The Dance Hall 14: Waltz Tango Foxtrot

[Karen-W]

So, apparently, Stepanova/Bukin have still not been granted AIN status.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2091661504969941189

 

[spin2win]

they are the team being used by ISU to say "hey look, we are actually checking for neutrality"?

 

[leilaofpaper]

they are the team being used by ISU to say "hey look, we are actually checking for neutrality"?

you’d think they would have used Kamila Valieva for that if they were only going to ban one

 

[Sylvia]

Nauja Lietuvos šokių ant ledo pora: Kizala karjerą tęs su partnere iš Estijos - Lietuvos čiuožimo federacija

Lietuvos rinktinę papildys nauja šokių ant ledo pora – kartu sportinį kelią pradeda Deividas Kizala ir estė Ksenia Šipunova. Ilgametis Lietuvos rinktinės narys Kizala nuo 2020 m. čiuožė poroje su…

www.lcf.lt

A new ice dancing couple will join the Lithuanian national team – Deividas Kizala and Estonian Ksenia Šipunova are starting their sports journey together.

A long-time member of the Lithuanian national team, Kizala has been skating in pairs with Paulina Ramanauskaitė, who decided to end her sports career this summer, since 2020. The pair participated in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, three European Championships and two World Championships.

Originally from Tallinn, Estonia, Shipunova was paired with Miron Koryagin until this summer, competing together in three world junior championships. Having celebrated her 17th birthday in February, the skater is now eligible to compete in adult competitions under ISU rules.

The newly formed couple trained together at the SK International Ice Dance School ice dance camp at the Kaunas Ice Palace over the summer, and have now moved to Madrid, Spain, where they continue their work and training together.

However, due to Šipunova's change of country, the skaters will not be able to participate in official ISU competitions this season. The pair will spend this period training, developing programs, and preparing for future starts.

"We are happy with our new couple," said LČF President Vytautas Jasutis. "Deividas expressed a great desire to continue his sports career. He has a lot of experience in the highest level of competitions, so it was important for us to help him find a partner with whom he could achieve new goals. We managed to bring together a couple with a young and promising Estonian skater, who also already has experience in international competitions and is ready to step up to a higher level. Now the most important thing is to give the couple time to skate together, work purposefully and prepare for future starts."

 

[jägerbomb]

And whose problem that you are a masochist? Somebody used a 100+ year old New Year song for political reasons and you are suffering. Then Russians used it as a New Year song again and you are again suffering. Go ahead.

There is absolutely no need to announce and/or project your sexual proclivities here.

 

[Ka3sha]

they are the team being used by ISU to say "hey look, we are actually checking for neutrality"?

No, it’s happening because S/B and Mishina/Gallyamov were initially denied their AIN statuses, so they actually need to go through another round of checking.

For all the other skaters (Valieva and Kondratiuk included) all they had to do is submit the neutral form to the ISU. That’s it.

 

[Andrea82]

Junior GP Riga
Tech panel: Kathaleen Cutone (USA) as technical controller; Anna Krytskaya (Poland, former Belarus) and Marisa Gravino (Canada) as technical specialists.


Both Cutone and Gavrino were promoted to ISU status this summer.
Minute 1.11.16 mark for Gravino/Patrice Lauzon at 1993 Junior Worlds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQLvLTZx8Gs&t=4265s
Cutone was Single skater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYECvQcDwRw

Judges (same panel for both segments) from: Canada, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain (Munoz like last week), Ukraine, USA (Stephanie Zastrow).
Referee from France.

 

[FsFan1967]

Nauja Lietuvos šokių ant ledo pora: Kizala karjerą tęs su partnere iš Estijos - Lietuvos čiuožimo federacija

Lietuvos rinktinę papildys nauja šokių ant ledo pora – kartu sportinį kelią pradeda Deividas Kizala ir estė Ksenia Šipunova. Ilgametis Lietuvos rinktinės narys Kizala nuo 2020 m. čiuožė poroje su…

www.lcf.lt

A new ice dancing couple will join the Lithuanian national team – Deividas Kizala and Estonian Ksenia Šipunova are starting their sports journey together.

A long-time member of the Lithuanian national team, Kizala has been skating in pairs with Paulina Ramanauskaitė, who decided to end her sports career this summer, since 2020. The pair participated in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, three European Championships and two World Championships.

Originally from Tallinn, Estonia, Shipunova was paired with Miron Koryagin until this summer, competing together in three world junior championships. Having celebrated her 17th birthday in February, the skater is now eligible to compete in adult competitions under ISU rules.

