Ice Dancing Coaches

[popeye]

Who do you think are the best ice dancing coaches ?

[popeye]

Instead of "best", who are some of the popular or favorite ice dancing coaches ?

[sonora]

My personal faves are Iasa and Youri (can't spell the last names) who coach in Ann Arbor.

I understand that Klimova and Ponomarenko are turning out some excellent teams out in California.

Darlene Gilbert is a timeless class act whose teams and individual skaters all seem to have soft knees, tucked-under tushies and other nice habits.

[WBLanghans]

Originally posted by sonora

Darlene Gilbert is a timeless class act whose teams and individual skaters all seem to have soft knees, tucked-under tushies and other nice habits.

Having watched Darlene in action, I would certainly agree.

I am also impressed with Mike Tamres and his eye for technical detail.

Suzy Semanick-Schurman is a great choreographer.

....and I'm only slightly prejudiced ;)

Wendy

[icefreak]

There are a ton of dance coaches in the US. and i don't think you can classify one as the "Best" but i think that each coach is really good at something different. Here's what i think -

Barett Brown & Tom Lescinski - all of their skaters are extremely polished

Cheryl Snyder & Robbie Kaine - all of their skaters have great compulsories

Igor Shpilband - one of the best choreographers out there

Liz Coates - great technical coach

Sergei Ponomarenko & Marina Klimova - very powerful skaters

Nikoli Morozov - if i had to choose a "best" coach out there; when you have three of the top ten teams in the world, and more are flocking to you every day.....it obviously says alot

[icedancingnut31]

Maybe Tatiana Tarasova or Maya Usova, Nikolai Morozov, Evgeni Platov or Muriel Boucher-Zazuoi

[dancing_queen]

i'd have 2 say...Nikoli Morozov and Tatiana Tarasova

[Roseline]

Originally posted by sonora
My personal faves are Iasa and Youri (can't spell the last names) who coach in Ann Arbor.


For those who don't know, their names are Iaroslava (Yasa) Netchaeva and Iouri Tchesnitchenko (I had to look up the spellings!).

The only skaters they work with that I am familiar with are Samuelson and Bates, who I think are a really fantastic young team.

I asked this in a thread about a week ago, but nobody had the answer, so I'll try asking again. Anybody know the competitive or coaching background of these two? Thanks.

[DancerFan]

Originally posted by Roseline
...I asked this in a thread about a week ago, but nobody had the answer, so I'll try asking again. Anybody know the competitive or coaching background of these two? Thanks.

Are they the team from Latvia who used to train with Inese Bucevica in Monsey, NY many years ago? I think they came to the US with Inese when she was Dubova's choreographer (to Lake Placid) and then moved with her to Monsey when she split w/Dubova. They were an awesome team to watch, but I don't know about coaching.

edited to add: I just checked, and this was/is the team I was thinking of. They represented Latvia and came in 13 just behind Anissina/Peizerat at '94 Europeans. Don't know what became of them after that, but sometime soon after ('95 or '96?) Jenny Dahlen began representing Latvia with a Russian partner.

[Aussie Willy]

Well I think Martin Scotnicky has had some of the most creative teams in ice dance, including Winkler/Lohse and Rahkammo/Kokko.

Nice to hear Suzy Semanick being mentioned. I remember watching her from 88 Olympics and she was a wonderful skater.

I don't know in depth about the US skating scene. However I appreciate the information you guys over there impart. But from own personal point of view my ice dance coach is just wonderful!!!;)

[JKlink]

Natalia Linitchouk and Guennadi Karponossov should be on the list. JK

[mack]

Are there any other coaches that have some of the top teams? What about Olivia and Warren Maxwell?

[PlatniumAngel]

I'll have to vote for Nikolai Morosov, Evgeni Platov, Sergei Ashtoshev, Maya Usova, just about anyone who had worked with Tatianna and herself, are amazing coaches.

[sonora]

Roseline and Dancerfan:

I have seen Iasa and Youri work, seen tests they've put out, and I am a big fan. They really get the basics down with their skaters.

I think you will see more competitive teams come from them, but they are also good teachers of individual skating.

Interesting to hear about their competitive background, all I knew was something vague about the Ann Arbor club helping them to get green cards and/or citizenship.

[chattykathy]

Iasa and Youri skated together at the World level. They are Russian but I am not sure where that would make them from in today's world. I have seen videos of them competing and enjoyed seeing them skate in the Ann Arbor ice show there first year in Ann Arbor. WOW! they were great!

