by Anne Calder

The 2026 Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships (NQS) and Lake Placid Ice Dance International (LPIDI) were held at the Olympic Center July 26-30.

The US Figure Skating’s Championships (NQS) included pre-juvenile through junior events. No seniors competed in the Championship division. The International event included  junior and senior levels. 

National Qualifying Series for ice dance began July 9-12 at the Dallas Classic. It runs through October, culminating with top skaters at each level advancing to the Ice Dance Final in Bloomfield Township, MI, November 9 – 15. The highest scoring athletes will proceed to their assigned level at the U.S Championships in Salt Lake City.

All competitions were held at the Herb Brooks Arena main venue, which was named after the late American 1980 team coach at the 25th anniversary celebration of the “Miracle on Ice” in 2025.

REQUIREMENTS FOR RHYTHM DANCE SEASON 2026/27 

The theme and music for the Junior and Senior Rhythm Dance for the 2026/27 season is “Rhythm and Waltz.” 

Any style of waltz is permitted, from traditional forms to modern interpretations.

At least one (1) additional rhythm, tempo and dance style must be included to support the chosen concept or theme.

Music Requirements: Waltz Section must be in 3/4 or 6/8 time. 

Remixed and/or remastered music, including cover versions and music created by AI are permitted. 

SENIOR RHYTHM DANCE

A section of the Golden Waltz Pattern Dance (1GW). Starting with step 33, including the restart, and concluding with step 20. Beginning at Judges right, past the short axis of the rink.

One short Lift, One Step Sequence not touching, One set Sequential twizzles and Creative Dance Element (CDE).

JUNIOR RHYTHM DANCE

One (1) Sequence of the Westminster Waltz evaluated as two (2) sections: skated/performed to any Waltz dance music/dance. Beginning at Judges left side. Both sections must be skated together, but are scored as two technical sections. (Section 1WW – Steps 1-12) / (Section 2WW – Steps 13-22.)

One short Lift, One Step Sequence not touching, One set Sequential twizzles.

Effective July 14, 2026: The ISU updated the guidelines in Communication No. 2795. The prescribed geometric ice pattern for both the Westminster Waltz (Junior) and Golden Waltz (Senior) is officially optional, giving teams more creative liberty with placement while keeping the required foundational turns.

LAKE PLACID ICE DANCE INTERNATIONAL 

SENIOR

Fourteen teams competed in the Rhythm Dance, representing Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Hungarian, Philippines and United States. 

(70.93)  Amy Cui & Jonathan Rogers (USA): Maria de Buenos Aires (Tango opera – music by Astor Piazzolla)                     

(64.31) Caroline Mullen & Brendan Mullen (USA): Selections from the La La Land soundtrack, including “Another Day in the Sun”

(63.67) Leah Neset & Artem Markelov (USA): Scorpions: “The Zoo”, “Maybe I, Maybe You”

(62.64) Eva Pate & Logan Bye (USA): Selections from Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack.

(59.39) Raffaella Adele Koncius & Alexey Shchepetov (USA): Selections by Christina Aguilar: including, “Express” and ”Show Me How You Burlesque”.

(57.97) Vanessa Pham & Anton Spiridonov (USA) Selections from the La La soundtrack.

The Free Dance had one team withdraw and two teams in the top six exchange places. Three USA medalists stood atop the podium as the flag was raised and the National Anthem played for the gold medal team.

Amy Cui & Jonathan Rogers (USA) danced a mesmerizing routine to the soundtrack of the 2025 action-horror film Sinners set in 1932 Mississippi. Cui & Rogers dramatically brought the Southern Gothic story to life with Kaitlyn Weaver’s animated choreography and the Delta Blues music. The program scored 105.22.  The total 176.15 gave the Michigan trained  team it’s first International gold medal.

Eva Pate & Logan Bye (USA) vaulted two spots into second place with a soft and lyrical interpretation of their Jean-Michel Blair, “Roses” program. The silver medal dance performance scored 102.66, with a total 165.30. 

