by Anne Calder | Photo by Robin Ritoss

Aasha Sisaudia & Van Johnson are a new Juvenile Ice Dance team that trains with Todd Gilles at the Scottsdale Ice Den in Arizona. IDC chatted with the team and parents at the 2024 Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships. The conversation revealed how two long-time friends had become partners.

“Aasha made me skate. Then I went to hockey. She was sad and convinced me to do figure skating,” Van explained.

“I convinced him by sending videos of me skating by myself and also with my former partner,” Aasha shared with a proud sense of accomplishment.

The team had just tested for the Juvenile Free Dance, so Lake Placid was their first competition. They were very proud of earning Level 4 twizzles.

The duo’s initial response to what they wanted to work on after their debut was an emphatic – everything, but added, more specifically the twizzles, lifts and spins.

Prior to couple ice dance, Aasha did Solo Dance and currently also trains in freestyle.

“I see a big difference between freestyle and ice dancing,” Aasha said. “Ice dancing Is faster and more graceful. Although I’ve done Solo dance, I prefer skating with a partner because it gives me someone to hang out with”

Van continues to play hockey. His dad and biggest supporter said that he chose the goalie position even though he is a very fast skater. His hockey coach encouraged him to do ice dance.

“Van actually started out being the slowest kid on the hockey team,” Van’s mom shared. “After skating ice dance with Aasha, he became the fastest.”

Looking around the Herb Brooks Arena and seeing the names of the 1980 players, triggered a quick flashback to another goaltender, Olympian Jim Craig, draped in an American flag while searching the stands for his dad to share the U.S. gold medal victory.

During the summer months, the team trains at the Ice Den any time between 5:00 am and 7:00 pm. Schedules are then adjusted for the school year.

They also travel to Peoria, Arizona to work with Coach Maria, who, according to Aasha and Van, offers a different point of view.

The Coyote SC of Arizona ice dancers also take ballet, ballroom and stretch classes. Aasha likes the ballroom; Van prefers the stretching.

Aasha’s mother made the six costumes worn for the two patterns and Free Dance at the Lake Placid event.  It’s a skill she learned when her daughter began skating. She also made her Solo Dance costumes.

Aasha and her mother are members of the Cherokee Nation and live in Arizona so Aasha can skate. Mom is enjoying the experience of traveling along with her daughter to events.

“I actually bought a mini van. We put a bed in the back, and we travel to all of the competitions across the country,”  Aasha’s mom said. “In fact, we drove here to Lake Placid. It took four days.”

“Our family lives on the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, so we usually stop there to see them on our way when we travel. Visiting Aasha’s cousins, usually adds an extra day to our trip.”

Both ice dancers are in seventh grade and chose math as their favorite subject. While Aasha does on-line classes, Van attends in person public school. “It’s just your average public school life,” he quipped.

While the junior high schoolers enjoyed bantering back and forth, their parents agreed that they really get along well, but just like to tease one another. They’ve known each other since first grade at Sequoia Elementary School where they used to get in trouble together playing in the sand.

Aasha confessed, “We were troublemakers.” To which Van responded laughing, “I’m still a little bit of a troublemaker.”

The Sisaudia & Johnson team will compete next at the Austin Autumn Classic in Texas September 26-29.