On-ice photograph by MKT Pictures
Mina Esfandiari & Shin Lei (Lei Lei) Case will compete at this week’s Nationwide Solo Dance Ultimate in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah. Study extra about this shadow dance crew and the logistics behind their unconventional, long-distance, on-ice partnership.
How did the partnership type?
We met at solo dance camp in Dallas in 2020 and our friendship developed from there. Our mother and father at all times stayed shut and can be the cheering squad for the each of us. We turned nearer associates in the course of the 2024 season as a result of we have been competing towards one another in Worldwide Patterns — we stored buying and selling the primary place spot at every occasion. On the finish of the season, we approached one another to see if we have been inquisitive about partnering for the subsequent season. We had a number of discussions attempting to determine it out as we knew it will be difficult logistically, however actually we simply wished to have enjoyable collectively. We’re like sisters and at all times have one thing to snicker about.
We’re coached by Igor Shpilband, Natalia Deller, Pasquale Camerlengo, Adrienne Lenda, Renee Petkovski, and Brooklee Han.
Our program was choreographed by Brooklee Han and Pasquale Camerlengo. We have been unable to coordinate a time once we might meet up, so Brooklee got here to TX for a couple of days originally of the 12 months to show Lei Lei the choreography. Mina was despatched LiveBarn movies of this system and he or she realized it from her cellphone.
We labored with Renee Petkovski on musicality, expressions, and fine-tuning this system. Pasquale Camerlengo labored on our arms, intros and endings. Whereas Natalia Deller labored deeply on edges, ankles, and particulars, and Igor Shpilband labored on particulars, skating expertise, and unison. Adrienne Lenda could be very technical with us and beloved engaged on our expressions.
What music are you skating to? Who designed your costumes?
We’re skating to “Homicide on the Dancefloor” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Our costumes have been made by Mathieu Caron and Marc English (Iconic Skate).
How did your first competitors go as a newly shaped crew?
Mina: Our first competitors went fairly nicely contemplating we had solely two weeks to arrange. We didn’t skate collectively that a lot earlier than the competitors and solely actually had time to observe collectively once more on observe ice on the occasion, so our important objectives have been to remain on our ft, carry out, and get by this system. As soon as we acquired the outcomes, we have been fairly stunned and completely happy to have positioned first with our restricted preparation.
Lei Lei: I believed our first competitors collectively at Southport went pretty nicely. We had no expectations placement-wise, so we have been fairly shocked once we noticed that we had completed first.
The place do you practice?
Our coaching facility is Novi Ice Enviornment in Novi, MI.
As a result of our partnership is long-distance, we often journey to the competitors one to 2 days beforehand to skate collectively and run as many applications as doable.
We truly made Novi historical past as a result of this was the primary time that they ever coached a Shadow Dance crew! It’s been superb coaching alongside such proficient ice dancers.
Mina: What I like about shadow dance is skating with Lei Lei — she makes all the pieces so enjoyable. We’re like two peas in a pod, and we push one another in numerous methods. I additionally actually love monitoring and skating with somebody. It’s a lot completely different than partnered dance by being a no contact “partnered” skating, and it’s a must to make certain your actions look precisely the identical as your companion. I’m at present searching for an ice dance companion and I work on partnering expertise every day, so it’s enjoyable leaping from shadow dance to partnered dance.
Lei Lei: I actually benefit from the crew side of shadow dance. Skating with Mina makes all the pieces so fulfilling, particularly having our 6:00 a.m. classes collectively! We each feed off one another’s vitality and maintain each other going all through our coaching classes. Each step, motion, and expression needs to be seamlessly matched. One tiny change can throw off your entire program. Shadow dance is completely different from partnered in that all the pieces is executed side-by-side — it’s like one lengthy no-touch step sequence.
What do you each do for enjoyable exterior of skating?
We get pleasure from taking random highway journeys, exploring new locations, going buying, and doing Pilates. We by no means know our plan, we simply drive and no matter our temper is shall be our vacation spot.
Ultimate Feedback?
We’re actually happy with what we now have achieved this season, and we’re tremendous excited to indicate what we’ve been engaged on on the 2025 Nationwide Solo Dance Ultimate. Crucial factor is that we now have had a lot enjoyable collectively, and we thank our teaching crew for all the teachings and energy they put into us. Taking us on as a Shadow Group for the primary time was such an honor. We might additionally wish to thank our coaching mates as nicely, as they’ve been so supportive and made the entire course of so enjoyable that they even realized our choreography additional time!
