2024-25 US Ice Dance

[BlissfulSynergy]

I do not know if this was posted already:

I.AM on Instagram: "I.AM is proud to announce the newest addition to the team. Please welcome, representing the 🇺🇸 United States… Vanessa Pham & Anton Spiridonov Welcome to I.AM! I.AM #forwardlooking #strongertogether #strongerthanever"

780 likes, 29 comments - iceacademyofmontreal on July 3, 2024: "I.AM is proud to announce the newest addition to the team. Please welcome, representing the 🇺🇸 United States… Vanessa Pham & Anton Spiridonov Welcome to I.AM! I.AM #forwardlooking #strongertogether #strongerthanever".

www.instagram.com

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I would say that Pham/ Spiridonov look to be a very good physical match. I do not think that I.AM tend to take on skaters they do not see potential in, so they must see something. I wonder how this came about though that they landed in Montreal?

Here's a not very old clip of Pham with Rogers:

'Scheherazade', Vanessa Pham & Jonathan Rogers - 2023 Junior Free Dance

US Junior Ice Dancers Vanessa Pham & Jonathan Rogers preview their 2022-2023 Free Dance to âScheherazadeâ by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. They are coached by Rom...

youtu.be

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

As a subscriber to Flores/ Desyatov, I see that Bella has revealed their FD music. She had already shown a few clips of what they are working on in terms of choreo for both programs. She has not revealed their RD music, but I know the genre and decade. Kaitlyn Weaver has choreographed both of their programs and the choreo looks quite strong, entertaining, complex, and growth-challenging for Flo/Des to reach the next level, especially with their FD! If you subscribe, keep the news quiet until Bella officially reveals in another week or so. They will be competing at Lake Placid at the end of July!

Fingers-crossed that Flo/Des get two GP assignments this season! They so deserve! ️

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Dallas Classic, the first NQS in Ice Dance this season, has finished.
Some notable results:

• Seniors:
  • Morozov/Chen withdrew after the RD, in which they scored 70.11.
  • Cui/Rogers also withdrew after the RD, they scored 61.58.
• Juniors:
  • The new team of Hana Maria Aboian/Daniil Veselukhin won with a score of 148.35.
  • The Mullens in second (146.94), Ilin/Cain third (138.80).
  • The Peals only in fourth with a score of 137.97 after a fall in the RD.
  • Deych/Hu (2024 Novice Nationals Silver medalists) in fifth (131.55).

So to celebrate Hana and Daniil's success here, I want to share their beautiful FD from Chesapeake Open:

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

The video is unavailable, but thanks for trying...

ETA:
I found an available video from their FD at Chesapeake Open. Does anyone know their back story?

- 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

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Here is a link to Dallas Classic photos RD & FD:

Hana Maria Aboian & Daniil Veselukhin | Rhythm Dance | Junior | 2024 Dallas Classic | 2024-2025 Season | Ice-Dance.com's Photography Section

 

[labgoat]

Interestingly, as well, Olivia Smart recently revealed on her IG that she is partnered with Jean-Luc Baker, off-the-ice.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

The video is unavailable, but thanks for trying...

ETA:
I found an available video from their FD at Chesapeake Open. Does anyone know their back story?

- 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

This is the same video, you just have to click on "Watch on YouTube" after clickibg on the video in my post. The person who uploaded it made it so that it cannot be played as an embedded video.

As for background, Ice-Dance.com released a little interview with them recently: https://www.ice-dance.com/site/new-team-series-hana-maria-aboian-daniil-veselukhin/

 

[dancelion21]

Aboian/Veselukhin will surely be listed on ISP soon, after their strong result at Dallas Classic, and they must be earmarked for two JGP assignments now.

ice-dance.com has photos of all the events on their website

The teams who can expect two assignments are the top 4 from Dallas Classic:

• Aboian/Veselukhin
• Mullen/Mullen
• Ilin/Cain
• Peal/Peal

Murmurings from TSL are that Wolfkostin/Tsarevski plan to compete junior this season with the junior age change, in which case they will surely get 2 JGP assignments as well.

That leaves 4 JGP assignments to disperse among the remaining junior teams.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Yes, I saw the interview on icedance.com with Hana & Daniil when I went there for 2024 Dallas Classic photos. Now I remember Daniil. He used to skate with Jane Calhoun at WASA in Colorado, coached by Elena Dostatni. Jane & Daniil had placed 12th at 2023 U.S. ice dance final before splitting. Jane has recently been training at WASA with Wolfe Jin (an actor and a former solo ice dancer). I am not certain they are still partnered, though.

