In this Solo Q&A, learn more about Connie Achtenberg, a senior ice dancer from the U.S. who has been skating for 24 years. She is a U.S. Figure Skating Triple Gold Medalist (skating skills, dance, solo free dance) and 9x National Solo Dance Finals competitor. Photos by KR Photogs.

Tell us about how your skating journey began. What drew you to the ice? Do you have any special memories?
I started skating because my best friend’s mom and my mom were looking for something for us to do and they decided on skating. I took basic skills group lessons and kept going earning all my badges. I guess I stuck with it because I enjoyed the challenge and freedom on the ice. I also really enjoyed going to open skate sessions with my friends growing up.

Skating for so many years has provided me with a lot of special memories! Earning my first ever medal and then gold medal were big highlights for me as were passing my gold medal tests in skating skills, pattern dance and free dance. My first ever Solo Dance Finals was also really special and fun. And I’ll never forget competing at Lake Placid on the 1980 rink. Last season I also earned a 100+ score in combined which had been a goal of mine for so many years.

When and why did you choose to do solo dance? 
I started ice dance later in life when I was 15. I was friends with a lot of the ice dancers at my rink including Evan Bates and Madison and Keiffer Hubbell. I figured ice dance lessons would help with my skating skills and expression back when I was a freestyle skater. But I also remember enjoying Naomi Lang and Peter Tchernyshev’s programs and being drawn into ice dancing more.

My first ever solo dance competition was in 2005 at my local club’s competition where I just did two Preliminary dances but I remember seeing people compete the Paso Doble and really wanted to get to that level.

What do you like most about Solo Dance? What kind of music to you like to skate to the best? Why?
I really like the community and expressing different characters through the various dance styles. I really like skating to fun, upbeat music but I also love Tangos too.

Tell us about your training site.
I train primarily the Biggby Coffee Ice Cube Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI where I’m coached by Doug Haw and Yaroslava Nechaeva and Arctic Edge in Canton, MI with Greg Zuerlein. I’m sometimes on the ice at the same time as the MIDA teams which is really inspiring!

I also occasionally go out to Chandler, AZ to work with Naomi Lang Strong and am part of the Ice Den Solo Dance Team. I really love the community at Ice Den and how everyone is so supportive and feels like family. Last season I was at a competition in Utah with the Ice Den team and we had a fun team dinner and then watched Blades of Glory which was really fun!

I work out at the gym attached to the rink for strength training and circuit classes, do once a week one-on-one stretching sessions and take two ballet classes a week at dance studios.

Who choreographed your programs. What do you like best about dancing them?
Greg Zuerlein and Charlotte Maxwell choreographed my rhythm dance and Naomi Lang Strong choreographed my free dance. I really like the 80s music in the RD. It’s upbeat and fun. My FD character on the other hand is very dramatic and complex. It’s about a toxic love situation which is going to be fun to portray over this season.

Solo Dance is now an international discipline this season. Share your thoughts about this change.
I am really excited that it is international now! I’ve competed in the series since 2013 and have seen it evolve so much over the years so it’s great it’s finally bring recognized by the ISU. I really hope to compete at an international competition soon!

In skating, what are you most looking forward to this season? What will be your biggest challenge(s)?
I’m looking forward to showcasing my programs and hopefully achieving all of my goals including qualifying for Finals in September. 

My biggest challenges will be portraying my free dance character and skating the Ravensburger waltz in patterns.

What do you think makes solo dance a special discipline?
Solo dance is unique because you have to have good skating skills and edges and be on time and feel the music. There’s also some steps in the pattern dances that are harder to do without a partner.

If you could have a lesson with any ice dancer past/present, who would it be? Why?
I’d love to have a lesson with Jean-Luc Baker because I really admire his musicality and his ability to move with complete freedom.

What are your favorite off-ice activities?
I enjoy ballet, running, hiking, spending time with my dog, baking, reading book and working puzzles.

Please share anything else you would like our readers to know about you as a skater?
I was a member of the University of Michigan Intercollegiate skating team prior where I competed in solo dance before I started competing in the series!