They work with singles and pairs skaters on stroking technique and extensively with the Hockettes syncronized skating teams.

They have put together a couple of new teams for this season. Emily and Evan have grown up a TON and they look great, despite Evan's penchant for injuring himself in one of the other 3 sports he participates in.

If I was looking for a dance coach this would be where I would go! They have a good relationship with AAFSC and A2Ice3, and so have good dance ice.

Be prepared to work!!!!

[tdnuva]

Originally posted by chattykathy
They are Russian but I am not sure where that would make them from in today's world.

As they were performing in the last Torvill & Dean tour there was a short bio in the programme. According to that both were born in Moscow. They won silver at the World juniors 1992 and went pro rather soon (imho) in 1995.

[chattykathy]

Oh my gosh, thanks for reminding me. We actually saw them in London, and have the program. Lisa was just starting to skate, I think.

[blades]

8-)

gilbert and tamres...now there's two names from the past!

remember gilbert from squaw valley days when she was "darling darlene" (heavy on the sarcasm back then...)...have to say that her hubby is very nice (considering that i usually don't much like cops...that's a big compliment)

heard somewhere through the grapevine that tamres was facing the "big D"...any truth to that one?...is he still teaching in valencia?...

[Roseline]

Thanks for all of the information on Ann Arbor's dance coaches, everyone. It's nice to have something solve long-standing curiousity!

Chattykathy - what other sports does Evan Bates participate in? I think it's really great that such a great ice dancer can be grounded enough to be able to have some fun in other sports! I bet it helps keep a lot of the pressure of skating off, or lessened, too.

[Poohsk8s2]

I find it interesting that no-one has mentioned Natalia Dubova?? If you look at coaches and skaters named in this thread, many have soared up the ranks with the solid foundation that Dubova has given them. IMHO there will never be a coach to give Ice Dancers the technical knowlege that she imparts. I think it is to her credit that she has stepped away from the politics and seeks to work with promising teams who want the basics, the skills, and the integrity that this sport SHOULD be about. Technically she is unsurpassed!

[Lexie]

I agree. Look at all the skaters whom Dubova taught technique and unison and edging to who became World and Olympic Champions. If I had a child in a novice or junior team, she is the one I would want to teach them because once they learn the basics incorrectly it is so much harder to correct them later.

[Aaron W]

I'm not a fan of Igor Shpilband as far as being a good caring coach, but I do tend to love the choreography and technical difficulty that he incorporates into his dance team's programs. So from a purely program-oriented point of view, Igor is probably one of my favorites.

[Harris!here!]

Peter Sasmore is the singal nicest person I have ever met! And he may not have proven him self as a coach (yet...) But given the right team, I think he will!

[tdnuva]

As nobody mentions him - has anybody insider informations from Colorado Springs? I'd really like to know how Christopher Dean develops his dance coach abilities... 8-)

[sonora]

My understanding is that Dean is not developing any young teams, but instead travels a good bit choreographing. He apparently does choreography for singles & pairs as well as dance teams.

[mack]

Originally posted by icefreak
There are a ton of dance coaches in the US. and i don't think you can classify one as the "Best" but i think that each coach is really good at something different. Here's what i think -

Barett Brown & Tom Lescinski - all of their skaters are extremely polished

Cheryl Snyder & Robbie Kaine - all of their skaters have great compulsories

Igor Shpilband - one of the best choreographers out there

Liz Coates - great technical coach

Sergei Ponomarenko & Marina Klimova - very powerful skaters

Nikoli Morozov - if i had to choose a "best" coach out there; when you have three of the top ten teams in the world, and more are flocking to you every day.....it obviously says alot

[mack]

Sorry for previous post- where are these coaches located? and any other popular coaches?

[Skatewind]

Barett Brown & Tom Lescinski - Boston

Cheryl Snyder & Robbie Kaine - Philadelphia

Igor Shpilband - Detroit

Liz Coates - Laurel, MD (Baltimore-Washington)

Sergei Ponomarenko & Marina Klimova - San Jose

[dysenterygary]

I believe that Chris Dean is working with Pratt/Gilles on both their compulsories and OD. I saw him working with them when we were in town a couple weeks ago.

[popeye]

Any other ice dance coaches? How about Oklahoma City, Kansas or Missouri? What about Texas?