next year she moved alone to Canton, Michigan to train with Marina Zoueva. She soon began collecting solo dance medals. In 2018, she was the U.S. National Solo Dance silver pattern and novice combined champion.

The following year when Zoueva moved her Academy to Florida, Adrienne tagged along and continued her solo dancing. A few months later, 13-year-old Helena, who also had an injury that had ended her singles skating, joined her sister at the Estero site. After only three months, Helena partnered with Volodymyr Horovyi and began training in novice ice dance.

In January 2020, the rest of the family moved to Florida.

The two youngest siblings were skating singles. Veronica recalls that because there was no jump coach with the Academy it was difficult at first.

“Our mom would drive Marian and me two hours to Panthers [Ice Den in Coral Springs, FL] Tuesday through Friday every week. It was hard to be separated from Adrienne and Helena. I also know how exhausting it was for my mom. In some ways it was a lot of fun, because Marian and I got to have wonderful time with our mom. Once Coach Igor [Krocavec] moved to Naples to work with Marina, I grew to love Florida and being back all together again with my sisters.”

Adrienne and partner Sasha Kolosovskyi compete at the Lake Placid Ice Dance International (July 2023).

Marian had mixed feelings about the relocation.

“It was a little stressful to leave all my friends and the school, coaches and other skaters, but my sisters had moved before Veronica and me. They were very supportive. I was upset, but they really helped me.”

The Carharts are a very close-knit family. They are great at communicating with each other. Adrienne explained that it’s an important skill they’ve also taken into their partnerships.

“While they are wonderful, partnerships can also be challenging. We’re under high stress situations that can be difficult. We are all lucky. We skate with partners who have been there for us. The key is communication.

“Sasha, Vova and Denis are part of the family. They’re like the brothers we never knew we needed, but we do need now. It’s probably the most challenging part of the sport, but also the most fulfilling and rewarding.”

“Having a skating partner, I grew alongside him and became better because of it,” Helena added.

“I think of my partner, Denis like an older brother,” Marian said. “It’s great having someone to talk to all the time and having a boy’s perspective.”

“Sometime there’s too much girl energy in the house; it’s good to have it balanced out,” Adrienne said with a laugh.

Veronica doesn’t have a partner, but shared her perspective on support and communication.

“Sometimes I am sad that my sisters are all ice dancers. I’m the only adopted one in my family; I’m the only single skater. Sometimes I feel like the odd one out, but when I’m on the ice with my sisters, I feel so connected to them and my family.

“When I practice my programs, my sisters cheer as I skate. I will look out of the corner of my eye and see Adrienne smiling and clapping for me. I can’t help but laugh and smile through the rest of the program.

“On the flip side, whenever my sisters skate, I always want them to skate great. I know where their twizzles are. Every time they skate I watch and pray they don’t mess them up! Having my sisters there makes the run-throughs so much fun.”

The sisters have great admiration for one another and shared the many reasons.

Helena with partner Volodymyr Horovyi compete at the Lake Placid Ice Dance International (July 2023).

Helena began. “I’ll start with Adrienne, who is the one who got me into ice dance. I admire her presentation, the way she skates to the music and her facial expressions. When I started ice dancing I was very stiff. I didn’t really feel comfortable dancing and getting into the music, so I watched Adrienne who has incredible musicality.

“I love how Marian is open to performing. She will get your attention no matter what she does. Veronica is so athletic. Her jumps are amazing. She’s so good at bringing me back to being less emotional about things. She’s very logical.”

Adrienne added, “Veronica is the girl I go to for words of wisdom when I’m unsure about what to do. She’s 13, but so wise. She has a heart of pure gold and kindness. She’s so tough on the ice – so fearless. Marian has this lightness, joy and positivity with everything she does. She’s always happy. She approaches everything with such confidence that she inspires me to be more self-assured and happier.

“Helena, you’re the hardest worker, most dedicated skater, athlete, person. You’re the first person at the rink, the last to leave. You push through obstacles I wouldn’t know what to do. I really admire you and wish to be more like you. You really inspire me deeply and make me a better person.”

“Veronica and I hang out a lot together,” Marian said. “She is so supportive to me. If I have a bad day, I’ll ask her to help me figure out what to do. If I’m wrong, she might say I should come at the situation differently, but always says it in a good way. She gives me good advice.

“I really look up to Helena,” she continued. “She works so hard for Veronica and me. She drives us to the rink, cooks for us, and is just amazing. I love Adrienne because she’s so loving to me. When I’m sad, she is always there.”

Veronica added several reasons why she respects her siblings beginning with her younger sister.

“I admire Marian’s pizzazz, creativity, and intensity when she skates. She is so artistic. To me, Marian is the embodiment of ice dancing. She also helps me have fun and let loose. She hugs me whenever I am down. We do everything together: we skate together, go to school together, play together, go to bed and wake up together. She gives me so much love, and she is my best friend.

“Helena has the best work ethic. She pushes so hard and reminds me I can work harder and do more. More than that, I can always talk to Helena about what is bothering me. She can get me out of any mood and make me laugh and smile.

Marian and partner Denis Bledsoe skate their free dance at the Dallas Classic (July 2023).

“Adrienne has the deepest love for skating. She has had so many ups and downs in the sport, but no matter what she keeps going with passion. She is also really good at opening up about her feelings. I struggle to open up about my emotions, and someday I want to be as open as she is about her feelings.

I also love that Adrienne makes my costumes and cuts my music. One of my favorite dresses is the one she made for my Intermediate Free Skate this year. I am skating to the Butterfly Lover’s Violin Concerto, so Adrienne made me a dress that looks like a butterfly. Last year, I skated to My Fair Lady, and she made me the most beautiful lace dress. It sparkled like champagne. She always makes me feel so beautiful on the ice.”

Skating has greatly influenced all their lives.

“Skating has taught me to be strong. When you go through things, you learn to deal with it,” Marian noted. “Also when you have a family to support you, it makes it easier. It’s also taught me love because I love skating.”

Helena added, “It’s taught me a lot about discipline and about love – but a different kind of love because I’ve learned to be so passionate about skating. It’s not only a job, it’s indescribable. I just get this amazing feeling when I do it. I feel fulfilled. I tried every sport, and I quit all of them. The fact that I didn’t quit skating years ago means I knew it was right for me. Even though there were times that I didn’t like it, I’ve grown as a person through it.”

