Anne’s 2026 Lake Placid Pocket book – Ice-dance.com

by Anne Calder

The 2026 Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships (NQS) and Lake Placid Ice Dance Worldwide (LPIDI) have been held on the Olympic Heart July 26-30.

The US Determine Skating’s Championships (NQS) included pre-juvenile by means of junior occasions. No seniors competed within the Championship division. The Worldwide occasion included  junior and senior ranges. 

Nationwide Qualifying Collection for ice dance started July 9-12 on the Dallas Traditional. It runs by means of October, culminating with prime skaters at every stage advancing to the Ice Dance Ultimate in Bloomfield Township, MI, November 9 – 15. The very best scoring athletes will proceed to their assigned stage on the U.S Championships in Salt Lake Metropolis.

All competitions have been held on the Herb Brooks Enviornment most important venue, which was named after the late American 1980 workforce coach on the twenty fifth anniversary celebration of the “Miracle on Ice” in 2025.

REQUIREMENTS FOR RHYTHM DANCE SEASON 2026/27 

The theme and music for the Junior and Senior Rhythm Dance for the 2026/27 season is “Rhythm and Waltz.” 

Any fashion of waltz is permitted, from conventional varieties to trendy interpretations.

At the least one (1) further rhythm, tempo and dance fashion should be included to help the chosen idea or theme.

Music Necessities: Waltz Part should be in 3/4 or 6/8 time. 

Remixed and/or remastered music, together with cowl variations and music created by AI are permitted. 

SENIOR RHYTHM DANCE

A piece of the Golden Waltz Sample Dance (1GW). Beginning with step 33, together with the restart, and concluding with step 20. Starting at Judges proper, previous the quick axis of the rink.

One quick Carry, One Step Sequence not touching, One set Sequential twizzles and Artistic Dance Component (CDE).

JUNIOR RHYTHM DANCE

One (1) Sequence of the Westminster Waltz evaluated as two (2) sections: skated/carried out to any Waltz dance music/dance. Starting at Judges left facet. Each sections should be skated collectively, however are scored as two technical sections. (Part 1WW – Steps 1-12) / (Part 2WW – Steps 13-22.)

One quick Carry, One Step Sequence not touching, One set Sequential twizzles.

Efficient July 14, 2026: The ISU up to date the rules in Communication No. 2795. The prescribed geometric ice sample for each the Westminster Waltz (Junior) and Golden Waltz (Senior) is formally non-compulsory, giving groups extra inventive liberty with placement whereas maintaining the required foundational turns.

LAKE PLACID ICE DANCE INTERNATIONAL 

SENIOR

Fourteen groups competed within the Rhythm Dance, representing Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Hungarian, Philippines and United States. 

1. (70.93)  Amy Cui & Jonathan Rogers (USA): Maria de Buenos Aires (Tango opera – music by Astor Piazzolla)                     
2. (64.31) Caroline Mullen & Brendan Mullen (USA): Picks from the La La Land soundtrack, together with “One other Day within the Solar”
3. (63.67) Leah Neset & Artem Markelov (USA): Scorpions: “The Zoo”, “Perhaps I, Perhaps You”
4. (62.64) Eva Pate & Logan Bye (USA): Picks from Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack.
5. (59.39) Raffaella Adele Koncius & Alexey Shchepetov (USA): Picks by Christina Aguilar: together with, “Categorical” and ”Present Me How You Burlesque”.
6. (57.97) Vanessa Pham & Anton Spiridonov (USA) Picks from the La La soundtrack.

The Free Dance had one workforce withdraw and two groups within the prime six trade locations. Three USA medalists stood atop the rostrum because the flag was raised and the Nationwide Anthem performed for the gold medal workforce.