Leah Neset & Artem Markelov (USA) earned the bronze medal for their Nikolai Morozov choreographed dance to Phantom of the Opera. The 2023-2024 Junior Grand Prix Final and Junior World Champions scored 97.24 for the Free Dance and a 159.91 total for the competition.

Caroline Mullen & Brendan Mullen (USA) – “Land of All” / “Guns for Hire” by Woodkid. (91.98)  Total 156.29.

Raffaella Koncius & Alexey Shchepetov (USA) – Evita, choreographed by Jean-Luc Baker. (93.25)  Total 152.64.

Vanessa Pham & Anton Spiridonov (USA) – Beauty and the Beast, L’Orchestre d’Academie. (83.76)  Total 141.73.

JUNIOR

Sixteen teams competed in the Rhythm Dance, representing Azerbaijan, Canada, Ireland, Israel and United States. 

(65.99) Hana Maria Aboian & Daniil Veselukhin (USA): “My Sweet and Tender Beast” by Eugen Doga. 

“The first half is a waltz; the second half is a tango,” the dancers said.

(60.83) Aneta Vaclavikova & William Lissauer (USA): The Great Gatsby “Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey and “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” by Fergie, Q-Tip and Goon Rock.

(53.37) Chaima Ben Khelifa & Julien Levesque (CAN): “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis; “You Are the Reason” by Calum Scott and Leona Lewis.

(51.37) Annelise Stapert & Maxim Korotcov (USA): “Oh Ms Believer” and “Implicit Demand” by Twenty One Pilots.

(50.98) Jane Calhoun & Mark Zheltyshev (USA): “Woland’s Theme” (from The Master and Margarita) by Igor Korneliuk / “Waltz” by Igor Korneliuk choreographed by Lukas Csolley.

(50.49) Anaelle Kouevi & Yann Homawoo (USA): “Code Name Vivaldi” by The Piano Guys.

The top two RD teams remained the same in the Free Dance. The fifth place team vaulted into third to earn the bronze medal. Scores for teams three – six were separated by only 1.36 points.

Hana Marie Aboian & Daniil Veselukhin (USA) continued their undefeated 2025-26 winning streak that peaked with a first Junior World Championship in March 2026. The Pharaohs FD music, like the RD, was  created for the program, and is a different genre than their previous Free Dances.  According to Aboian, “It was edited and changed almost 50 times.” The LPIDI scores almost mirrored those earned last March in Tallinn, EST at the Championships. The program scored 100.05 and totaled 166.04.

Aneta Vaclavikova & William Lissauer (USA) earned a silver medal for their international debut. The team competed only domestically last season due to Vaclavikova’s previous year’s international resume. The duo retained their previous season program: Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata  performed by Sandra Kissy to share it with a larger audience. The dance scored 91.95 and their total earned 152.78 points.

Jane Calhoun & Mark Zheltyshev (USA) vaulted into third place, with a Nikolai Morozov choreographed program to “Yo Soy Maria” by Milva”, Astor Piazzolla / “Maria de Buenos Aires” by Dulce Pontes, Astor Piazzolla / No Title by  Karl Hugo / “Maria de Buenos  Aires” by Dulce Pontes”, Astor Piazzolla. The program earned 84.00 points. The bronze medal competition score totaled 134.98.

Chaima Ben Khelifa & Julien Levesque (CAN): The Gladiator soundtrack: “Now We are Free” by Lisa Gerrard. Program score: 81.19 / Total score: 134.56.

Anaelle Kouevi & Yann Homawoo (USA): Rite of Passage (The Birth of a Nation) by Henry Jackman; “Crossing the Bridge” (Blood Diamond soundtrack) by James Newton Howard. Program score: 83.56 / Total score: 134.05

Annelise Stapert & Maxim Korotcov (USA): The Trees by Max Richter, Choreographed by Elena Novak and Sean Cheesman. Program score: 82.25 / Total score: 133.62.

2026 LAKE PLACID (NQS) CHAMPIONSHIPS / JUNIOR COMBINED DANCE

RHYTHM DANCE: 

(58.57)  Effie Chen (SC of Boston) & Gordie Chitipakhovian (SC of Boston) – RD: “I See Red” and “Wicked Ways” by Everybody Loves an Outlaw.