“I think the big lesson skating has taught me is to persevere through struggles and to keep a perspective,” said Adrienne. “This is a very tough sport and every skater has a story of struggle and self doubt. It’s really easy to stop, to quit or to self sabotage because you feel like you’re not succeeding. I look back on my skating career, and there have been a lot of moments where I wondered should I continue.

“There were so many years when I was in Solo Dance, and I loved it, but I remember thinking I wanted a partner. Dallas 2021 was my last Solo Dance competition and while I love skating with Sasha, I do miss Solo Dance. Having a family that has encouraged me to do what I love, and also to persevere through difficult things, has made me a stronger person.”

“My sisters have always been such a big part of my love for skating,” Veronica added. “One of my other early skating memories was in Lake Placid! My sisters and I went there every summer for a few weeks of camp. Marian had just been born, so it was one of the first times all four of us were together.

“There would always be a show in the 1980 rink, so my coaches made a little program for me. I was skating to “Rockin’ Robin” by Michael Jackson. I was only three and a half years old, and the spotlights scared me, so Adrienne took my hand and skated the whole program with me!”

As Veronica previously mentioned, Adrienne is an amazing seamstress and uses her talents to design and sew the Carhart skating costumes.

“I’ve been sewing since I was seven or eight. When I was 15 and had my reconstructive hip surgery, I had to take a year off the ice. During that time I realized I wanted to stay involved in the sport while not being able to skate, so I started making skating dresses. It’s developed into designing and making all of our costumes.

“For me, I love that part of the process. It’s a favorite part because I get to collaborate with the girls and understand the stories behind their programs and the vision they want to express. It’s great quality time that we spend together. It’s also a way we can connect through the sport, but not directly on the ice.

“It’s really special for me. They give me artistic license as does Marina and I’m very grateful. I’ll give you an example.”

Adrienne then shed more light on Veronica’s story about her butterfly costume.

“Marina and I each had ideas for the costume, so I sat Veronica down and asked for her thoughts. She wanted a dress where she looked like a butterfly. We went shopping and found fabric that looked just like a butterfly’s wings. That was exactly what she wanted. She was the one who came up with the whole idea. It’s one of my favorite dresses I’ve made.“

Helena noted that they really don’t have to inject their thoughts on the costume because she knows them so well.

“She knows what colors and shapes look good on us. She’s not just someone we hired to do the dresses.”

“I really love it when Adrienne makes my costumes,” added Marian. “Sometimes when I have an idea, if we just hired someone to do it, I wouldn’t be able to add my input. When Adrianne makes them, I can tell her what I think, and it’s great. She’s my sister, so it kind of bonds the relationship.”

Support / Guidance
“I think we’re really lucky to have such a wonderful family and all this love and support.” – Marian Carhart

“The one thing I would attribute to all this love is our parents. They support us in so many ways. They are so selfless. They’ve moved everywhere for us. They let me move away from home at age 16 to achieve this crazy dream, and they’ve supported all of us in so many different ways. They’ve instilled in us the value of loving your sisters and being a family, of being kind, so we owe a lot of thanks to them.” – Adrienne Carhart

Anna Waugh (12) and Nikolai Balabardin (15) are a new U.S. intermediate ice dance team this season. 

Tell us about each of your skating journeys, including any special memories.
Anna Waugh (AW): My first steps on ice was at 17 months old. At age 3.5 years old I started Learn to skate. My first competition was in 2015 , I was 4 years old. I finished in 2nd place, my mom presented me huge lollipop after this competition!! To this day, I love to compete!

I did freestyle for 5 years, I decided to start ice dance with partner also … in our first competition we got a gold medal. We were so excited! It was good skating year with a lot of medals… and at end of skating season 2021 we qualified for ice dance final and became National Development team members in Juvenile! We qualified for National Development Team in 2022 as well, in intermediate.

Nikolai Balabardin (NB):I started skating when I was 3 years old because both of my parents are skating coaches and it was easier to have me on the ice, rather than just hang around the arena. I landed my first axel at 5rys old and at 6yrs old, I was the pre-juvenile champion of Alberta, Canada. Some of my most special memories are meeting and skating with some of America’s greatest skaters in Sun Valley, Idaho. I have shared the ice with Jason Brown, Nathan Chen and Polina Edmonds. I was also very lucky to have been invited to dinner with Nathan’s Mom to watch him skate in the Sun Valley Ice Show.

What made you choose ice dance?
(AW): My coach Mathew Gates, and also my favorite skater- Madison Hubbell.

(NB): I chose to switch from freeskate to ice dance because I love the feeling of gliding on the ice. I have landed jumps up to triple salchow, but I always preferred when my skates were on the ice, instead of the air.

Tell us about you and your families. Do you have siblings? Do they also figure skate? Do you have hobbies?
(AW): I do not have siblings. Mom likes to skate too and she sews all my costumes! My father is a baseball fan, but he is became ice dance fan now too!

(NB): My parents are both figure skating coaches in Kerrisdale, Vancouver, British Columbia. My Mama is Canadian and my Papa is Russian. They met in Disney on Ice, where they skated and toured for 6 years. I have an 11yr old sister that also skates. She is currently skating in the Pre-novice level.

How and when did your partnership begin? (Partner Search, training mate, etc.) Describe the tryout? 
(AW): After we broke up with my old ice dance partner, my coach found me Nikolai, from Canada. At March this year, after 10 days of trying out, we decided to skate together as a team. Our journey with Nikolai started 5/17/2023 when he relocated to North Carolina.

(NB): Mathew Gates, our coach, contacted my parents by e-mail after seeing my profile on Partner Search. My parents met Anna’s parents on Zoom, and there was an instant connection. Anna’s family was so warm, friendly, and her Mom could communicate easily with my Papa as she is speaks Russian. We arranged a time for me to go to North Carolina where I tried-out with Anna. I was there for about 2 weeks and I really enjoyed not only skating with Anna, but the training environment and coaches Mathew Gates and Sasha Zaretsky.

What do you already like most about dancing with your new partner?
(AW): Nikolai is a hard working guy, he has very good skating skills. He loves to skate a lot, like me. We both love skating and we get along great!