1. Amy Cui & Jonathan Rogers (USA) danced a mesmerizing routine to the soundtrack of the 2025 action-horror movie Sinners set in 1932 Mississippi. Cui & Rogers dramatically introduced the Southern Gothic story to life with Kaitlyn Weaver’s animated choreography and the Delta Blues music. This system scored 105.22.  The full 176.15 gave the Michigan educated  workforce it’s first Worldwide gold medal.
2. Eva Pate & Logan Bye (USA) vaulted two spots into second place with a mushy and lyrical interpretation of their Jean-Michel Blair, “Roses” program. The silver medal dance efficiency scored 102.66, with a complete 165.30. 
3. Leah Neset & Artem Markelov (USA) earned the bronze medal for his or her Nikolai Morozov choreographed dance to Phantom of the Opera. The 2023-2024 Junior Grand Prix Ultimate and Junior World Champions scored 97.24 for the Free Dance and a 159.91 complete for the competitors.
4. Caroline Mullen & Brendan Mullen (USA) – “Land of All” / “Weapons for Rent” by Woodkid. (91.98)  Complete 156.29.
5. Raffaella Koncius & Alexey Shchepetov (USA) – Evita, choreographed by Jean-Luc Baker. (93.25)  Complete 152.64.
6. Vanessa Pham & Anton Spiridonov (USA) – Magnificence and the Beast, L’Orchestre d’Academie. (83.76)  Complete 141.73.

JUNIOR

Sixteen groups competed within the Rhythm Dance, representing Azerbaijan, Canada, Eire, Israel and United States. 

1. (65.99) Hana Maria Aboian & Daniil Veselukhin (USA): “My Candy and Tender Beast” by Eugen Doga. 
2. “The primary half is a waltz; the second half is a tango,” the dancers mentioned.
3. (60.83) Aneta Vaclavikova & William Lissauer (USA): The Nice Gatsby “Younger and Lovely” by Lana Del Rey and “A Little Occasion By no means Killed No person” by Fergie, Q-Tip and Goon Rock.
4. (53.37) Chaima Ben Khelifa & Julien Levesque (CAN): “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis; “You Are the Cause” by Calum Scott and Leona Lewis.
5. (51.37) Annelise Stapert & Maxim Korotcov (USA): “Oh Ms Believer” and “Implicit Demand” by Twenty One Pilots.
6. (50.98) Jane Calhoun & Mark Zheltyshev (USA): “Woland’s Theme” (from The Grasp and Margarita) by Igor Korneliuk / “Waltz” by Igor Korneliuk choreographed by Lukas Csolley.
7. (50.49) Anaelle Kouevi & Yann Homawoo (USA): “Code Title Vivaldi” by The Piano Guys.

The highest two RD groups remained the identical within the Free Dance. The fifth place workforce vaulted into third to earn the bronze medal. Scores for groups three – six have been separated by only one.36 factors.

1. Hana Marie Aboian & Daniil Veselukhin (USA) continued their undefeated 2025-26 successful streak that peaked with a primary Junior World Championship in March 2026. The Pharaohs FD music, just like the RD, was  created for the program, and is a distinct style than their earlier Free Dances.  In accordance with Aboian, “It was edited and altered nearly 50 instances.” The LPIDI scores nearly mirrored these earned final March in Tallinn, EST on the Championships. This system scored 100.05 and totaled 166.04.
2. Aneta Vaclavikova & William Lissauer (USA) earned a silver medal for his or her worldwide debut. The workforce competed solely domestically final season because of Vaclavikova’s earlier 12 months’s worldwide resume. The duo retained their earlier season program: Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata  carried out by Sandra Kissy to share it with a bigger viewers. The dance scored 91.95 and their complete earned 152.78 factors.
3. Jane Calhoun & Mark Zheltyshev (USA) vaulted into third place, with a Nikolai Morozov choreographed program to “Yo Soy Maria” by Milva”, Astor Piazzolla / “Maria de Buenos Aires” by Dulce Pontes, Astor Piazzolla / No Title by  Karl Hugo / “Maria de Buenos  Aires” by Dulce Pontes”, Astor Piazzolla. This system earned 84.00 factors. The bronze medal competitors rating totaled 134.98.
4. Chaima Ben Khelifa & Julien Levesque (CAN): The Gladiator soundtrack: “Now We’re Free” by Lisa Gerrard. Program rating: 81.19 / Complete rating: 134.56.
5. Anaelle Kouevi & Yann Homawoo (USA): Ceremony of Passage (The Start of a Nation) by Henry Jackman; “Crossing the Bridge” (Blood Diamond soundtrack) by James Newton Howard. Program rating: 83.56 / Complete rating: 134.05
6. Annelise Stapert & Maxim Korotcov (USA): The Bushes by Max Richter, Choreographed by Elena Novak and Sean Cheesman. Program rating: 82.25 / Complete rating: 133.62.