 (54.98)  Rylen Lukanin (All Year FSC) & Patrick O”Brien (SC of New York) – RD: “New Music” from Ragtime: The Musical.

(50.23)  Marian Carhart (SC of New York) & Denis Bledsoe (Florida Everglades FSC) – RD: “Czardasfurstin (Medley)” by Andre Rieu and Strauss Orchestra

(45.24)  Nicole Kirsanov (University of Delaware FSC) & Kejin Peng (All Year FSC)

 (43.20)  Maggie Blackstone (Nashville FSC) & Tait Light (Knoxville FSC).

FREE DANCE:

Effie Chen (SC of Boston) & Gordie Chitipakhovian (SC of Boston) danced selections from the Rio soundtrack and earned their second NQS 2026-27 season gold medal. The team partnered in 2025 and trains in Novi, MI with Igor Shpilband’s group. The program score: 85.82 – Total score: 144.39.

Rylen Lukanin (All Year FSC) & Patrick O”Brien (SC of New York) made their Lake Placid Junior free dance debut skating to the Titanic soundtrack by James Horner.  Kaitlyn Weaver and Igor Lukanin choreographed the silver medal dance. Program score: 77.33 – Total score: 132.31.

Marian Carhart (SC of New York) & Denis Bledsoe (Florida Everglades FSC) showed soft flowing edges in their performance to Franz Lizst’s Liebestraum (Dreams of Love). The dance earned the Florida based team the bronze medal. Program score: 74.18 –  Total score: 124.41.

Nicole Kirsanov (University of Delaware FSC) & Kejin Peng (All Year FSC) Program score: 70:00 – Total score: 115.24               

Maggie Blackstone (Nashville FSC) & Tait Light (Knoxville FSC). Program score: 64.11 – Total score: 107.31

NOVICE COMBINED DANCE

(117.89) Katherine Li (IceWorks) SC & James Zhu (IceWorks) SC

(96.02)  Lucy Brooks (Rye FSC) & Jeffrey Li (Rye FSC).

(93.91) Isabella Chang ( Blue Edge FSC of CT) & Ken Chen (All Year FSC)

(90.51) Emily Zhou (All Year FSC) & Kenneth Running (Washington FSC)

(68.76) Apple Lee (Glacier Falls FSC) & Max Aydelott (All Year FSC)

(59.82) Vanessa Hollis (Skokie Valley SC) & Evan Hollis (Skokie Valley SC)

INTERMEDIATE COMBINED DANCE

(84.11)  Sophia Zhou & Skyler Kay (University of Delaware FSC)

(73.53)  Hilda Qin & George Qin (All Year FSC)

(70.33)  Madeline Quattrone (Central Florida FSC) & Houston Konetzki (Baltimore FSC)

(69.87)  Natalie Demarest (Brooklyn FSC of Ohio) & Carter Schopf, (Shaker FSC)

(67.14)  Chloe Abendroth & Jami Becker (Detroit SC)

(52.50)  Madeline Zeinalov & Kacper Niewiadomski (Skate Canada)

JUVENILE COMBINED DANCE 

(91.17)  Ava Ansari & Cyrus Ansari (Arctic FSC)

(54.89)  Georgianna DeJohn (Central Florida FSC) & Cameron Konetzki (Baltimore FSC)

(50.93)  Isabella Baker & Jaden Rho (Washington FSC)

(50.44)  Isla Allen & Haden Kenny (Traverse City FSC)

(43.00)  Julia Robinson & Jacob Isaacson (Shaker FSC)

PRE-JUVENILE COMBINED DANCE

(49.08)  Bronwen Cadwallader (Patriot FSC) & Stellan Kay (University of Delaware FSC)

(32.84)  Mia Destefani & Adam Cheng (All Year FSC) – (no FD score)

(21.81)  Rosalie Levo & Donavin Levo (Hudson-Mohawk FSC) (no FD score)