by Anne Calder | Photographs by Daphne Backman
5 novice ice dance groups have certified to compete on the 2026 U.S. Championships in St. Louis, MO.
Novice ice dancers first competed on the Nationwide Championships in 1991 in Minneapolis, MN. For nearly 30 years, they traveled a convoluted path to Championship venue assignments, competing on the most important enviornment with the juniors and seniors or at close by venues alongside the juvenile and intermediate rivals.
When U.S. Determine Skating launched the Nationwide Qualifying System (NQS) for the 2019-2020 season, the brand new pipeline construction strongly affected the juvenile, intermediate and novice (JINs) athletes.
In January 2020, in lieu of their Nationwide competitors, the JINs who had certified in all 4 disciplines on the November Sectionals or Finals attended the primary Nationwide Excessive-Efficiency Improvement Camp. The occasion was held in Charlotte, NC instantly after the Championships led to Greensboro, NC.
On the 2024, 2025, 2026 Ice Dance Finals the 5 highest scoring novice dance groups had been invited to compete on the U.S. Championships in Columbus, OH, Wichita, KS and St. Louis, MO.
January 4-6, 2026, the novice dancers will compete alongside all of the junior groups on the Centene Group Middle within the St. Louis suburb of Maryland Heights. The Olympic Workforce choice competitors shall be held January 7-11 on the Enterprise Middle in downtown St. Louis.
The novice dancers will start their 2026 participation on Sunday morning with a 30 minute observe session. The Starlight Waltz and Quickstep Sample Dances shall be skated on Monday adopted the subsequent day with their Free Dances displays. Medals shall be awarded on the podium ceremony.
- Novice occasions shall be out there on the U.S. Determine Skating YouTube channel.
- Junior occasions shall be stay on Peacock and likewise on the U.S. Determine skating YouTube channel after 24 hours.
Sophia Kartashov (12) Nicholas Kartashov (12)
The staff trains on the Hertz Enviornment in Estero, FL with Ilya Tkachenko and Marina Zoueva, who can be the staff choreographer.
What’s particular about ice dancing along with your twin?
Sophia: We at all times know what the opposite is considering — it’s like skating with a mirror that talks.
Nicholas: Belief comes straightforward, and when every thing clicks, it seems like one rhythm, not two individuals.
How did your ballroom dancing assist with ice dancing?
Sophia: Ballroom taught us musicality and expression. On ice, we predict to carry out, not simply skate.
Nicholas: Main, timing, and partnering — ballroom gave us all of that earlier than we ever stepped on the rink.
Inform us about your Free Dance to Oklahoma. What do you want finest about skating it?
Sophia: I like the storytelling. There’s a mushy half and an explosive end — it seems like an actual musical on ice.
Nicholas: The character adjustments make it enjoyable. It’s performing and skating on the identical time.
Competing at Championships for the primary time — what are you enthusiastic about?
Sophia: The second they name our names and the music begins. It’s the perfect feeling.
Nicholas: The power of an even bigger enviornment, I like it. It feels grandiose.
How has your staff ready? Any adjustments since Finals?
Sophia: We labored on clear edges, timing, and longer strains. Particulars matter a lot.
Nicholas: We adjusted our Starlight Waltz music and added some touches to our footwork within the Free Program. And we observe repeatedly, in fact.
In addition to competing, what else are you wanting ahead to seeing and doing at Nationals?
Sophia: I’m actually excited to see the senior groups up shut — it’s inspiring. And I’m wanting ahead to trying out the world, the setup, all of the behind-the-scenes stuff you don’t see except you’re there.
Nicholas: In addition to competing, I’m wanting ahead to watching different occasions. It’s motivating to see what the perfect within the nation are doing. And I additionally love assembly new individuals at competitions, so that’s at all times enjoyable.
Natalie Leitan (13) & Nathan Leitan (16)
The staff trains in Rockville, MD with Dmytri Ilin. The Choreographers are Greg Zuerlein, Charlie White and Tanith Belbin.
What’s particular about skating along with your sibling?
Natalie: Skating with my sibling is particular as a result of we’ve spent a lot time collectively that we perceive one another with no need to say a lot. We inspire one another by means of each excessive and low moments, push one another by means of robust practices, and assist one another be taught from errors. The belief and connection we share make each observe significant and assist us develop, each on the ice and as siblings.
Nathan: Skating with my sibling is particular as a result of we all know one another so effectively and we spend a variety of time collectively on and off the ice. It’s very enjoyable to stay along with your associate! Being siblings makes skating collectively and speaking loads simpler as effectively.
Inform us about your Free Dance to “Goodbye Yellow Brick Street”. What do you want finest about it?