2026 LAKE PLACID (NQS) CHAMPIONSHIPS / JUNIOR COMBINED DANCE

RHYTHM DANCE: 

1. (58.57)  Effie Chen (SC of Boston) & Gordie Chitipakhovian (SC of Boston) – RD: “I See Purple” and “Depraved Methods” by Everyone Loves an Outlaw.
2.  (54.98)  Rylen Lukanin (All 12 months FSC) & Patrick O”Brien (SC of New York) – RD: “New Music” from Ragtime: The Musical.
3. (50.23)  Marian Carhart (SC of New York) & Denis Bledsoe (Florida Everglades FSC) – RD: “Czardasfurstin (Medley)” by Andre Rieu and Strauss Orchestra
4. (45.24)  Nicole Kirsanov (College of Delaware FSC) & Kejin Peng (All 12 months FSC)
5.  (43.20)  Maggie Blackstone (Nashville FSC) & Tait Mild (Knoxville FSC).

FREE DANCE:

1. Effie Chen (SC of Boston) & Gordie Chitipakhovian (SC of Boston) danced picks from the Rio soundtrack and earned their second NQS 2026-27 season gold medal. The workforce partnered in 2025 and trains in Novi, MI with Igor Shpilband’s group. This system rating: 85.82 – Complete rating: 144.39.
2. Rylen Lukanin (All 12 months FSC) & Patrick O”Brien (SC of New York) made their Lake Placid Junior free dance debut skating to the Titanic soundtrack by James Horner.  Kaitlyn Weaver and Igor Lukanin choreographed the silver medal dance. Program rating: 77.33 – Complete rating: 132.31.
3. Marian Carhart (SC of New York) & Denis Bledsoe (Florida Everglades FSC) confirmed mushy flowing edges of their efficiency to Franz Lizst’s Liebestraum (Goals of Love). The dance earned the Florida primarily based workforce the bronze medal. Program rating: 74.18 –  Complete rating: 124.41.
4. Nicole Kirsanov (College of Delaware FSC) & Kejin Peng (All 12 months FSC) Program rating: 70:00 – Complete rating: 115.24               
5. Maggie Blackstone (Nashville FSC) & Tait Mild (Knoxville FSC). Program rating: 64.11 – Complete rating: 107.31

NOVICE COMBINED DANCE

1. (117.89) Katherine Li (IceWorks) SC & James Zhu (IceWorks) SC
2. (96.02)  Lucy Brooks (Rye FSC) & Jeffrey Li (Rye FSC).
3. (93.91) Isabella Chang ( Blue Edge FSC of CT) & Ken Chen (All 12 months FSC)
4. (90.51) Emily Zhou (All 12 months FSC) & Kenneth Working (Washington FSC)
5. (68.76) Apple Lee (Glacier Falls FSC) & Max Aydelott (All 12 months FSC)
6. (59.82) Vanessa Hollis (Skokie Valley SC) & Evan Hollis (Skokie Valley SC)

INTERMEDIATE COMBINED DANCE

1. (84.11)  Sophia Zhou & Skyler Kay (College of Delaware FSC)
2. (73.53)  Hilda Qin & George Qin (All 12 months FSC)
3. (70.33)  Madeline Quattrone (Central Florida FSC) & Houston Konetzki (Baltimore FSC)
4. (69.87)  Natalie Demarest (Brooklyn FSC of Ohio) & Carter Schopf, (Shaker FSC)
5. (67.14)  Chloe Abendroth & Jami Becker (Detroit SC)
6. (52.50)  Madeline Zeinalov & Kacper Niewiadomski (Skate Canada)

JUVENILE COMBINED DANCE 

1. (91.17)  Ava Ansari & Cyrus Ansari (Arctic FSC)
2. (54.89)  Georgianna DeJohn (Central Florida FSC) & Cameron Konetzki (Baltimore FSC)
3. (50.93)  Isabella Baker & Jaden Rho (Washington FSC)
4. (50.44)  Isla Allen & Haden Kenny (Traverse Metropolis FSC)
5. (43.00)  Julia Robinson & Jacob Isaacson (Shaker FSC)

PRE-JUVENILE COMBINED DANCE

1. (49.08)  Bronwen Cadwallader (Patriot FSC) & Stellan Kay (College of Delaware FSC)
2. (32.84)  Mia Destefani & Adam Cheng (All 12 months FSC) – (no FD rating)
3. (21.81)  Rosalie Levo & Donavin Levo (Hudson-Mohawk FSC) (no FD rating)