On this Solo Q&A, be taught extra about twin sisters Andrea and Selena Alphonse, pre-gold ice dancers from the USA who prepare with Penny Coomes, Nick Buckland and Diamond Ice Academy. Images by Melanie Heaney Pictures.
How did every of you first get into skating, and was it at all times one thing you probably did collectively? Do you might have any particular recollections?
We began skating in 2022 after we had been 1. Skating has been one thing we at all times did collectively and certainly one of our particular recollections was profitable nationals our first yr competing. This yr we competed on the Edward G. Picken Ice Dance Traditional and gained gold in shadow dance. This was our first competitors of the season and we’re actually pleased with how far we’ve are available 4 years.
Andrea: I began off as a singles skater and realized all my single jumps. I had no thought what ice dance was however after watching Madison Chock and Evan Bates on the 2022 Olympics, I fell in love and instantly knew that ice dance was what I wished to pursue. I cherished how passionate they’re and the way they’re in a position to categorical their feelings all through their applications, it’s one thing I’ve at all times aspired to attain. It was truly a full circle second as a result of we obtained to fulfill them at Skate America final yr and I used to be in a position to inform them they had been the rationale I switched to ice dance.
Selena: I like each singles and ice dance. I’m at the moment novice and dealing on my triple salchow. After we first began skating we had been instructed by many who skaters can’t do each determine skating and ice dance despite the fact that we cherished each a lot. Someday Andrea and I noticed a shadow workforce skating collectively, we checked out one another and immediately we fell in love with shadow dance. From there we started coaching actually arduous and skating 6 days every week as a way to catch as much as different skaters our age since we began late.
What do you want most about Solo Dance? What sort of music do you prefer to skate to the most effective? Why?
Andrea: I like skating to upbeat music particularly for a free dance as a result of I really feel like I’m having a celebration on the ice. And likewise as a result of I’m skating on my own, the music helps me maintain my power excessive. I believe certainly one of my favourite issues about ice dance is having the ability to categorical myself in so many alternative methods.
Selena: I like having the liberty to precise myself. Whether or not it’s by means of my sample or my free, I like including one thing to showcase my character or my gymnastics background. I additionally love skating to something upbeat.
What’s one factor the 2 of you do precisely alike on the ice? And what’s one thing utterly completely different about your skating personalities?
One thing we do precisely alike is shadow dance. As a result of we’re doing the identical sample aspect by aspect on the identical time, we now have to look very equivalent. We additionally unintentionally do numerous issues alike in our each day lives like saying the very same issues or placing on the identical outfit accidentally, so shadow dance got here fairly pure to us.
One thing completely different about our skating personalities is that Selena is a lefty skater and I’m (Andrea) a righty skater. That means, Selena lands her jumps on her left leg and I land them on my proper. This confuses numerous our coaches.
Inform us about your coaching web site.
We prepare at completely different rinks on the east coast. We’ve got nearly all the identical coaches. Selena sees a couple of extra coaches than I (Andrea) do for jumps. It’s superb getting to coach daily with my twin and share the love of the game collectively.
Who choreographed your applications. What do you want finest about skating them?
Normally our applications are choreographed by Olympians and Olympic coaches Nick Buckland and Penny Coomes, however this yr’s choreography was accomplished by certainly one of our different coaches, former Crew USA athlete Collin McManus, since Nick and Penny had been coaches on the 2026 Winter Olympics. We’ve got the most effective workforce! They’re so supportive, caring they usually every inspire us to be higher athletes. We couldn’t have been the place we’re right this moment with out them.
Have there ever been moments the place being twins made coaching tougher?
Truthfully, no. But it surely’s actually humorous when our coaches combine us up.
Please share a few of your solo dance accomplishments.
We’re 3 time Nationwide Solo Dance Ultimate qualifiers. In 2022, our first yr of competing, we gained nationals. This yr Selena competed in her first worldwide competitors, and we gained gold on the 2026 Edward G. Picken Ice Dance Traditional
Solo Dance is now a global self-discipline. Have you ever competed internationally?
Selena: This yr I competed at U.S. Solo Ice Dance Worldwide Edward G. Picken Dance Traditional. It was my first worldwide competitors ever and an expertise I’ll always remember. Competing internationally and representing the U.S. has at all times been a dream of mine and having the ability to accomplish my objective was positively a dream come true.
What’s the largest problem in telling a narrative alone on the ice?
One of many largest challenges in telling a narrative alone on the ice is having the ability to not solely clearly inform your story in a creative and entertaining means but in addition embrace the viewers and take them on the journey with you.
Are there sure feelings or tales you naturally hook up with on the ice?
We naturally hook up with upbeat and excessive power applications. We love feeling fierce and robust however we additionally like to change it up with gentle and delicate feelings as effectively.
What’s your favourite sample dance and why is it your favourite?
Andrea: My favourite sample dance is certainly the Paso Doble. I like sharp and exact dances and I at all times really feel so fierce and assured once I’m doing it.
Selena: My favourite sample dance is the Quickstep as a result of I really feel like I’m being transported to a different period.
How would you describe one another’s skating type in three phrases?
Andrea: If I needed to describe Selena’s skating type in three phrases I’d say fearless, energetic, and sleek.
Selena: If I described Andrea’s skating type in three phrases it could be fierce, assured and electrical.
What are your short-term and long-term targets in solo dance and past?
Our quick time period objective is to qualify for nationals this season and get a private finest at every competitors. One in every of our long run targets is getting an ice dance accomplice. Andrea would like to have an ice dance accomplice and Selena would like to should compete pairs sooner or later. And a significant objective has at all times been to compete on the Olympics.
What has been your favourite competitors expertise collectively?
One in every of our favourite competitors experiences was after we gained nationals in our first yr competing. After being instructed by our coach on the time we most likely weren’t going to qualify or win as a result of it’s our first time competing at nationals. From that second we knew we wished to show them mistaken. After we gained nationals it was so particular as a result of we knew we labored so arduous.
Do you take part in another sports activities or skating-related actions?
We additionally attend a ballet college and prepare in ballet and pointe in addition to different dance kinds 6 days a week.
When you may have a lesson with any ice dancer previous/current, who wouldn’t it be? Why?
If we may have a lesson with any ice dancer it could be Madison Chock and Evan Bates as a result of they’re completely iconic.
What are your favourite off-ice actions?
Our favourite off-ice actions are crocheting, going to the theater to observe a ballet or Broadway musicals. We additionally love taking part in the piano, driving horses and creating content material and posting ice skating tutorials or sharing our day with our followers.
You possibly can observe Andrea and Selena on Instagram: @andreselenatwins, TikTok: @andreaselenatwins1 and YouTube: @andreaselenatwins1.