(NB): I really enjoyed how we picked up the dance spins and transition movements
quickly. Anna is also full of energy and is super friendly. She is easy to get along with and I think that she will help bring out my fun side as I am quieter and more shy.

What are you each most excited about for the new partnership?
(AW): I am very excited for the new season with Nikolai, excited to progress in new skating skills and to hopefully impress everyone! We would like to qualify for finals and also to qualify for National Development Team!

(NB): I am most excited about competing to see how far and well we can to together.

Where do you train? (Location, facilities, dance mates, classes, etc.)
(AW): We are training at Extreme Ice Center, Elite Training Team, Indian Trail, North Carolina. We have a mix of freestyle & ice dancers at our rink. There are currently 7 teams training in our team from pre-juvenile level up to Senior – World/International level.

(NB): We will be training at the Elite Skating Academy in the Extreme Ice Center in
Indian Trail, NC. I don’t know many skaters yet, but I look forward to meeting them all soon.

Describe your training schedule. How often do you skate? Do you also go to school? 
(AW): Favorite subject? We are skating 6 day a week, 4 hours a day. Also, we are doing ballet, ballroom, strength and conditioning. We also help with Learn to skate classes at our rink . I am doing a homeschooling program. My favorite subject is Mathematics.

(NB): We will be skating about 5 to 6 days per week, and around 4 hours per day, including on and off-ice training. I will be doing home-school next year and my favourite subject is French and Physical and Health Education.

Do you each have a favorite pattern dance? Why?
(AW): My favorite pattern dance is Rocker Foxtrot, because I like the patterns and key points in it.

(NB): My favorite pattern dance is the Argentine Tango because the steps feel comfortable and flow together.

Who are your coaches? Did either of you or both have to relocate? If so, tell us about the move(s).
(AW): My main coach is Mathew Gates, along with Alexandra Zaretsky and Alina Efimova. Nikolai relocated to North Carolina all the way from Vancouver, Canada.

(NB): My coaches are Mathew Gates and Sasha Zaretsky. I have to relocate to North
Carolina from British Columbia, Canada. I feel nervous to be away from my family for so long, but I am excited to start my ice dance journey with Anna.

If you could have a lesson with any ice dancer past/present, who would it be? Why?
(AW): Madison Hubbell!

(NB): If I could have a lesson with any ice dancer, it would be Shae-Lynn Bourne. She has choreographed some of my favourite programs and she has the amazing capability to create all programs to every type of music. She also seems so full of energy, and has wonderful style.

What is your debut competition this season?
Our debut competition was in intermediate level (pattern dances) at Chesapeake open after we skated together for about one month. We competed at the Dallas NQS in Texas and finished third.

Emma Kivioja (22) & Erik Pellnor (19) are a new senior ice dance team who will represent Sweden this season. 

Tell us about your individual skating journeys, including any early special memories.
Emma Kivioja (EK): I started skating in Mörrums Figure skating Club when I was 4 years old. My parents put me in skating school and then I continued. 

Erik Pellnor (EP): My journey started when I was 8 years old when my parents wanted me to learn how to skate. I later found out I love to perform and, on the ice, there is close to no limits! Thanks to my singles career, I have had the opportunities of seeing the world and competing on several championships. In addition, I have made many good friends as well!

What drew you to ice dance?
EK: Erik and I were at a summer camp as single skaters and our coach suggested that we should skate together just for fun and that’s where my thoughts about ice dance began. I’ve always admired the ice dancers when I’ve seen them on competitions, it’s such a beautiful sport. 

EP: As I was improving in singles, I noticed my biggest strength is performing and I really enjoy doing choreography on the ice. I have always had a passion for music and expressing my emotions through dance. One summer, me and Emma tried a little ice dance for the fun of it. After that week both of us saw how beautiful this sport really is.

Tell us how your partnership started.
EK: Our partnership came natural since we’ve been skating together as single skaters and trying ice dance exercises together for fun besides singles. Late this spring we decided to switch to ice dance. 

EP: Me and Emma met each other the first time in Linköping during a training camp 10 years ago. From that point on, we saw each other a few times every year during training. We have been friends for a long time now and a while back our coach wanted us to try and skate together. This spring we decided to commit to our passions and start our ice dance journey for real.

What is it that you already like most about dancing with your new partner?
EK: So far, I like the feeling of skating together, being able to communicate and express myself on the ice. I think we communicate really well on and off the ice which makes it very fun. 

EP: I like that we get to motivate each other during practice and it really makes you work 100% all the time. We also get to improve our interpretation of music and work on getting full control of our entire body. There are a lot of challenges, but we are always there to support each other. 

What experiences do each of you bring to the partnership? 
EK: None of us have any experience in ice dance but both of us have been on international competitions and nationals as single skaters. We are both hard workers when it comes to training and we cheer on each other when things are tough.

EP: Both of us have skated at a high level in singles, however none of us are experienced in ice dance yet. We will for sure be able to use our fighting spirit since we are used to taking on challenges and overcoming failure!

What has been the biggest adjustment for each of you so far in the partnership?
EK: Learning how to skate together, lifts and all the other elements in the programs. 

EP: The biggest adjustment for me is that we have to think alike. I have never preferred to work in a team since I like to have the control myself. However, because me and Emma are really close friends we are comfortable with sharing our feelings and our honest opinions.

Tell us about your training site.
We train in Mörrum, Sweden with our coach from single skating, Susanne Olsson. To receive guidance and help, we go to Neil Brown and Maurizio Margaglio in Helsinki, Finland. 

Who are your coaches?  Who is choreographing your programs?
For ice practice our coaches are Susanne Olsson, Neil Brown and Maurizio Margaglio. For off-ice we get help from STAC and Anna Dettner. Neil Brown has choreographed both of our programs. 

If you could have a lesson with any ice dancer past/present, who would it be? Why?
EK: There are too many good teams that I like, I couldn’t pick one! 

EP: It would be really cool to have one session with Tessa Virtue and or Scott Moir. They were such an accomplished team and complimented each other very well. It would be great to learn how to perform just like them. 

What is each of you looking forward to most this skating season? What will be your biggest challenge(s)?
EK: I look forward to our first competition and training together in general. I think the biggest challenge for us is that everything is new to both of us, but it’s so fun and inspiring to do this journey with Erik. 

