2025-26 U.S. Ice Dance News, Updates & Discussion - Backstreet Boys & Spice Girls

[Sylvia]

New FD costumes for Abo/Ves. I liked her blue outfit better.

For you, @Wyliefan! Filmed in December 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P26a-DmQ38

I spoke to Browns at the IDI show on Saturday (March 7), and they told us that they are not planning to take a break, but will go straight to Montreal to spend six weeks there on choreography and training. They are looking forward to skating to the Golden Waltz.
One of the programs Oona and Gage Brown skated at the IDI show, Particles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN3D2ik5qbI

Thank you for filming, @YukiNieve!

I posted about Oona & Gage Brown's 2025-26 GFM fundraiser in the Ice Dance International tour thread - they reached 66% of this season's goal - here’s the link again in case anyone is interested:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/oona-and-gage-brown-fund

 

[Wyliefan]

Thanks!

 

[ice coverage]

Our friend Melanie Heaney photographs skaters from all disciplines and all countries, but this thread seemed like the best home for today's article and two-minute video about her. From NBC station in Atlanta: ...

Following up on my post from Feb in this thread ... Melanie Heaney and Danielle Earl are the focus of a video on Olympics channel on YouTube today!

The Women in Sport Photography | #MilanoCortina2026
"We caught up with powerhouse figure skating photographers Melanie Heaney and Danielle Earl at the Milano Figure Skating Arena! Stepping in front of the lens for once, they shared why spotlighting women in sport matters, not just on the ice, but as the passionate storytellers who capture and share the athletes’ journeys with the world."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvF3VpC3gfM (5:05)

(Sticking with this thread although both Melanie and Danielle are photographers for way more than U.S. ice dance.)

 

[Sylvia]

Thanks @ice coverage - I've cross-posted your info in a relevant 2026 Olympics subforum thread in Kiss & Cry where Danielle has shared a link to her Olympics photos to date.

Rocker Skating Podcast interview with Caroline Green & Michael Parsons (27 mins.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBuKrYh_2E4

 

[marshallpond]

"We caught up with powerhouse figure skating photographers Melanie Heaney and Danielle Earl at the Milano Figure Skating Arena! Stepping in front of the lens for once, they shared why spotlighting women in sport matters, not just on the ice, but as the passionate storytellers who capture and share the athletes’ journeys with the world."

So happy for Melanie. I met her decades ago when she was just starting and she and her crew were going from one small competition to the next on the East Coast. Saw her in one of the nationals, and we reminisced about how far she has gone. Now she's at the Olympics!

 

[Sylvia]

If anyone lives near Colorado Springs, Meryl Davis will be at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum on Monday, March 23 from 12:30-2:00 pm in the Atrium for "Meet An Athlete" (from Meryl's now expired Instagram story).

 

[ice coverage]

If anyone lives near Colorado Springs, Meryl Davis will be at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum on Monday, March 23 from 12:30-2:00 pm in the Atrium for "Meet An Athlete" (from Meryl's now expired Instagram story).

So happens that USOP Museum will have free admission on Mon Mar 23, the same day as Meryl's appearance.
It's a worthwhile museum -- if I lived nearby, I would gladly go back.

(Caveat: "Admission will be available on a walk-up basis only, and we anticipate high attendance throughout the day. Lines are expected, and entry will be accommodated as capacity allows.")

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWMr7oFDYka/

https://usopm.org/event/museum-free-day/

 

[Sylvia]

Zingas/Kolesnik pre-Worlds article by Phil Hersh (March 24):

Emilea Zingas, Vadym Kolesnik eager to carry on U.S. ice dance tradition at World Championships

Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik can make it 11 consecutive World Championships with a U.S. ice dance medal.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[happycamper2554]

Michelle Deych and Ryan Hu have split per his IG. I can’t link on my phone.

 

[Wyliefan]

Here you go.

ryan on Instagram: "Hi, I just wanted to share that I will no longer be skating with Michelle. I am forever grateful to her for being my first partner and to have shared so many incredible experiences and memories together over the past three years.

119 likes, 3 comments - ryan_hu999 on April 4, 2026: "Hi, I just wanted to share that I will no longer be skating with Michelle. I am forever grateful to her for being my first partner and to have shared so many incredible experiences and memories together over the past three years. But as time...

www.instagram.com

That's a pity. I liked them.

 

[Karen-W]

Michelle Deych and Ryan Hu have split per his IG. I can’t link on my phone.

Sigh. Two seasons in a row now they've split. Can they aim for the hat-trick next season?

 

[PRlady]

I remember thinking they seemed mismatched but can’t remember why.

 

[just tuned in]

I remember thinking they seemed mismatched but can’t remember why.

I agree — there are mismatched. She needs a tall, slim, long-limbed partner, and he needs a shorter, stronger one. Hopefully they will each find their own.