Natalie: I actually like our free dance to ‘I’m Nonetheless Standing’ and ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Street’ as a result of each songs inform tales about overcoming challenges. ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Street’ is about leaving issues behind and taking management of your personal path. ‘I’m Nonetheless Standing’ is about pushing by means of setbacks. The lyric ‘I’m nonetheless standing, higher than ever, I did’ actually resonates with our skating and why these songs felt like the proper selection for us.”
Nathan: I actually like Elton John’s music basically and ever since I began competing I knew I needed to do an Elton John program. I actually like our choreo sequence throughout the “I’m nonetheless standing half,” as a result of it’s tremendous enjoyable to carry out. Our program tells a narrative of perseverance and resilience which we imagine was a fantastic decide.
You’ll be skating on the Championships for the primary time. What are you most enthusiastic about?
Natalie: I’m most excited concerning the expertise itself. Competing on the championships has been a dream come true, and we’re so grateful for the chance. It’s wonderful to be surrounded by so many gifted skaters, to see the extent of competitors, and to lastly take every thing we’ve labored on in observe and share it on such an enormous stage.
Nathan: I’m most excited to be taught what the expertise is like. Competing on the championships is a superb alternative for us to fulfill extra skilled skaters, see our pals, and present the perfect of our applications.
You lately medaled on the Santa Claus Cup in Budapest, Hungary. Share your ideas about your first worldwide occasion.
Natalie: Competing in Budapest was such an unimaginable expertise and one thing I’ll cherish in my coronary heart ceaselessly. We had been so grateful for the prospect to symbolize Workforce USA and be a part of the competitors. Assembly skaters from everywhere in the world was very inspiring, and having the ability to skate abroad made the entire expertise wonderful! It gave us a brand new perspective on our personal skating and the way far we’ve come. I really feel extraordinarily happy with every thing we’ve labored for to get so far, particularly as a result of we gained, which makes the expertise much more significant.
Nathan: We’re so grateful for the nice alternative for a world! It was a fantastic expertise and my first time in Europe. Assembly and speaking with so many alternative groups was very invigorating whereas additionally representing the USA for the primary time felt so helpful. It gave me a brand new view on worldwide competitions as a result of now as an alternative of watching them I get to compete in them! It was our first gold internationally and ever!
How has your staff ready for the Championships? Had been any program adjustments made?
Natalie: Our days begin with early morning observe at 6, then college, and we return to the ice within the afternoon. We’ve spent hours specializing in each element of our applications, fixing errors, and bettering as skaters day by day. It’s been a variety of exhausting work, however all of that effort has introduced us so far, and we really feel prepared to offer our greatest efficiency.
Nathan: We have now been coaching day by day with our coach and dealing exhausting. We spend a lot of time tremendous tuning our steps and dealing on bettering our total efficiency.
In addition to competing, what else are you wanting ahead to seeing and doing at Nationals?
Natalie: I’m so excited to fulfill new individuals and get to be taught what the expertise is like!
Nathan: I’m tremendous excited to see all of the older skaters as I’ve regarded as much as them for years! I can also’t wait to see all my pals once more and make new ones as effectively!
Katherine Li (11) & James Zhu (14)
The staff trains on the IceWorks in Ashton, PA with coaches and choreographers Nick Buckland, Penny Coomes, Colin McManus, Anastasia Cannuscio, James Hernandez and Zhanna Palagina.
What’s particular about skating along with your sibling?
Katherine: Skating with my sibling is particular as a result of we all know one another so effectively and belief one another. That makes it simpler to work collectively and keep targeted and assist one another.
James: I’ve somebody there when issues get unhealthy and since we’re siblings, we work simpler collectively than being solo skaters or being with one other associate.
Inform us about your Free Dance to Dr. Who, the Tv Sequence. What do you want finest about it?
Katherine: What I like finest about our free dance is the way it showcases the characters of the present in Dr. Who which is admittedly cool. James portrays Dr Who and I’m the alien, and throughout the free dance we try to symbolize the battle between Dr. Who and the alien.
James: I like Dr. Who free dance program. It has a lot creativity and drama. It’s actually the perfect match for us since our free dance reveals a lot motion by means of out this system.
Inform us about your first worldwide competitors on the Bolero Cup in Sheffield, Nice Britain.
Katherine: It was an incredible expertise for us because it was our very first worldwide occasion representing Workforce USA. It was additionally the inaugural first competitors for the Bolero Cup. We had been so proud to obtain the gold medal and trophy from legendary determine skating champs Torvill and Dean which the competitors was named in honor of their 1984 Olympic efficiency.