EP: I think I mostly look forward to skating in full costume in competition. It will be such a fun experience to compete with another person and to be so engrossed in our programs. I think the biggest challenge will be to go from regular singles skates to ice dance skates.

What is your debut competition this season?
We don’t know yet what competition is going to be our first, but it will be this autumn. 

Please share anything you would like our readers to know about you as a team?
EK: We’ve been working really hard this summer and we have gotten good support from all our coaches and families. I’m very excited to start competing and show our programs! 

EP: We are currently experimenting with what themes and emotions we want to express in our programs and we really hope it will be entertaining for the audience (and the judges). 

Kayleigh Maksymec (19) and Félix Desmarais (21) are a new senior ice dance team who will represent Switzerland this season. 

Tell us about your individual skating journeys, including any early special memories.
Kayleigh Maksymec (KM): I picked up skating as a fun winter activity when I was 5 years old at an ice rink close to my house. I insisted that I wanted to skate more so my mom put me in skating classes a few times a week. I felt so free & I fell in love with the feeling of gliding, spinning and jumping. One of many special memories, was when I was so excited because I got my first skating dress which was light blue with sparkles, which I wore it when I passed my first skating test.

Félix Desmarais (FD): My mom was a skater and it was important for her that I learned to skate for fun. By practicing this sport, it gave me a great opportunity to learn gliding while keeping my balance. When I was young, I did not have lots of opportunities to practice really often because it was far away from home. However, it was a place where I was able to see my friends so, I continued to go. Throughout the years, I have started to develop more interest in skating but it is only when I started ice dancing that I truly appreciated skating.

What drew you to ice dance?
KM: I love the creative choreography and performance part of skating and I feel like I can express myself and make people feel something through dance and movement. As a former single skater I used to get extremely nervous in competition. At the age of 15 I had an injury that put me out of the first part of the season. I had always wanted to try ice dance. In the fall of 2019, I was asked if I wanted to switch to pairs at a camp with Bruno Massot & Stéphane Lambiel in Switzerland. I found the twists & throughs terrifying and preferred the dance & more performance part of skating so ice dance was the best way I could focus on the performance I was giving and sharing with my partner rather than worrying about the jumps and being alone on the ice. I felt ice dance was the best way to continue my skating career.

FD: When I was ten years old, my mom and my coach decided to match me with my coach’s daughter. At the beginning, it was just another activity that I was appreciating and learned a lot from it. Gymnastics was still my main sport at that time. It was when I grew up that I realised all the potential of ice dancing. It is fascinating how precision and technical skills are needed as well as good artistic skills in ice dance. At the age of 17, I decided to stop gymnastics in order to pursue my career in ice dancing and reach my goals.

Tell us how your partnership started (Partner Search, training mate, etc.) Describe the tryout. 
KM: Felix came to IAM originally for a tryout with another girl, which didn’t work out. I (Kayleigh) had been training in Montreal for 2 months. We got in contact and had a tryout. We got in contact and had a tryout, and it went really well. We really clicked from the beginning as we have a similar mindset, values and goals. Our coaches were also excited about our partnership and thought that we were a good match. We have been skating together for around three months now, and really enjoying it.

What is it that you already like most about dancing with your new partner?
KM: We have great communication, which is essential to a successful partnership. We also laugh a lot together while we work on and off the ice which makes our journey really fun and enjoyable.

FD: I like her perseverance and hard work during practice time on & off the ice. Kayleigh is dedicated to her sport and works hard to reach our goals as a couple. She is also open minded and willing to try anything such as coming to Montreal.

What experiences do each of you bring to the partnership? 
KM: With my previous partner I trained in Lyon, France with Olivier Schoenfelder and Muriel Zazoui. I started there during pandemic times, so my first competitive ice dance season began in 2021/2022 and my first competition ever in ice dance was the Junior Grand Prix in Courchevel that season. I also had an opportunity to compete in a few other international competitions such as the Volvo Open Cup, the Egna Ice Dance Trophy & I went to Junior Worlds in Tallinn in 2022.

FD: As a retired national gymnast, I am used to rigorous work during practice time all year long in order to get ready for high level competition. Many of my skills gained throughout my gymnastic experience are in fact very useful in my skating career for example I have developed strength, flexibility as well as the ability to analyse body movements. As a dedicated ice dance coach, I also know some of the skating secrets.

What has been the biggest adjustment for each of you so far in the partnership?
KM: We are both strong skaters on our own, but our main challenge right now is just learning to skate together. Also, my previous partner was very tall, and Felix and I have less of a height difference, so that’s something new for me to get used to. But it’s going really well and I’m really happy.

FD: There has been no big adjustment since the beginning of our partnership. Kayleigh is a very easy-going partner. She is always willing to accept all suggestions I give her. It is fun to train with her.

Tell us about your training site. 
The Ice Academy of Montreal is place to train. We feel like we can achieve our goals and develop as athletes & as people too. The environment is very positive & there is a lot of respect between our teammates as everyone is focused on doing their best. It s so inspiring to be sharing the ice with World class skaters & Olympians that I used to watch on TV. We mainly train at the Centre Gadbois in Montreal but in the off season we are between different rinks.

Who are your coaches? 
We work with all the IAM coaches, which is a great pleasure, but our main coach is Romain Haguenauer.

KM:  I relocated to Montreal at the end of January after being at home in Geneva for a few months recovering from an injury. It was always one of my dreams to train at IAM and now here I am!

FD: Even though I live on the south shore of Montreal, I still have to come closer to my training site and university.

Who is choreographing your programs. Is someone else arranging your music? If so, please share those experiences.
Romain is choreographed our Rhythm Dance and our Free Dance as well. We love his creativity and coming up with cool moves that enhance our different skills.

If you could have a lesson with any ice dancer past/present, who would it be? Why?
KM: I had an opportunity earlier this year to have some lessons with Madison Hubbell, and that was fantastic. I have long admired her skating and how she and Zachary Donahue skated with so much speed and power. I’ve also had an opportunity to train with Zachary, so it’s been very interesting to see both sides, and to learn from them.

FD: I certainly appreciate having lessons with Guillaume Cizeron. I would like to learn more about his way of moving as he seems to float on the ice as well as softness in body movements.