It is nice to see Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov as coaches of a promising young team in Hana & Daniil. Their placements at Chesapeake Open in June (2nd) and at Dallas Classic (1st) this past weekend are making a statement for a young team who have been training together for only 6 months. At their ages, they will have at least three more years or more available to them in juniors to continue developing and making strides.

ETA:
I checked out A/V's IG. They have competed at a couple of other events earlier in the off-season in Florida and Baltimore, with equal success, building to Chesapeake Open and Dallas Classic. Apparently, they will next compete in the junior NQS event at Lake Placid. Good luck to this promising young team.

Hana Maria Aboian on Instagram: "The season has started! NQS Dallas Classic 2024 has been a moment of truth for everyone on the team - Daniil and I, our parents, our coaches, and our supporters. We are excited to keep growing through this season and

45 likes, 6 comments - hana_aboian on July 17, 2024: "The season has started! NQS Dallas Classic 2024 has been a moment of truth for everyone on the team - Daniil and I, our parents, our coaches, and our supporters. We are excited to keep growing through this season and to keep pushing our...

www.instagram.com

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Recent competition result links for Dallas Classic and Chesapeake Open:

Junior -- Dallas Classic

2024 Dallas Classic

Event Results for 2024 Dallas Classic

ijs.usfigureskating.org

Senior -- Dallas Classic

2024 Dallas Classic

Event Results for 2024 Dallas Classic

ijs.usfigureskating.org

Junior -- Chesapeake Open

2024 Chesapeake Open and Compete USA

Event Results for 2024 Chesapeake Open and Compete USA

ijs.usfigureskating.org

Senior -- Chesapeake Open

2024 Chesapeake Open and Compete USA

Event Results for 2024 Chesapeake Open and Compete USA

ijs.usfigureskating.org

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Jane has recently been training at WASA with Wolfe Jin (an actor and a former solo ice dancer). I am not certain they are still partnered, though.

They are not, unfortunately. Both are back up on Icepartnersearch.com.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

They are not, unfortunately. Both are back up on Icepartnersearch.com.

Yeah, have been discussing with some other followers as we detected signs of Jane and Wolfe having split. The whole process of truly clicking with a partner is fascinating. I would guess that perhaps both are at a stage where they are continuing to grow which makes adjusting to learning and training together difficult. Their Jane & Wolfe vlog is still up on YouTube, which shows how well their personalities meshed. They are currently still both training at WASA, but it's apparent they are not together as a team.

Jane seems a lot taller than she was with Daniil Veselukhin, and having not seen Daniil over the past six months at WASA, it is obvious that he is so much taller now, too. Daniil and Hana look very well-matched, and they move together beautifully. While it can be heartbreaking to become emotionally attached to junior teams, these two are a team to watch and to root for.

In the meantime, good luck to Jane and to Wolfe in finding new partners they can further develop with.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Regarding Daniil Veselukhin, he was born in Russia, but I think his parents relocated to the U.S. Danill had been skating with Jane Calhoun, so I am wondering how long he's lived in the U.S. I had the impression that he was already a U.S. citizen. Does anyone know?

I ask because Hana & Daniil have not yet been added to the ISP. However, USfigsk may be waiting to see how they perform at Lake Placid, as a very recent team. I am hoping that Daniil is not still acquiring citizenship. I would love to see them on the JGP this season.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Regarding Daniil Veselukhin, he was born in Russia, but I think his parents relocated to the U.S. Danill had been skating with Jane Calhoun, so I am wondering how long he's lived in the U.S. I had the impression that he was already a U.S. citizen. Does anyone know?

I ask because Hana & Daniil have not yet been added to the ISP. However, USfigsk may be waiting to see how they perform at Lake Placid, as a very recent team. I am hoping that Daniil is not still acquiring citizenship. I would love to see them on the JGP this season.

Skaters don't need citizenship to represent the US (or any country for that matter), just for the Olympics. There have been many US teams on the JGP circuit (and elsewhere) before both skaters had US citizenship.

To my understanding, being added to the ISP is determined by having achieved a (non-specified?) minimum score (which I am sure they have), being age-eligible (which they are) and having been released by any possible former federation (which he should be, as he never even competed internationally for Russia and has never been to Nationals). Good performances over mutliple competition didn't seem to be a factor in the past, many skaters were added after a singular competition, so I too am wondering what the holdup is.