James: We had an superior time there, though it was in all probability one of many first competitions that I used to be tremendous nervous for. We additionally actually loved attending to discover London and performing some sight seeing after the competitors which was wonderful.
How has your staff been making ready for the Championships. Had been any adjustments made to this system?
Katherine: We’re working to push ourselves to the restrict and placing in 100% effort.
James: There have been no main adjustments made to our applications, we’re simply training to shine up some weak spots from the Ice Dance Remaining and believe the exhausting work will repay.
You’ll be skating on the U.S. Championships for the primary time. What are you most enthusiastic about?
Katherine: I’m glad that we certified for our first U.S Championships in our first 12 months collectively within the Novice stage and I’m actually excited to compete there!
James: I’m excited to go to St. Louis and see all the nice rivals there and likewise see my pals as we prepare and stay everywhere in the nation so this can be a nice time to get collectively.
In addition to competing, what else are you wanting ahead to seeing and doing at Nationals?
Katherine: See my pals and have enjoyable!
James: I stay up for seeing my pals and likewise watching all the opposite competitions and performances!
Rylen Lukanin (12) & Patrick O’Brien (13)
The staff trains on the Montclair State College ice enviornment in New Jersey with Kristen Fraser-Lukanin and Igor Lukanin, who additionally choreographs their applications.
What’s particular about Ice Dance? What’s your favourite / least favourite ingredient? Why?
Rylen: My favourite ingredient is footwork as a result of I just like the turns. Considered one of my favourite turns is a ahead exterior rocker. Considered one of my least favourite parts is the spin. It’s not that I don’t prefer it, the entry to the spin is slightly nerve wracking however after we get previous it I begin to breathe.
Patrick: What’s actually particular about Ice Dance to me is the connection you get to create on the ice along with your associate. My associate is one among my closest pals, and it’s a lot enjoyable to carry out collectively. My favourite ingredient this 12 months is the choreo step. It took me a very long time to actually get the efficiency and timing proper, however now that I lastly really feel assured with it, it’s turn out to be one thing I’m happy with.
Inform us about your particular person skating journeys and the way you turned Workforce Lukanin & O’Brien?
Rylen: I began “skating” across the age of three with Patrick. My mother at all times informed me she would spend half-hour placing on all my layers after which I might skate for five minutes and say” I’m accomplished”. Then on the age of 5, Patrick and I began to actually skate and we began to compete in pre-juvenile and every thing has gone on from that second.
Patrick: My earliest skating reminiscences go all the best way again to once I was simply studying to stroll. I’ve mainly grown up on the ice. My skating journey with Rylen began not lengthy after that. My older sister was taking classes with Mrs. Kristen and Mr. Igor, and in the future they determined to offer us an opportunity to skate collectively. We clicked instantly, and we’ve been Workforce Lukanin & O’Brien ever since.
Inform us about your Free Dance to Depraved: The Soundtrack. What do you want finest about skating it?
Rylen: I like skating to the Depraved Soundtrack as a result of it has many alternative music kinds and Patrick and I excel in facial expressions and dance, so the music actually helps us present that. Additionally, I like my costume, it suits to depraved so effectively!
Patrick: Our Free Dance to Depraved: The Soundtrack is truthfully my favourite program I’ve ever skated. The music is tremendous enjoyable, so it makes performing it really feel actually cool. My favourite half is the start as a result of it begins off with a ton of power—it’s like leaping proper into the motion.
Inform us about your expertise competing internationally on the 2025 Bolero Cup in Sheffield, Nice Britain.
Rylen: At Bolero Cup we had a good time! Once we are at worldwide competitions we simply wish to have a fantastic expertise! I took footage with a few of my favourite skaters! And we bought to cheer for our Nationwide Workforce members!
Patrick: Competing on the 2025 Bolero Cup was truthfully such a enjoyable time. It was my first time ever visiting Nice Britain, so every thing felt new and thrilling. One of many coolest components was getting to fulfill Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean in individual! I additionally felt actually proud and honored to be chosen to symbolize the USA on the first-ever Bolero Cup. It was an expertise I’ll always remember.
You’ll be skating on the Championships for the primary time. What are you excited probably the most about?
Rylen: I’m most excited to be competing at nationals for the primary time! Additionally, I can’t wait to look at the juniors and seniors!
Patrick: I’m tremendous excited to compete on the US Determine Skating Championships for the primary time! Skating alongside so many gifted groups goes to be wonderful, and I’m excited for the problem. It’s positively an enormous stage, however I stay up for get on the market, and provides it my finest.
In addition to competing, what else are you wanting ahead to seeing and doing at Nationals?