What is each of you looking forward to most this skating season? What will be your biggest challenge(s)?
KM: I’m really forward looking forward to be competing again and to be representing Switzerland!

FD: It will be an amazing adventure to represent Switzerland and training in a high level school such as Ice Academy of Montreal! My biggest challenge this year will be to manage my schedule as a skater, as a student and as a coach. Those three passions are really important to me. But I am looking forward to succeeding in those areas of my life.

Our biggest challenge will be debuting as a new senior couple. This will be the first year in seniors for both of us. We hope to make our mark by bringing fresh, original programmes & by showing parts of our personalities through these programs.

What is your debut competition this season?
We are in the process of figuring out our planning for the season but we aim to compete in a summer competition here in Quebec.

Please share anything you would like our readers to know about you as a team?
Outside of skating, we are both students. I am finalizing my credits to pursue international business and Felix is studying medicine. We also both have many outside interests alongside our skating, we both love to travel, and many of the outdoor sports that are very popular in Switzerland like hiking and skiing.

Athena Faith Roberts (17) and Eric Alis (20) represent Spain and started skating together last season. They finished 26th at the World Junior Championships. 

Tell us about your individual skating journeys, including any early special memories.
Athena Roberts (AR): I started skating when I was 5 years old in Jacksonville Florida.

Eric Alis (EA): I started skating at 7 with a few friends from school and started competing right away as a single skater. At the age if 12 i won my first nationals in novice. At 16, I moved to Vancouver, Canada to continue my studies and started skating as a single skater again after a bad hip injury. After a couple years, I found out there was an ice dance academy and I gave it a shot with no hopes to get in, but after trying out, my current coaches seemed interested and cheered me up to keep up to eventually finding my current partner!

What drew you to ice dance?
AR: When I was competing in singles skating there was a lot of pressure especially with my jumps, and slowly I started to lose interest in skating. But at the same time I was doing ice dance for fun and it helped me regain my drive for skating, and I realized I would rather compete in something that is fun and entertaining.

EA: I always loved skating more than jumping, but in Spain there wasn’t any kind of Ice Dance school. After my injury I knew I was done with jumping since it was the main reason of my injury. When I got accepted into the ice Dance academy in Vancouver I realized day after day how much I enjoy it and since I was able to find a partner I enjoy it even more.

Tell us how your partnership started (Partner Search, training mate, etc.) Describe the tryout.
AR: Both of our coaches had gotten in contact with each other and we scheduled a tryout within three days. The tryout lasted for one week and on day one we had gotten along really well so we knew that there was a high possibility of this partnership working out, and by the end of the week I had found a place to stay and move to Vancouver.

EA: We found each other in a quite unexpected way! I found a partner from Canada but after a few days of training and her moving here from Montreal things didn’t work out. Then my coach, Aaron Lowe spoke to one of his friends mentioning that she had a girl, and within 4 days Athena arrived here in Vancouver to do a tryout. I think we connected pretty quick, and after a week of tryout we talked and decided to continue together for at least one season, with no compromise, in case we didn’t see things coming together. But lucky us we had a blast and we’ll keep things going!

What is it that you already like most about dancing with your new partner?
AR: The thing I like most about skating with a partner is that we are doing it all together. I find it is a lot more fun dancing with a partner because you can encourage one another and trust that they have you while skating. I think that creates an understanding and great friendship which makes skating together even better.

EA: What I like the most about skating with Athena is that we laugh a lot. We have gotten really close with such short time and makes all trainings very enjoyable. As well as we trust each when trying new things. It makes it easier to learn and have fun with it as well.

What experiences do each of you bring to the partnership? (International competitions, training, etc.)
AR: The most experiences I have is training and competing in several world championships in the aerial arts and pole sport discipline.

EA: The thing I can bring into the partnership is all the previous years of training in the figure skating field.

What has been the biggest adjustment for each of you so far in the partnership?
AR: The biggest adjustment for myself was getting used to the new environment I was in. Since I had to move from Florida to Vancouver, not only was I getting used to skating with Eric, but also getting to know new coaches and their work ethic, new teammates, and learning about the city.

EA: For me the biggest adjustment has been having to combine all my training with university so far, since unfortunately here in Vancouver, universities aren’t flexible with sport

Tell us about your training site. (Location, facilities, dance mates, classes, etc.)
We train at the 8rinks Scotia Barn in Burnaby, BC. It’s a facility with 7 rinks and a soccer field. To me it is amazing to be able to train here since in Spain there’s a total of 7-8 rinks where you can skate all year long. So in some way, we always have ice to be able to practice. In the same facility we also have a gym and a room in which we do our off-ice dance lessons, usually 3-4 times a week.

Who are your coaches? 
Our main coaches are Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe, ex Olympian ice dancers representing Canada. Both originally from Vancouver.

Who is choreographing your programs. Is someone else arranging your music? If so, please share those experiences.
Both, Megan and Aaron, are the ones who choreograph our programs with the help of our off-ice coaches who are specialized in ball-room and contemporary dance, both with an extent background of other types of dancing.

If you could have a lesson with any ice dancer past/present, who would it be? Why?
AR: I would want to have a lesson from Meryl Davis and Charlie White. Their 2010 Olympic performance was the first time I had acknowledged ice dance and it instantly captured my attention, so getting a lesson from the people who inspired ice dance for me would be amazing.

EA: I would like to be able to train with Adrian Diaz, the recently retired Olympian ice dancer from Spain since he was my very first contact into ice dance and with Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron to do some choreography and refinement of edge quality.

What is each of you looking forward to most this skating season? What will be your biggest challenge(s)?
AR: What I am looking forward to this season is being able to show how much we’ve improved along with all the new tricks and choreography we have for the new season.

EA: For this upcoming season I am really looking forward to our first 2 Junior Grand Prix! And really looking forward to improve our world ranking including Junior Worlds bringing a bunch of new elements that we are working on.

What is your debut competition this season?
Our debut competition this year will be in Ottawa, Canada and our international debut will be in our first Junior Grand Prix in Linz, Austria.

Action photos by Tony Melillo

Michela Melillo (18) and Simon Mintz (15) are a new U.S. junior ice dance team who formed their partnership in April 2023. 