Maybe there's someone here who knows more about the process and would be happy to share?

Edit: Deych/Hu were added, so they either forgot to also add Aboian/Veselukhin (it's USFS, would not be the first time) or it is indeed the case that Daniil has not been released yet - Which would be absolutely unfair and absurd.
No problems releasing Anabelle, Diana or Sofia Samodelkina, but not "releasing" a skater who hasn't even represented Russia internationally (and thus wouldn't even need a release) or been to Nationals, and has now been in the US for over a year.

 

[Jeanie19]

Skaters don't need citizenship to represent the US (or any country for that matter), just for the Olympics. There have been many US teams on the JGP circuit (and elsewhere) before both skaters had US citizenship.

To my understanding, being added to the ISP is determined by having achieved a (non-specified?) minimum score (which I am sure they have), being age-eligible (which they are) and having been released by any possible former federation (which he should be, as he never even competed internationally for Russia and has never been to Nationals). Good performances over mutliple competition didn't seem to be a factor in the past, many skaters were added after a singular competition, so I too am wondering what the holdup is.

Maybe there's someone here who knows more about the process and would be happy to share?

Edit: Deych/Hu were added, so they either forgot to also add Aboian/Veselukhin (it's USFS, would not be the first time) or it is indeed the case that Daniil has not been released yet - Which would be absolutely unfair and absurd.
No problems releasing Anabelle, Diana or Sofia Samodelkina, but not "releasing" a skater who hasn't even represented Russia internationally (and thus wouldn't even need a release) or been to Nationals, and has now been in the US for over a year.

Annabelle and Diana were released quickly. It took Sofia close to 2 years and her mother is from Kazakhstan.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Annabelle and Diana were released quickly. It took Sofia close to 2 years and her mother is from Kazakhstan.

It didn't. Sofia's last competition in Russia was in March of 2023, by May of this year she had her release, so closer to 1 year and 2 months.
However, if RusFed is to be believed, they didn't receive an official release request until a few weeks/months before Sofia was then officially released.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Skaters don't need citizenship to represent the US (or any country for that matter), just for the Olympics. There have been many US teams on the JGP circuit (and elsewhere) before both skaters had US citizenship.

My bad. Of course, Daniil can compete on the JGP without U.S. citizenship. And yes, citizenship is needed to rep any country at the Olympics. The way you phrased that first section of your comment is confusing. But right, I see you mean citizenship is only required for the Olympics.

I am still wondering, How long has Danill been living in the U.S.? You mention in your updated post, "over a year." I would think Daniil has been in the U.S much longer than over a year. It appears his whole family relocated from Russia. I remember seeing Daniil in a number of WASA ice dance videos on IG going back to at least 2022. I initially thought he was American-born with Russian heritage, as some skaters are, such as Dima Tsarevski, and Daniel Dostatni, WASA coach Elena Dostatni's son.

Apparently, Daniil V's partner, Hana Aboian, has Armenian heritage, but she was born in the U.S.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Maybe there's someone here who knows more about the process and would be happy to share?

Honestly, you never know with U.S. figskating. A lot of their decisionmaking process seems dumbfounded and arbitrary. In the case of Daniil and Hana, U.S. officials might be waiting to see if they continue to perform as consistently at Lake Placid. Especially since they are such a new team, only being together six months.

"However, if RusFed is to be believed..."

OMG! That just struck my funnybone!

 

[Jumping_Bean]

I am still wondering, How long has Danill been living in the U.S.? You mention in your updated post, "over a year." I would think Daniil has been in the U.S much longer than over a year. It appears his whole family relocated from Russia. I remember seeing Daniil in a number of WASA ice dance videos on IG going back to at least 2022. I initially thought he was American-born with Russian heritage, as some skaters are, such as Dima Tsarevski, and Daniel Dostatni, WASA coach Elena Dostatni's son.

Apparently, Daniil V's partner, Hana Aboian, has Armenian heritage, but she was born in the U.S.

Daniil's last competition in Russia with his former partner Daria Fefelova was in November of 2022, but he must have come over soon after, as he partnered up with Jane in December of the same year. He's been in the US ever since, from what I can tell.

As Hana has Armenian heritage, it could be a possibility they are not going to be skating for the US and are not part of the ISP because of this. I feel like that would be mentioned in their interview though, no?