 

[Spikefan]

I don’t know what went into making him skate the FD after his RD concussion but it left a bad taste in my mouth. Time to move on for all involved.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Emi and Vadym did an awesome lengthy interview with This Week in Skating:

This Week in Skating / Interview with Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik

Podcast Episode · This Week in Skating Podcast · April 20 · 1h 32m

podcasts.apple.com

 

[Aaron MB Fan]

Flores & Jepsen moving to IAM Ontario:

Isabella Flores on Instagram: "Excited to announce that we’ve moved! We’re now training in Canada with the Ice Dance Academy of Montreal - Ontario 🤍 After careful consideration Linus and I decided to relocate. I really enjoyed my time in Lyon— I lea

4,511 likes, 46 comments - isabellaflores_ on May 5, 2026: "Excited to announce that we’ve moved! We’re now training in Canada with the Ice Dance Academy of Montreal - Ontario 🤍 After careful consideration Linus and I decided to relocate. I really enjoyed my time in Lyon— I learned so much from...

www.instagram.com

 

[Tinycities]

Flores & Jepsen moving to IAM Ontario:

Isabella Flores on Instagram: "Excited to announce that we’ve moved! We’re now training in Canada with the Ice Dance Academy of Montreal - Ontario 🤍 After careful consideration Linus and I decided to relocate. I really enjoyed my time in Lyon— I lea

4,511 likes, 46 comments - isabellaflores_ on May 5, 2026: "Excited to announce that we’ve moved! We’re now training in Canada with the Ice Dance Academy of Montreal - Ontario 🤍 After careful consideration Linus and I decided to relocate. I really enjoyed my time in Lyon— I learned so much from...

www.instagram.com

If I remember correctly she was liking fairly terrible comments about Solene on her Instagram.. is she still married to Desyatov?

 

[Karen-W]

If I remember correctly she was liking fairly terrible comments about Solene on her Instagram.. is she still married to Desyatov?

I think it's been made clear that IAM doesn't really care about Solene, plus she doesn't appear to be skating any longer, so I'm not sure how much it should matter what sort of awful comments Isabella made about her in the past.

No idea about the status of her marriage.

 

[my little pony]

so I'm not sure how much it should matter what sort of awful comments Isabella made about her in the past.

it matters to me that she was openly mean to a rape victim in the last year or two, I am no one but I assume a couple of other nobodies would agree with me

 

[PRlady]

I guess Bella figured that Laurence paid no penalty for her defense of her partner so what the hell.

 

[SkateSand]

I think it's possible Bella believes her husband to be innocent as Laurence believes in Nikolaj. I think these women are fooling themselves, but they wouldn't be the first.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Bella's a bit short on the self-reflection thing.

 

[skatfan]

New article with an interview with Chock and Bates

Madison Chock And Evan Bates Talk Olympics, Their Pets And Their Future On Ice

Olympic ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates reflect on their Milan-Cortina experience, the role of pet therapy in professional sports and their future in competitive figure skating.

www.forbes.com

They won’t compete this next season but not closing the door forever.

 

[Rukia]

New article with an interview with Chock and Bates

Madison Chock And Evan Bates Talk Olympics, Their Pets And Their Future On Ice

Olympic ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates reflect on their Milan-Cortina experience, the role of pet therapy in professional sports and their future in competitive figure skating.

www.forbes.com

They won’t compete this next season but not closing the door forever.

ok but like...they are basically retired at this point lol we've all seen this before

 

[skatfan]

ok but like...they are basically retired at this point lol we've all seen this before

I don't disagree.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Some quotes from Benoit on Z/K’s Bolero:

“This will not be a classical "Bolero". Yes, the program includes part of the original composition, but Cedric Tour wrote completely new music. You cannot listen to it or download it anywhere. It was created specifically for this program.”

“ I think the music suits them precisely because they are still a young, new team. I saw people online questioning the choice, but I am sure everyone will change their mind when they see the full program”

https://x.com/maya_skating/status/2053166185680637955?s=46&t=-4teGSabTvGXystNvsOwhQ

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Bratti/Somerville were interviewed on Blades and Banter

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

 

[Belsornia]

A couple of the junior teams (Vaclavikova/Lissauer and Carhart/Bledsoe) are competiting at the Paradise Coast Classic club comp this weekend, so I guess this will be the first time out for the waltz RDs.

 

[coralline]

It seems that Amy Cui & Jonathan Rogers have split. He is now skating with Daniela Ivanitskiy (and representing Finland?)

 

[PRlady]

It seems that Amy Cui & Jonathan Rogers have split. He is now skating with Daniela Ivanitskiy (and representing Finland?)

Oh NO! They were wonderful together, their FD was a highlight last season.