by Anne Calder | Pictures 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 area 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 resulted in Greensboro, NC.
On the 2024, 2025, 2026 Ice Dance Finals the 5 highest scoring novice dance groups have 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 Neighborhood Heart within the St. Louis suburb of Maryland Heights. The Olympic Workforce choice competitors can be held January 7-11 on the Enterprise Heart 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 can be skated on Monday adopted the following day with their Free Dances shows. Medals can be awarded on the podium ceremony.
- Novice occasions can be accessible on the U.S. Determine Skating YouTube channel.
- Junior occasions can be reside on Peacock and likewise on the U.S. Determine skating YouTube channel after 24 hours.
Sophia Kartashov (12) Nicholas Kartashov (12)
The group trains on the Hertz Area in Estero, FL with Ilya Tkachenko and Marina Zoueva, who can also be the group choreographer.
What’s particular about ice dancing along with your twin?
Sophia: We all the time 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 looks 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 really like the storytelling. There’s a smooth half and an explosive end — it looks like an actual musical on ice.
Nicholas: The character adjustments make it enjoyable. It’s appearing 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 one of the best feeling.
Nicholas: The vitality of an even bigger area, I adore it. It feels grandiose.
How has your group 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 many times, in fact.
In addition to competing, what else are you trying 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 trying ahead to trying out the sector, the setup, all of the behind-the-scenes stuff you don’t see except you’re there.
Nicholas: In addition to competing, I’m trying ahead to watching different occasions. It’s motivating to see what one of the best within the nation are doing. And I additionally love assembly new individuals at competitions, so that’s all the time enjoyable.
Natalie Leitan (13) & Nathan Leitan (16)
The group 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 without having to say a lot. We inspire one another via each excessive and low moments, push one another via 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 properly and we spend a variety of time collectively on and off the ice. It’s very enjoyable to reside along with your associate! Being siblings makes skating collectively and speaking quite a bit simpler as properly.
Inform us about your Free Dance to “Goodbye Yellow Brick Highway”. What do you want finest about it?
Natalie: I actually like our free dance to ‘I’m Nonetheless Standing’ and ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Highway’ as a result of each songs inform tales about overcoming challenges. ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Highway’ is about leaving issues behind and taking management of your personal path. ‘I’m Nonetheless Standing’ is about pushing via 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 generally 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 consider was a terrific decide.
You may be skating on the Championships for the primary time. What are you most enthusiastic about?
Natalie: I’m most excited in regards to the expertise itself. Competing on the championships has been a dream come true, and we’re so grateful for the chance. It’s superb 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 satisfy extra skilled skaters, see our mates, and present one of the best of our applications.
You latterly 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 perpetually. We have been so grateful for the prospect to symbolize Workforce USA and be a part of the competitors. Assembly skaters from all around the world was very inspiring, and with the ability to skate in a foreign country made the entire expertise superb! It gave us a brand new perspective on our personal skating and the way far we’ve come. I really feel extraordinarily pleased 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 good alternative for a global! It was a terrific expertise and my first time in Europe. Assembly and speaking with so many various groups was very invigorating whereas additionally representing the USA for the primary time felt so invaluable. It gave me a brand new view on worldwide competitions as a result of now as a substitute of watching them I get to compete in them! It was our first gold internationally and ever!
How has your group ready for the Championships? Have 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 enhancing as skaters day by day. It’s been a variety of arduous work, however all of that effort has introduced us so far, and we really feel prepared to provide our greatest efficiency.
Nathan: We have now been coaching day by day with our coach and dealing arduous. We spend a number of time advantageous tuning our steps and dealing on enhancing our total efficiency.
In addition to competing, what else are you trying ahead to seeing and doing at Nationals?
Natalie: I’m so excited to satisfy 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 appeared as much as them for years! I can also’t wait to see all my mates once more and make new ones as properly!
Katherine Li (11) & James Zhu (14)
The group 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 properly and belief one another. That makes it simpler to work collectively and keep centered and assist one another.
James: I’ve somebody there when issues get dangerous 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 Collection. 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 really like Dr. Who free dance program. It has a lot creativity and drama. It’s actually one of the best match for us since our free dance exhibits a lot motion via 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 have 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 most likely 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 superb.
How has your group been making ready for the Championships. Have 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 practising to shine up some weak spots from the Ice Dance Last and believe the arduous work will repay.
You may 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 good rivals there and likewise see my mates as we practice and reside all around the nation so this can be a nice time to get collectively.
In addition to competing, what else are you trying ahead to seeing and doing at Nationals?
Katherine: See my mates and have enjoyable!