Rylen: In addition to competing, I’m wanting ahead to hanging out with my household and listening to them cheering me on and watching U.S. Determine Skating announce the 2026 nationwide staff for the Olympics!
Patrick: In addition to competing, I’m actually excited to look at the junior and senior groups up shut and in individual, particularly because it’s an Olympic 12 months. It’s at all times an inspiration for me to look at the upper ranges compete.
Anna Waugh (14) and Matthew Jacoby (16)
The staff trains at Philadelphia Skating Membership and Humane Society in Ardmore, PA with Slava Uchitel, Oleg Feduikov and Zhanna Palagina. Slava Uchitel choreographs their applications.
You’re a new staff. Inform us about your particular person skating journeys.
Anna: I began skating once I was simply 3, so have been skating for 12 years and have been doing Ice Dance for six years. I moved to Philadelphia in June with my mother to skate with Matt. We get alongside rather well so it’s been enjoyable partnering with him. I’ve certified for the US Nationwide Improvement Workforce 4 instances and now I’m so excited to be skating on the US Championships!
Matthew: I feel my skating story is fairly typical; my dad and mom signed me up for be taught to skate once I was 5 and I shortly began telling them I wish to ‘try this’—all the jumps and spins I noticed the massive children doing. After a variety of asking, they discovered me a coach. That is my third season in ice dance. The previous 12 months was exhausting after the crash, however I knew I needed to maintain skating and am actually fortunate to have discovered such a fantastic associate. Anna and I began skating collectively in June and clicked instantly. We have now a variety of enjoyable collectively.
You skate at America’s first skating membership, the The Philadelphia Skating Membership and Humane Society. What’s particular about coaching in a 175 12 months outdated historic constructing?
Anna: I feel that skating on the Philadelphia Skating Membership and Humane Society may be very particular. It’s a very distinctive rink and actually fairly place to skate.
Matthew: It’s very nice to coach on purely determine skating ice and even higher to be in a single with home windows! The membership accomplished restoration of the roof and skylights over the summer season, and it’s so mild and ethereal now within the rink. It’s wonderful seeing the solar rise and set from the ice (often not on the identical day…). My favourite time is seeing the bushes coated in snow in winter, it feels so open and free.
One of many funniest issues concerning the membership are all the outdated guidelines left over from the 1800’s which are nonetheless a part of the member settlement – like that we’ve got to hold rope and an ice decide once we go skate on the Schuylkill River (river going by means of Philadelphia). I don’t assume I’ve ever seen any ice, not to mention skateable ice, on the Schuylkill!
On the Dance Remaining your coach stated your coaching for the Championships would come with, “Plenty of spins and footwork.” Share how you may have ready for the January occasion.
Anna: Nicely, we certain have been doing a lot of spins and footwork, and naturally twizzles making ready for the Championship.
Matthew: Plenty of spins and footwork! We mainly made a plan and adopted it – patterns, spins, footwork, lifts. All the time, however particularly since we’re a brand new staff, there’s a variety of room for enchancment.
Inform us about your Free Dance. What do you want finest about skating it? Clarify your costumes.
Anna: I personally love our Free Dance this 12 months. It is extremely enjoyable and extra upbeat than any program that I’ve accomplished earlier than. Our Free Dance costumes had been made by my Mother, which may be very particular to me. I bought to be a part of the design of my gown and see up shut all the love, sweat and tears she put into making it. All of it paid off and we’ve got very stunning costumes.
Matthew: We’re skating to the music of Ray Charles – one of the iconic American musicians. It’s a fantastic match for us as a result of we each like upbeat applications and his music provided us a fantastic vary of items to carry out to. I feel this program actually lets us spotlight our personalities whereas having enjoyable to the music.
You’ll skate on the U.S. Championships for the primary time. What are you most enthusiastic about?
Anna: Competing on the U.S. Championships is simply such a fantastic honor for less than skating collectively for six months. We have now been coaching very exhausting because the Ice Dance Finals. I’m very excited to go to St. Louis; to simply be there and be within the environment of the Championship!
Matthew: I’m so excited to be skating on the competitors the place the US Olympic Workforce shall be determined!
In addition to competing, what else are you wanting ahead to seeing and doing on the Championships?
Anna: I wish to see the Arch, simply stroll round and verify issues out, and check out a number of the meals in St. Louis.
Matthew: I’ve by no means been to St. Louis earlier than, and I wish to go to see the Arch. Considered one of my favourite issues about skating is that I get to find out about a lot of new locations, and St. Louis is bringing me nearer to my aim of skating in all 50 states. Additionally, simply being within the enviornment when the championship is going down is superior. I’m so excited to see a number of the finest skating on the planet!
