by Anne Calder
Samantha Ritter & Daniel Brykalov signify Azerbaijan in senior ice dance.
IDC not too long ago spoke with the duo in Boston, USA the place they made their debut on the 2025 World Determine Skating Championships. Ritter & Brykalov opened the Rhythm Dance session with “Daddy Cool”, “Fever” and “Sunny” by the Seventies German Disco group, Boney M.
“We have been nervous, however took it as a chance to begin out the occasion with a bang,” Ritter stated. “We simply needed to make a splash and be remembered.”
“The power from the group was very constructive,” Brykalov added. “They actually helped, so any nerves on the market have been slowly transitioned to pleasure.”
Daniel Brykalov was born in Minneapolis, MN on October 19, 2000.
“After I was ten, I began skating due to my sister, Paulina. My mother and father didn’t wish to take us to separate actions, so that they put me in determine skating. We have been each in free fashion,” Brykalov defined. “Three years later our household traveled to Colorado to talk with some skating coaches. After wanting on the peak of our mother and father, it was steered we alter course.”
“You guys are going to be tall. Accomplice up and go into ice dance. Free fashion can be very robust.”
The kids heeded the recommendation and at age 13, Daniel started ice dancing together with his sister.
The siblings skilled in Novi, MI with Igor Shpilband and competed at 4 U.S. Nationwide Championships.
They have been tenth at their 2015 debut in Greensboro, NC as Juveniles. The subsequent yr on the identical stage and in entrance of a house city viewers in St. Paul, MN, they vaulted up 5 spots to a fifth place end.
After profitable the Intermediate bronze medal in Kansas Metropolis, MO on the 2017 occasion, the duo moved to Novice. They danced at their ultimate Nationals on the SAP Heart in San Jose, CA in January 2018.
Throughout the next summer time, the siblings competed twice on the Junior stage. They skated solely a Free Dance at each the Chesapeake Open (June) and once more on the Dance-Pairs Chicago (August) previous to retiring.
Daniel Brykalov teamed with Russian-born Ekaterina Kuznetsova in 2019 to signify Azerbaijan. The duo skilled in Philadelphia, USA with Coaches Slava Uchitel, Penny Coomes and Nick Buckland. They competed at 4 worldwide occasions together with JGP Russia and JGP Croatia earlier than ending the partnership.
Samantha Ritter was born in Buffalo, NY on Could 25, 2003.
When Ritter was three-years-old she began skating along with her brother, who not skates. Initially she did dance and singles, however switched to dance-only when she was 13. She preferred it’s inventive facet higher than jumps. She additionally had an identical peak state of affairs. She was advised she was going to be approach too tall to leap.
“I at all times preferred dance far more anyway,” Ritter admitted. “After I was 14, I moved to Novi, Michigan to coach in ice dance. That’s the place I met Daniel.”
In Could 2019, Ritter partnered with Jim Wang. Simply 4 months later, the junior crew gained gold on the 2019 Novice & Junior Dance Problem. In November on the inaugural Ice Dance Closing in Hyannis, MA, Ritter & Wang certified for the 2020 U.S. Championships in Greensboro, NC the place they they positioned tenth. Within the subsequent yr, Covid-19 affected your entire skating world.
A brand new starting
Ritter & Brykalov partnered in January 2021.
“We have been mates for a very long time. Ultimately we started relationship. Individually we had stopped skating with our former companions, so determined to skate collectively. We already bought alongside nicely and have been suitable,” Ritter stated.
The duo moved to London, Ontario Canada to coach on the Ice Academy of Montreal campus with coaches Scott Moir, Madison Hubbell, and Adrian Diaz.
Starting a partnership and shifting to a brand new location out of the country, particularly throughout a pandemic, proved very difficult.
“We struggled speaking correctly in supporting one another once we first bought to London,” Brykalov admitted. ”With all of the coaches assist, we’ve made nice strides in overcoming the nervousness. We additionally solely did two competitions that season.”
“The coaches at all times carry such excessive power to the rink,” Ritter stated.
“Every one is barely totally different, however it makes an ideal mixture of what you want, so we like it,” her accomplice added.
“The London campus is sort of a sub faculty of the Ice Academy of Montreal,” Brykalov continued. “It’s a really pleasant group. All of us help one another. Nice teaching!”
“The placement additionally labored out nicely for us since Samantha’s mother and father dwell in Buffalo, which is only a two and a half hour drive from London. It’s good.”
The coaching and depth stage is about the identical in London as in Montreal. They skate three, generally 4 hours a day with extra off-ice conditioning for energy plus ballet courses.
“We even have Yoga Fridays, which is a superb ship off for the weekends. It’s nice to let loose all of the stress of the week,” Ritter laughed.
Brykalov defined their very sturdy however totally different connection to music.
“Samantha is aware of every part about music. She is aware of music historical past greater than I do. She’s a specialist on decade fashion. Play a music, she is aware of it, who made it, and when it was launched.”
“I’ve extra of an ear for the rhythm and music. I really feel sure issues within the music greater than different individuals do. I believe that comes partially from taking part in the piano.”
“She is aware of it. I really feel it. It’s an ideal mixture,” concluded Brykalov.
For the 2022-2023 season, the crew’s Free Dance music included: “She Intro” by Daniel Brykalov, “She” (Acoustic Model) by Piano Nest, Harry Kinds and “She” by Harry Kinds,
Brykalov acknowledged his contribution to the opening music.
“I organized and performed roughly the primary 30 seconds of our program that yr. We would have liked one thing that began “She” by Harry Kinds softer, so I made a decision to present it a strive since I play piano. It’s comparatively easy, however it labored, so we saved it.
“With reference to doing extra compositions, I’ve considered it, however we’ve been fortunate with discovering music that matches precisely what we’d like. I’m open to including extra of my work to our packages if the necessity arises. It’s enjoyable skating to one thing that you created.”
Ritter & Brykalov mentioned areas of enchancment included of their objectives for the approaching season.
“We have to develop extra confidence with our fundamental expertise in competitions,” Ritter stated. “In follow we’re extra assured, extra relaxed, and perhaps carry out a bit bit higher. Generally [at competitions] while you’re nervous, you neglect a number of the methods that you are able to do. I believe I simply need extra competitors expertise.”
“One other factor we type of wish to work on is bettering our arty a bit bit. Typically we rating a bit higher in our Free Dance for no matter causes,” Brykalov added. “We wish to attempt to hone on this season on the arty for the Rhythm Dance and attempt to match it as much as our Free Dance stage.”
Ritter continued, “We’re naturally balletic skaters, so we wrestle with the sharpness and quickness of the Rhythm Dance, the place we like to decide on very balletic and smooth for the Free Dance. Plus we’re tall and that lends itself additionally. Now we have to determine tips on how to merge the 2 and discover the sensation we’ve within the Free Dance.”
The crew spoke about being a pair on and off the ice.
“We get to expertise collectively all of the hardships, all of the reminiscences, victories and losses. Not lots of people get to expertise that collectively. It’s very particular.”
In closing, Ritter shared her ideas about getting ready for his or her fifth season collectively as dance companions.
“We’re actually enthusiastic about subsequent yr. I really like the creativity of the off season and making new issues”.
