On-ice photos by Melanie Heaney

In this Solo Q&A, learn more about Cyrianne McReynolds, a junior ice dancer from the United States. 

Tell us about how your skating journey began. What drew you to the ice? Do you have any special memories? 

My first time on the ice was in 2018 at my friend’s birthday party. Immediately after, I begged my mom to sign me up for LTS classes. I remember how fun it was to go in laps on the public session, even though I wasn’t very good at it.

When and why did you choose to do solo dance?

In 2021, my coach told my best friend Campbell and I about shadow dance, and we decided to do Pre-Bronze that year. We ended up qualifying for Nationals, even making podium, and after seeing all of the other programs in pattern and combined, I decided to do Intermediate Combined the following year.

What do you like most about Solo Dance? What kind of music to you like to skate to the best? Why? 
The one thing I like the most about Solo Dance is the supportive community. I am definitely more biased toward choosing a Latin program, and I have had at least one every season so far.

Please share some of your solo dance accomplishments.

Some of my accomplishments so far include gold at Edge Cup 2026, silver at Helsinki International 2026, Helsinki International 2025, and Solo Dance Nationals 2024 in Pre-Gold.

Tell us about your training site and coaching team. 

I train in Northern Virginia at the Ashburn Ice House with my coaches Vitaliy and Katrina Shalin. I usually skate for about an hour in the morning, go to school, and skate for another hour and a half in the afternoon.

Who choreographed your programs. What do you like best about dancing them?

My coaches, Katrina and Vitaliy Shalin, choreograph my programs every season. One thing I like best about skating my programs is getting to express myself.

Solo Dance is now an international discipline recognized by the ISU. Share your thoughts on this.

I think having the opportunity to travel and getting to represent the U.S. is a great experience. I personally love getting to meet skaters from other countries and competing against new people.

You recently won the silver medal at the Helsinki Solo Dance International. Was this your first international event? What was your experience in Finland like? Did you feel additional pressure since this was an international?

Helsinki was the fourth international competition I have attended. I had a wonderful experience in Finland, between the setup of the event, the competition itself, and the atmosphere as a whole. I think the fact that it is an international made it less nerve-wracking compared to a domestic competition.

In skating, what are you most looking forward to this season? What will be your biggest challenge(s)?

This season, I’m looking forward to competing the Rhythm Dance. One of my biggest challenges this season will be keeping the energy level consistent from beginning to end in both programs.

What is your favorite pattern dance and why is it your favorite?

My favorite pattern dance is most likely Killian! It’s a short dance that is also super fun to skate to, and I like the upbeat music that I used when I competed the dance.

What do you think makes solo dance a special discipline?

I think Solo Dance is a special discipline because you get to learn dances from a different perspective and use different techniques than Partner Dance.

If you could have a lesson with any ice dancer past/present, who would it be? Why?

One person I would love to have a lesson with is Tessa Virtue. She is an extremely talented skater, and I would enjoy learning from her.