The newly formed couple trained together at the SK International Ice Dance School ice dance camp at the Kaunas Ice Palace over the summer, and have now moved to Madrid, Spain, where they continue their work and training together.

However, due to Šipunova's change of country, the skaters will not be able to participate in official ISU competitions this season. The pair will spend this period training, developing programs, and preparing for future starts.

"We are happy with our new couple," said LČF President Vytautas Jasutis. "Deividas expressed a great desire to continue his sports career. He has a lot of experience in the highest level of competitions, so it was important for us to help him find a partner with whom he could achieve new goals. We managed to bring together a couple with a young and promising Estonian skater, who also already has experience in international competitions and is ready to step up to a higher level. Now the most important thing is to give the couple time to skate together, work purposefully and prepare for future starts."

February 1998 and February 2009*... I know it's only ice dance, but feels a little off and I'm not sure is beneficial for Deividas or Ksenia in the long term.
(EDIT: 2009 not 2007)

 

[Belsornia]

Fear/Gibson have been teasing their FD on insta:

Lewis K Gibson | Ice Dancer on Instagram: "FD 2026/27 Announcement tomorrow!"

2,474 likes, 77 comments - lewisgibson4 on August 26, 2026: "FD 2026/27 Announcement tomorrow!".

www.instagram.com

Could it be a tribute to the greatest fluff piece in the history of the sport?

 

[Aussie Willy]

Fear/Gibson have been teasing their FD on insta:

Lewis K Gibson | Ice Dancer on Instagram: "FD 2026/27 Announcement tomorrow!"

2,474 likes, 77 comments - lewisgibson4 on August 26, 2026: "FD 2026/27 Announcement tomorrow!".

www.instagram.com

Could it be a tribute to the greatest fluff piece in the history of the sport?

Good thing I wasn't eating when I clicked on the link

 

[Sonata]

I’m confused by this new trend of making elaborate reveals of program music with glam costumes.

Lilah is clearly aware of the eyes being on her regarding the Golden waltz. The videos about how much they welcome this pattern and have been working with Scott Moir (the king of the Golden Waltz) feel like PR. I respect her work ethic though.

 

[myhoneyhoney]

For fun, for PR, maybe their feed is monetized to help pay for skating. Regardless, it’s fun, so why not?

 

[Rukia]

I think if you have the time and inclination to do a big show of a reveal then have fun. If not, I respect your program reveal equally.

 

[litenkyckling]

I think the ISU have made it clear that they want skaters to also be social media stars and so I think that’s a real motivation. Kind of think it’s a bit unfair of an ask though because these people are here to be athletes not influencers.

 

[Allskate]

Here's a cute video of Christina and Caroline twizzling together:

Christina Carreira on Instagram: "Back by popular demand Consulting the slightly less ancient texts #comeback #teamusa #newteamalert #figureskating #prince"

584 likes, 5 comments - christinacarreira on August 27, 2026: "Back by popular demand Consulting the slightly less ancient texts #comeback #teamusa #newteamalert #figureskating #prince".

www.instagram.com

 

[tony]

I think the ISU have made it clear that they want skaters to also be social media stars and so I think that’s a real motivation. Kind of think it’s a bit unfair of an ask though because these people are here to be athletes not influencers.

I don't even think it's that deep because the ISU doesn't know what they are doing as it is. This board skews older and all, but the skaters are using social media as a promotion tool like many others in their generation (and younger) do. Lilah has over 50k followers on Instagram so I'm sure she gets some kind of return investment on her posts.

 

[litenkyckling]

I don't even think it's that deep because the ISU doesn't know what they are doing as it is. This board skews older and all, but the skaters are using social media as a promotion tool like many others in their generation (and younger) do. Lilah has over 50k followers on Instagram so I'm sure she gets some kind of return investment on her posts.

I think the ISU have become more savvy with regards to social media - everything that has come out of recent congress would suggest that.

I think I probably skew younger on this board - I’m the same age as some of these skaters and so I do understand how social media works. But from that I also understand that not every young person enjoys promoting themselves or sharing lots of personal details of their life online. I’m sure Lilah is making money, but I think the pressure to spend big or do fancy announcements with photoshoots is an added pressure that athletes in other sports don’t face.

