Pictures by Arnauld Girerd
On this Solo Q&A, be taught extra about Eurydice Ennique, a junior ice dancer who represents France. Eurydice trains with Deborah Watelier and Angela Tamburino in Wasquehal, France. Comply with Eurydice’s ice dance journey through her Instagram @eurydice.enq.
Inform us about how your skating journey started. What drew you to the ice? Do you will have any particular recollections?
I began skating on the age of 4, due to my grandmother who enrolled me in leisure classes. From my very first day on the ice, I utterly fell in love with the game and by no means needed to cease.
I shortly beloved making buddies on the rink and sharing these moments with them. I used to be probably not afraid of falling, which helped me progress fairly quick initially. Very quickly, I loved the sensation of gliding, the sense of freedom on the ice, and with the ability to categorical feelings by motion and dance.
A really particular reminiscence for me is my very first competitors, which I nonetheless keep in mind clearly. I skated to a Dalida program, and it was a second that really made me need to maintain skating and maintain bettering on this sport.
When and why did you select to do solo dance?
I didn’t actually select solo dance initially, as I used to be guided towards ice dance very early on by my coach Deborah. She shortly observed that I had qualities fitted to this self-discipline, particularly good skating abilities and glide, that are crucial in ice dance.
It due to this fact developed naturally for me, and the extra I progressed, the extra I loved engaged on musicality, expression, and the particular technical features of ice dance.
What do you want most about Solo Dance? What sort of music to you wish to skate to the very best? Why?
What I like most about solo dance is being alone on the ice and having to hold your entire interpretation of this system. I get pleasure from skating in concord with the music, staying on rhythm, and expressing feelings all on my own.
My favourite skating factor is spins, as a result of there are a lot of completely different variations, and I get pleasure from engaged on their approach and high quality.
For a very long time, I skated to tender music, as a result of I really like the sleek and expressive type it permits me to develop. Nonetheless, for subsequent season, I need a full change of favor and to discover one thing completely different with a disco theme that I’m at the moment creating.
Inform us about your coaching web site.
I’ve at all times educated on the Wasquehal ice rink. I practice about 12 hours per week on the ice.
As well as, I do off-ice bodily preparation with a bodily coach, Caroline Courouble, to enhance our bodily conditioning on the ice. For this, now we have entry to dojos in addition to the rink’s altering rooms.
We’re additionally fortunate to have out of doors areas close by for off-ice coaching, akin to a canal the place we run, in addition to a park, which makes bodily preparation very satisfying and diversified.
Generally, our on-ice coaching classes don’t match our college schedule, so I typically practice early within the morning, round 6:40, earlier than going to highschool.
Who choreographed your applications. What do you want greatest about dancing them?
My applications are choreographed by my coaches. They work with me to create routines that go well with my persona, my strengths, and the chosen music.
What I get pleasure from most about performing them is with the ability to actually interpret the choreography on the ice and convey this system to life. I particularly just like the second when every part comes collectively: the music, the actions, and the feelings.
Please share a few of your solo dance accomplishments.
Over the previous two seasons, I’ve had the chance to qualify for the French Championships in ice dance two years in a row. It has been an important expertise for me, permitting me to enhance and compete at the next stage.
All through the season, my foremost purpose is to proceed bettering my scores, my consistency, and my development at each competitors. These experiences assist me acquire confidence and aggressive maturity.
Solo Dance is now a global self-discipline. Have you ever competed internationally?
Two months in the past, I had the chance to compete in my first worldwide competitors in Hoorn, within the Netherlands. It was an distinctive expertise for me.
I used to be capable of uncover a brand new aggressive setting, meet skaters from different nations, and speak with them. I additionally realized that the way in which ice dance is skilled and approached may be completely different from what I do know in France, which I discovered very attention-grabbing.
This expertise gave me much more motivation for what comes subsequent.
What are you most wanting ahead to this season? What might be your greatest problem(s)?
This season, what I’m most wanting ahead to is continuous to enhance, bettering my outcomes, and performing higher at every competitors.
My foremost purpose is to remain constant all through the season and proceed creating my approach and expression on the ice. One other vital purpose for me is to qualify for the French Championships once more.
What’s your favourite sample dance and why is it your favourite?
My favourite sample dance is waltz typically, and extra particularly the Starlight Waltz. I actually like this sort of dance as a result of it requires fluidity, grace, and good skating abilities.
Waltz additionally permits me to work on musicality and expression whereas sustaining magnificence on the ice.
What do you suppose makes solo dance a particular self-discipline?
I feel ice dance is a particular self-discipline due to the skating abilities it requires, particularly the standard of glide, in addition to the technical problem of steps and turns.
It’s a self-discipline that mixes approach, precision, and inventive expression, which makes it very full and distinctive.
What are you short-term and long-term objectives in solo dance?
Within the brief time period, my objectives are to maintain bettering, enhance my scores and consistency in competitors, and qualify once more for the French Championships.
In the long run, I need to proceed progressing in ice dance, additional develop my approach and inventive expression, and acquire extra expertise by competitions.
What are a number of the challenges in solo dance?
One of many foremost challenges in ice dance is staying centered by yourself progress whereas competing towards skaters from completely different golf equipment, who could typically have completely different coaching situations.
It requires consistency, perseverance, and the flexibility to offer your greatest in competitors whatever the circumstances.
Do you take part in another skating-related actions?
Sure, I additionally observe determine skating with my coach Camille Zuitta, along with ice dance.
This helps me develop technical and inventive qualities, particularly skating abilities and glide, that are crucial in each disciplines.
In case you may have a lesson with any ice dancer previous/current, who would it not be? Why?
If I may take a lesson with an ice dancer, it could be Laurence Fournier Beaudry. I like her skating abilities, her musicality, and the way in which she skates with nice fluidity and expression.
I want to be taught from her as a way to enhance these features, that are important in ice dance.
What are your favourite off-ice actions?
My favourite off-ice actions are primarily common bodily preparation (off-ice coaching). I particularly get pleasure from going working and skipping rope, because it helps me enhance my endurance and bodily skills for skating.
Please share the rest you prefer to our readers to learn about you as a skater?
I’m very motivated to maintain bettering in ice dance and to offer my greatest in each coaching session and competitors. I particularly benefit from the coaching course of, constructing a program step-by-step and seeing progress over time.
Ice dance is an important a part of my life, and I attempt to absolutely commit myself to evolving on this self-discipline that I actually love. Every season is a brand new alternative for me to be taught, problem myself, and acquire expertise.