Tell us about your individual skating journeys, including any early special memories.
Michela (MM): I started to skate when I was seven and I fell in love with the ice skating in my very first lesson. I tried freestyle, synchro, theater even pair skating but my favorite was always ice dancing. I was maybe eight years old when I had a partner and I greatly enjoyed all of our lessons and performances. 

Simon (SM): I first tried skating a few weeks before my fourth birthday at a public skate and pushed a crate around. Then shortly afterward, I started group lessons at the Hayden rink (in Lexington, Mass.). I moved through the early levels pretty quickly. Then around Basic 5, I decided I really liked it and started taking private lessons. There was a friend of mine who performed in an ice show, and I wanted to do it too. I remember my first solo in a shiny costume, to Sir Duke. I remember I enjoyed being in costume. I kept waving my hands, and I had no idea what I was doing, and I kept spinning and spinning and spinning.

One of my more significant memories was performing this Captain Hook program in the Hayden holiday show. That’s my earliest really fun performance memory. 

What drew you to ice dance? 
MM: As I mentioned I had a chance to do ice dancing at an early age and while I tried all other disciplines, ice dancing was always the one closest to my heart. 

SM: I had started out with Coach Tina (Noyes) and was working on my moves and freestyle tests, then I made the beginning Hayden synchronized skating team, the Mini Shooting Stars. Coach Tina suggested I take ice dance so I improve my chances of making a higher-level synchro team. I started taking ice dance with Coach Dawn (Jarvis) and I really liked it. Then Dawn asked, “Would you like to try it with a partner?” I said, “Sure.” Eventually, I quit synchro to focus primarily on ice dance.

I really like how ice dance isn’t like you throw yourself into a jump and hope you land it. I felt the perfectionist mindset of an ice dancer really worked well for me, and ice dance also had a lot more interaction with music. I play the saxophone. I’m in a band. I’m really into music and was from an early young age. I used to do acting. I like the combination of acting and music in ice dance.

Tell us how your partnership started (Partner Search, training mate, etc.) Describe the tryout.
MM: It happened so quickly, one Saturday in April, our coach asked us to have a tryout with Simon and just a week later we decided that we are a good match, and we have very similar goals and work ethics to make our team successful in competitive ice dancing.

SM: Svetlana Kulikova, Michela’s coach, proposed the match to my main ice dance coach, Dmitri Boundoukin. Our coaches already knew each other well because they sent their teams to each other. Svet does choreography for Dima’s teams, and he works on technique and skating skills with some of her teams. 

At that first session, it was a little intimidating that I was trying out with a junior-level ice dancer. My first impression was Michela was someone I felt I could work with, and Michela herself, I really liked her personality. Not everyone works well together personality-wise, but I felt we clicked. 

What is it that you already like most about dancing with your new partner? 
MM: I love that we communicate so well on ice and off ice. We both work very hard but at the same time we joke around a lot and that makes our practice so special. 

SM: In general, both of our families are very committed to ice dance, and it feels like we’re able to get a lot done. I really enjoy the progress we’re making. We work well together.

What experiences do each of you bring to the partnership?  
MM: I had a chance to compete as a junior ice dancer last year and I even went to the Nationals, so I can share what I have learned from those experiences.

SM: I trained and competed with my previous partner for four seasons, including the virtual season in 2020-21. We made it to two High Performance National Development Camps and won the NQS Eastern section pewter medal in intermediate. I also work out regularly with a personal trainer and have trained privately in ballet.  

What has been the biggest adjustment for each of you so far in the partnership?
MM: We live in different states, so we have to travel a lot for practices and of course, as a new team we still need to work on our partnering skills and just overall get to know each other better.

SM: I agree with what Michela said. The biggest adjustment for me has been the traveling and  also just the fact that I’m jumping from intermediate to junior. There’s a whole different set of requirements for lifting and spinning, but I’m enjoying it.

Tell us about your training site. (Location, facilities, dance mates, classes, etc.)
Both: We train in two different rinks in Connecticut, the Newington Arena in Newington and Champions Rink in Cromwell, and our instruction includes ballet on ice. Coach Svetlana also works with several other ice dance teams in Connecticut of varying levels, including the junior team of Benjamin Starr and Jenna Hauer. In Massachusetts, we’ve been training at the New England Sports Center in Marlboro and Canton Ice House. In Marlboro, Coach Dmitri leads us in off-ice workouts with fellow ice dancers, Gabe Winawer and Annie Huang.

Who are your coaches?  Did either or both have to relocate? If so, tell us about the move(s).
Svetlana Kulikova and Dmitri Boundoukin are co-coaching the team. The team splits its practices between the Boston area, where Dmitri and Dawn coach them, and the Hartford/New Haven area, where Svetlana works with them. Neither of us had to relocate.

Who is choreographing your programs? Is someone else arranging your music? If so, please share those experiences.
Both: Coach Svetlana choreographs all competition programs. Molly McMahon arranged our music for this season.

If you could have a lesson with any ice dancer past/present, who would it be? Why?
MM: I am the biggest fan of Madison Chock and Evan Bates. I like everything they do from their amazing and unique programs and their outstanding technical skills.

SM: I went to a camp and I worked with Charlie White. Charlie White was just a blast and he taught us a lot. But also I would agree with Michela that Madison Chock and Evan Bates are absolutely astounding. Also, Zachary Donahue and Madison Hubbell just have amazing technical skills and I’d love to learn from them. And, Jean Luc Baker, too… He’s one of my favorite ice dancers in the performance category. He and Kaitlin are amazing.

What is each of you looking forward to most this skating season? What will be your biggest challenge(s)? 
MM: I am looking forward to competing at the junior level with Simon; he is a such a supportive partner. Challenges? Just the fact we just started our partnership a few weeks ago so we have very limited time to get ready for our first NQ competition. 

SM: I’m just really looking forward to skating at this new level and being challenged. I’m really excited to compete at this level and this difficulty. The biggest challenge will be that we got together late in the season. As I mentioned earlier, I was in intermediate last year. I have a lot to catch up on. We have about two months before our first competition in Dallas, Texas, and that’s going to be a challenge.

What is your debut competition this season?
It will be the Dallas Classic NQ competition in Plano StarCenter, Plano TX in July 2023. 