 

[tony]

But from that I also understand that not every young person enjoys promoting themselves or sharing lots of personal details of their life online. I’m sure Lilah is making money, but I think the pressure to spend big or do fancy announcements with photoshoots is an added pressure that athletes in other sports don’t face.

Lilah has literally had a podcast for years, and every single year she and Lewis do some OTT very creative Halloween costume. I promise the ISU isn’t doing anything forcing her into this

 

[Rukia]

Here's a cute video of Christina and Caroline twizzling together:

Christina Carreira on Instagram: "Back by popular demand Consulting the slightly less ancient texts #comeback #teamusa #newteamalert #figureskating #prince"

584 likes, 5 comments - christinacarreira on August 27, 2026: "Back by popular demand Consulting the slightly less ancient texts #comeback #teamusa #newteamalert #figureskating #prince".

www.instagram.com

my real favorite team is christina/caroline

 

[Allskate]

my real favorite team is christina/caroline

Mine is a tie between them and Christina/Isabeau (who did a dance lift during SOI). I love all three of them.

 

[skategal]

Here's a cute video of Christina and Caroline twizzling together:

Christina Carreira on Instagram: "Back by popular demand Consulting the slightly less ancient texts #comeback #teamusa #newteamalert #figureskating #prince"

584 likes, 5 comments - christinacarreira on August 27, 2026: "Back by popular demand Consulting the slightly less ancient texts #comeback #teamusa #newteamalert #figureskating #prince".

www.instagram.com

A tribute to Virtue/Moir in follow-up to the one they did previously.

Love it!

 

[Sonata]

I am so old that I had not even considered monetization of the program reveal IG posts. I actually thought of the opposite - the money spent on costumes, photographer. Some of these reveals are so elaborate. It can be fun. It’s also part of the PR game in figure skating these days, it seems. Such a contrast from when we’d exclusively be reading the boards to read rumours about music and then only getting confirmation on a grainy video from a summer competition.

 

[leilaofpaper]

I’m fairly certain you can’t monetise posts on Instagram - you only make money off of sponsorships or brand deals.

 

[tony]

I’m fairly certain you can’t monetise posts on Instagram - you only make money off of sponsorships or brand deals.

Incorrect. I have just under 11k followers on my personal account and just over 11k on my skating account. I am constantly (almost daily at this point) getting notifications that I can start monetizing my content and get guaranteed X amount of dollars.

Lilah has 5x the amount of followers. She most certainly has the option.

 

[Rhumba d’Amour]

Fear/Gibson have been teasing their FD on insta:

Lewis K Gibson | Ice Dancer on Instagram: "FD 2026/27 Announcement tomorrow!"

2,474 likes, 77 comments - lewisgibson4 on August 26, 2026: "FD 2026/27 Announcement tomorrow!".

www.instagram.com

Could it be a tribute to the greatest fluff piece in the history of the sport?

No, but it’s…wait for it…Moulin Rouge.
If you are going to tease the reveal like that, could we at least have a more interesting choice?

 

[leilaofpaper]

Incorrect. I have just under 11k followers on my personal account and just over 11k on my skating account. I am constantly (almost daily at this point) getting notifications that I can start monetizing my content and get guaranteed X amount of dollars.

Lilah has 5x the amount of followers. She most certainly has the option.

Ah, thank you for the correction. That must have changed in the past decade.

 

[coralline]

No, but it’s…wait for it…Moulin Rouge.
If you are going to tease the reveal like that, could we at least have a more interesting choice?

and I'm afraid it may be a repetition PiriHara's Moulin Rouge Musical...

 

[jägerbomb]

This board skews older and all

This is not the impression I have of the site.

 

[jägerbomb]

No, but it’s…wait for it…Moulin Rouge.
If you are going to tease the reveal like that, could we at least have a more interesting choice?

I need to watch that Grishuk Marilyn Monroe piece as a palette cleanse after this bland infomercial of PR.

I do like this team. I very much appreciated their free dance last year (truly a bright light in a sea of safe dreck) but I am far from convinced about this concept and music choice.

 

[Sonata]

I need to watch that Grishuk Marilyn Monroe piece as a palette cleanse after this bland infomercial of PR.

I do like this team. I very much appreciated their free dance last year (truly a bright light in a sea of safe dreck) but I am far from convinced about this concept and music choice.

It will be showy and fun. But on another note, why invite comparison to Virtue/Moir? Even at the last Olympics a few months ago, their free dance went viral again. I feel a bit like this about C/P’s Manon FD, although I know most people won’t catch that V/M link.