by Anne Calder

Novice solo dancer Veronica Carhart has three sisters who have competed in ice dance. However, she started with freestyle when she was very young and stuck with it for almost 12 years.

“I was adopted [from China] and came to the United States when I was two and a half. It was Adrienne, Helena and me and then a couple of months later Marian was born.”

The older sisters had begun their skating journeys at Chelsea Piers in New York City and Hackensack, New Jersey several years prior to the family’s 2019 move to Florida. Veronica had tagged along when her mother drove the siblings to their lessons.

“I used to watch them skate, but the day I actually decided I wanted to go on the ice was when we went to a warehouse skate shop in either NY or NJ. I can’t remember which” Veronica said. “The only memory I have was walking around the shop and looking at all the cool things. However, my mom said that when the girls were getting their skates, I said, ‘Me Skate too.”

“During my final season as a singles [freestyle] skater, my mom would kind of edge me toward ice dance. I’ve always been hesitant because I didn’t know if I’d like it or not because I’d been doing singles for so long.

“I never really thought about going into ice dance. My sisters transitioning into ice dance was more melancholy because I was the only one left. Before Marian went to ice dance I was okay with it. When she went, I was like, ‘I’m the odd one out again.’ I guess in my mind being the only adopted child, I felt left out.”

Previously, Veronica had shared that when she’s on the ice with them, she feels very connected to them and her family.

“After two serious injuries that kept me off the ice for eight months, I decided I couldn’t go back to jumping due to the injuries and pain. I decided it would be easier if I just went to ice dance.  So around February 2024, I switched. We decided that I should try for the Solo Dance season, but I was a bit too late to sign up for the NQS. “We chose instead to do a couple of competitions and try out Solo Dance. So far I’ve really liked it.”

“The Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida where I train is more of an ice dance based rink, Several of us Solo dancers train together with Marina Zoueva and Ilia Tkachenko. It really helps having them there. I’m able to watch and see what’s unique in their skating.”

After six months training in her new discipline, Veronica shared her thoughts about its advantage. “For me at least, what I like the best is Solo Dance is a little less stressful.”

“In jumping [freestyle] I was always focusing on the jumps. If I didn’t land the jumps, it was ‘Oh my gosh, you did awful.’  Also, there were these little girls who could do massive triples, so I always felt way behind. Sometimes jumping is also dependent on your figure and physical capabilities. You need to be small to jump high and also very strong.”

“When I switched to ice dance, I realized that it’s not centered on just one part of skating; it’s very diverse.  You have to focus on the speed, you have to focus on the extensions, you have to focus on the twizzles. All these elements are really important.”

Veronica noted her pros and cons for competing in partner ice dance.

“Sometimes I think it might be nice to have a partner –  to not be lonely. Often I look over at my little sister, and she’s with her partner. They have people to talk to and confide in.

“Then sometimes I don’t want to have a partner. I like to be in control. Depending on another person to get me somewhere sometimes scares me.”

At the recent Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships, Veronica was second with her Novice Solo Starlight Waltz pattern dance set to Coppélia, six points behind the leader.  She leapfrogged into first place and took home the gold medal with a free dance to Lorenzo, a Disney short film she watched as a youngster.

“To be honest, I really didn’t think I could win because there was such a big lead. That was okay with me because I had just started ice dance,” Veronica said.

“However, since I was too late for the NQS, this would be my last competition of the season to lose, so I just got on the ice and skated. I wasn’t too nervous, and I think that really helped. I got very present while I was skating. I made sure to smile at the judges and perform and do everything my coach said, and it came through.”.

“Afterwards, while I felt very confident about the performance, I also felt almost sad because it was my last competition to skate.  All the rush and nervousness was over for the season. And I was really happy with my skate”