Please share anything you would like our readers to know about you as a team?
MM: Simon, for his bar mitzvah project, raised funds for the Diversify Ice Foundation and worked to raise awareness about the lack of diversity in figure skating. I have a Mayan heritage, and I am very proud of my partner who wants to promote diversity in our sport. I really enjoy that I can express myself during my performances, the way perhaps Mayans did in the past during their famous dance rituals. 

SM: As a team, we’re very social. We both really like performing and bring a lot of energy onto the ice. 

Welcome to IDC’s New Team Series! For this series, we interview athletes who will enter the upcoming 2023-24 season in a new partnership, or debuted last season. In our second interview, we check in with Adrienne Carhart (21) and Oleksandr Kolosovskyi (21) who represent Azerbaijan at the senior level.  New articles in this series will be posted every Monday.

Tell us about your individual skating journeys, including any early special memories.
Adrienne (AC): I started skating at 7 years old, when a friend of mine invited me to a skating lesson. From there, I continued on with my younger sister Helena and I have loved it since then.

Oleksandr (OK): I started skating when I was 7 years old as well, but in Odessa. There is only one rink in Odessa but I have a lot of great memories of that rink and learning how to skate there. I competed in singles skating a lot throughout Ukraine until I was about 15 years old. Then I moved to Kiev to start ice dancing. 

What drew you to ice dance?
AC: In all honesty, I remember watching ice dance as a kid and thinking there was no way I could be an ice dancer! After growing up in a household full of women and going to an all-girls high school, the idea of skating with a boy did not appeal to me. It wasn’t until I had reconstructive hip surgery when I was 15 years old and had to take a year off the ice that I even considered ice dancing. However, after just a few weeks of trying it out I knew this was what I wanted to do. Now I love skating with a partner and I love working on all the little details that go into ice dancing. There is so much precision and thought put into every step.

OK: My mom heard there was a great ice dance coach in Kiev that had a girl looking for a partner, so she thought it would be good for me to try ice dancing. At first, I found it quite unusual to skate with another person in position, but it provided me with a new challenge which I liked. I love the technical aspects of ice dance, like turns and footwork, but I also really enjoy lifts and the acrobatics involved in partnered skating. 

Tell us how your partnership started (Partner Search, training mate, etc.) Describe the tryout.
AC: Sasha and I actually knew each other before we started skating together. We both trained with Marina in 2019 with different partners and we were good friends. I ended up moving to France and Sasha was training with a new partner in Russia, so we lost touch for a few years. When we saw each other again, it was like no time had passed – our friendship picked up right where we left off. 

OK: Marina called me right after my previous partnership ended. She was my coach when I was junior and we had stayed in contact, so I was happy to hear from her. She told me Adrienne was also looking for a partner, and Adrienne and I were friends for a long time. So we had a tryout and we were a great match. 

What is it that you already like most about dancing with your new partner?
AC: No matter what kind of day we are having, Sasha always makes me laugh. We balance each other out so well. Sasha is very patient  – he is so good at staying calm and relaxed under pressure. Training is so easy and  special when you are skating with a friend.    

OK: Adrienne and I are both very lucky because we have had a great friendship off the ice for so many years. I’ve never seen anyone work as hard as Adrienne! Also, she is an amazing dancer and she is very artistic. She has a great vision for each of our programs and I trust her.   

What experiences do each of you bring to the partnership? (International competitions, training, etc.)
OK: I have competed internationally for many years now, so I brought a lot of experience to the partnership.

AC: Sasha was very supportive of me this season, since this was my first season competing internationally. 

What has been the biggest adjustment for each of you so far in the partnership?
AC: There are the normal challenges of a new partnership, learning to skate together and getting to know the other person. Sasha and I have great communication, and we work so well together. I’ve never had a partnership where we could communicate as openly as we do. 

OK: There hasn’t been a big adjustment. We are always honest with each other about what is working and what is not, and Adrienne is very kind. 

Tell us about your training site. (Location, facilities, dance mates, classes, etc.)
OK: We train at the International Skating Academy in Estero, FL. Training in Florida, the weather is warm and beautiful. We do a lot of training outside in the fresh air, and I go to the beach and jump in the water after a long day of skating. 

AC: I am the oldest of four girls, all of whom skate, and they all train with Marina in Florida. Getting to see them every day and share all these experiences with them is something I am extremely grateful for. My sister Helena and her partner Vova are the reigning US Junior Silver Medalists, and they are a great team to watch. We also train with Pilipino team Isabella Gamez and Alexandr Korovin, and Ukrainian team Zoe Larson and Andrei Kapran. We are so lucky to train with teams that are also our good friends. 

Last season we trained with Kana Muramoto and Daisuke Takahashi before they announced their retirement this year. It was very sad for me, since Kana is one of my closest friends and the rink is not the same without them. We use Kana and Dais as our inspiration a lot. 

Who are your coaches?  Did either or both have to relocate? If so, tell us about the move(s).
AC: We are coached by Marina Zoueva, Ilya Tkachenko, Nora Hoffmann, Johnny Johns, and Yelena Sokolova. We also work with ballroom dancers Randi Strong, Henry Byalikov, and Maksim Kozhevnikov. Sasha and I both trained in other countries before we came back to Marina. 

OK: I relocated from Austria to Florida. However, since I had already trained here before, it already felt much more like home. 

Who is choreographing your programs. Is someone else arranging your music? If so, please share those experiences.
AC: Sasha and I were very excited about the 80’s theme for the RD this year. We got to work with Henry, one of our ballroom coaches, on choreography off the ice. Our coach Ilya Tkachenko then took that and helped us adapt all the dancing for the ice. 

OK: Max Kozhevnikov helped us with the concept for our free dance. We loved our Egyptian program from last season, so it took us a while to find a piece of music that everyone liked for our FD. However, once Max started working with us the program really came together. Ilya is a great choreographer as well; he has been so involved in our creative process this season, and because of that our programs are coming along nicely. 

If you could have a lesson with any ice dancer past/present, who would it be? Why?
AC: Mmm there are so many amazing teams…I would have to say Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier. I saw their Evita FD at worlds last season and it brought me to tears. They are so committed to the story they are telling – as soon as they step on the ice they are in character! They are both so kind and I really look up to them as athletes and as people. 