James: I sit up for seeing my mates and likewise watching all the opposite competitions and performances!
Rylen Lukanin (12) & Patrick O’Brien (13)
The group trains on the Montclair State College ice area 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 component? Why?
Rylen: My favourite component is footwork as a result of I just like the turns. One among my favourite turns is a ahead outdoors rocker. One among my least favourite parts is the spin. It’s not that I don’t prefer it, the entry to the spin is just a little 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 mates, and it’s a lot enjoyable to carry out collectively. My favourite component this 12 months is the choreo step. It took me a very long time to essentially get the efficiency and timing proper, however now that I lastly really feel assured with it, it’s develop into one thing I’m pleased with.
Inform us about your particular person skating journeys and the way you grew to become Workforce Lukanin & O’Brien?
Rylen: I began “skating” across the age of three with Patrick. My mother all the time informed me she would spend half-hour placing on all my layers after which I’d skate for five minutes and say” I’m accomplished”. Then on the age of 5, Patrick and I began to essentially 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 way in which again to after I was simply studying to stroll. I’ve principally 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 at some point they determined to provide us an opportunity to skate collectively. We clicked straight away, 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 really like skating to the Depraved Soundtrack as a result of it has many various music kinds and Patrick and I excel in facial expressions and dance, so the music actually helps us present that. Additionally, I really like my costume, it matches to depraved so properly!
Patrick: Our Free Dance to Depraved: The Soundtrack is actually 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 vitality—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 terrific expertise! I took photos 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 actually 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 satisfy Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean in individual! I additionally felt actually proud and honored to be chosen to symbolize america on the first-ever Bolero Cup. It was an expertise I’ll always remember.
You may be skating on the Championships for the primary time. What are you excited essentially 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 superb, and I’m excited for the problem. It’s positively an enormous stage, however I sit up for get on the market, and provides it my finest.
In addition to competing, what else are you trying ahead to seeing and doing at Nationals?
Rylen: In addition to competing, I’m trying ahead to hanging out with my household and listening to them cheering me on and watching U.S. Determine Skating announce the 2026 nationwide group 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 all the time an inspiration for me to look at the upper ranges compete.
Anna Waugh (14) and Matthew Jacoby (16)
The group 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 group. Inform us about your particular person skating journeys.
Anna: I began skating after 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 occasions and now I’m so excited to be skating on the US Championships!
Matthew: I believe my skating story is fairly typical; my mother and father signed me up for be taught to skate after 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 arduous after the crash, however I knew I needed to maintain skating and am actually fortunate to have discovered such a terrific associate. Anna and I began skating collectively in June and clicked straight away. 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 previous historic constructing?
Anna: I believe 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 superb seeing the solar rise and set from the ice (often not on the identical day…). My favourite time is seeing the bushes lined in snow in winter, it feels so open and free.
One of many funniest issues in regards to the membership are all the previous guidelines left over from the 1800’s which might be nonetheless a part of the member settlement – like that we’ve to hold rope and an ice decide after we go skate on the Schuylkill River (river going via Philadelphia). I don’t assume I’ve ever seen any ice, not to mention skateable ice, on the Schuylkill!
On the Dance Last your coach mentioned your coaching for the Championships would come with, “A number of spins and footwork.” Share how you might have ready for the January occasion.
Anna: Nicely, we certain have been doing a number of spins and footwork, and naturally twizzles making ready for the Championship.
Matthew: A number of spins and footwork! We principally made a plan and adopted it – patterns, spins, footwork, lifts. At all times, however particularly since we’re a brand new group, 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 vitally enjoyable and extra upbeat than any program that I’ve accomplished earlier than. Our Free Dance costumes have 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 very stunning costumes.
Matthew: We’re skating to the music of Ray Charles – one of the crucial iconic American musicians. It’s a terrific match for us as a result of we each like upbeat applications and his music supplied us a terrific vary of items to carry out to. I believe 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 terrific honor for less than skating collectively for six months. We have now been coaching very arduous for the reason that Ice Dance Finals. I’m very excited to go to St. Louis; to simply be there and be within the ambiance of the Championship!
Matthew: I’m so excited to be skating on the competitors the place the US Olympic Workforce can be determined!
In addition to competing, what else are you trying ahead to seeing and doing on the Championships?
Anna: I wish to see the Arch, simply stroll round and examine issues out, and check out among 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. One among my favourite issues about skating is that I get to find out about a number of new locations, and St. Louis is bringing me nearer to my aim of skating in all 50 states. Additionally, simply being within the area when the championship is going down is superior. I’m so excited to see among the finest skating on the planet!