OK: I would say Meryl Davis and Charlie White, because they were so innovative. They were so quick on the ice and their lifts were amazing. I have always loved and admired their skating. 

What is each of you looking forward to most this skating season? What will be your biggest challenge(s)?
AC: Last season was my first competing on the international circuit, and because we were a new partnership we did not start until the end of October. I love to compete, so I am looking forward to performing a lot this season. Last season our goal was to put out solid performances every time. This season, we want to skate fearlessly and with confidence. Now is the time to put our heads down and work so we can improve over the next few years. 

OK: I think we have so much potential as a team. We are tall and have long beautiful lines with a lot of speed. Of course we want to improve our results and world standing from last season, but more than that we want to solidify our skating and look as a team. It will be our second season together, so we are still learning how to move together and how to compete together. 

What is your debut competition this season?
AC: Our first competition will be the Dallas Classic in July, and then we will head to Lake Placid as our first international for the season. 

OK: We will do a few local competitions first before we head to our internationals. 

Please share anything you would like our readers to know about you as a team?
OK: We have worked hard in the off season to improve our technique and our speed across the ice. I am very excited about our programs for this season, and I hope the judges and skating audience will enjoy them too!

AC: I owe so much to my family, to my parents for their constant love and support, and also to my sisters who I get to share this journey with. We have so much more to prove and to show – this is just the beginning for us! 

On June 28, the International Skating Union announced the selections for the 2023-24 Grand Prix Series.  As with last season, skaters from Russia and Belarus are not allowed to participate in international competitions. Also, no international events will take place in Russia or Belarus at this time. 

About the Grand Prix Series: (from the ISU website) The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known as the ISU Champions Series) and consists of six international senior invitational events and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The skaters are seeded and invited to the six Grand Prix of Figure Skating events based on the results of the previous ISU World Figure Skating Championships. Competitors collect points in their Grand Prix events towards the qualification for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Only the top six Skaters / Couples in each discipline can qualify for the Final.

Welcome to IDC’s New Team Series! For this series, we interview athletes who will enter the upcoming 2023-24 season in a new partnership, or debuted last season. In our first interview, we check in with Shira Ichilov (20) and Dmitriy Kravchenko (18) who represent Israel at the senior level.  New articles in this series will be posted every Monday.

Tell us about your individual skating journeys, including any early special memories.
Shira (SI): I started to roller skate when I was 3 yrs old. When I was 12 yrs old, my father spoke to Boris Chait, the President of the Israeli federation, and he suggested I try ice dancing. I tried figure skating , and a year later relocated to New Jersey to skate with my coach Galit Chait-Moracci .

Dmitriy (DK): when I was 4 years old on my birthday my parents took me to the rink and one of the coaches there said I should start taking lessons and that’s how I started.

What drew you to ice dance?
SI: I have always loved to dance since I was a baby. When I was still a roller skater, we all knew that jumping isn’t for me. I remember as a kid watching with my parents the Olympics and watching my coach Galit competing for israel at the Olympics with her Hava Nagila program. It’s something that will stay in my memories forever.

DK: I have always loved skating, but as a kid I didn’t want to try jumps because it scared me so my coach suggested to go to dance and I loved it from the first second.

Tell us how your partnership started.
SI: Dmitriy was skating in Israel for about a year before we started skating together. I have split with my partner after Worlds 2022 and was looking for a partner. At Nationals, me and Dmitriy met, then me, Dmitriy, my coach and the federation have decided to try out.

What is it that you already like most about dancing with your new partner?
SI: Dmitriy is a hard worker and passionate about skating and I think when you love what you do everything is possible.

DK: Shira is a hard worker! Even though she is more experienced than me, she never stops working and always pushing me and herself to the limit and always want to improve.

What experiences do each of you bring to the partnership?
SI: Dmitriy is a bit younger and less experienced than me. He hasn’t competed internationally yet. I have competed internationally for the last 7 years and participated in 3 World Championships and 2 junior.

DK: I don’t have much experience, but I’m learning and improving with the help of my coach Galit and partner!

What has been the biggest adjustment for each of you so far in the partnership?
SI: I think, for both of us, it’s a big challenge. Skating with a new partner is always a challenge, but I think we are on the right track.

DK: I think for me my biggest challenge will be to compete in the higher level, but I’m happy I have the best people by my side to help me achieve our goals together.

Tell us about your training site.
We are training with the Israeli team in New Jersey. Our team is like family.  We have three coaches in our team: Galit Chait Moracci, Alexei Bychenko and Evgeni Krasnopolsky and we have our team leader that takes care of us like we are her own children. Also, Boris Chait gives us all the opportunities possible to make us the best we can possibly be. 

There are 2 dance teams: me and my partner Dmitriy and Maria [Nosoviskaya] and Mikhail [Nosovitskiy] and we also have a pair team and singles skaters.

Who are your coaches?  Did either or both have to relocate? If so, tell us about the move(s).
SI: I have been with Galit since age 13 years old. She has been with me for every step of the way (from learning how to do a crossover to going together to the World Championships!) Dmitriy is originally from Ukraine and had moved to Israel about a year ago. When we decided to skate together, he moved here to New Jersey.

DK: I have moved to New Jersey about 3 months ago. I love it! Everyone here has made my change very smooth and easy. I enjoy every moment here.

Who is choreographing your programs. Is someone else arranging your music? If so, please share those experiences.
Both: We went to Detroit to make our programs with Pasquale Camerlengo and Igor Shpilband. We had an amazing time making the new programs. We are very excited to show our programs. For the music,  we are working with Hugo Chouinard. 

What is each of you looking forward to most this skating season? What will be your biggest challenge(s)?
SI: I’m very excited to finally be back after not competing last season. I think our biggest challenge will be just like any other new team to get used to skating with each other and be able to show our best every single time.

DK: I’m looking forward to compete and show everybody our new programs and partnerships together.

Tell us about your program for this season.
Our SD this season will be Get down on it, Yesterday and It’s Raining Men. It’s a very fun program! Our free dance is to a singer from Montreal. It’s a beautiful song.

Please share anything you would like our readers to know about you as a team?
Both:  I hope everyone will enjoy us this season we are very exited for our journey together! Our goal is to represent Israel at the Olympics and be a top ice dance team