Within the newest version of our New Workforce Sequence, we meet U.S. novice ice dancers Emily Renzi & William Lissauer, who’re presently ranked fifth within the 2022-23 U.S. Nationwide Qualifying Sequence..
Emily: I’m the youngest of three women. Each of my older sisters preferred to skate, so I adopted of their footsteps. After I began strolling, I began skating. At eight years previous, I turned a pair skater and skated with my companion for two years. We went to Nationals each years and got here in third within the nation. At 10, Covid hit, I switched coaches, golf equipment and rinks.
Will: I started skating after I was 5 years previous in a suburb of Baltimore, MD on the Reisterstown Sportsplex. There I began within the Snowplow Sam Study to Skate program. I turned extra fascinated by skating so my mom added in personal classes with my very first freestyle coach, Melyssa James. After I was 7, I moved to New Jersey and continued with freestyle and in addition synchro, however I additionally began testing newbie solo dances. After I was 8, I started competing in ice dance within the Solo Dance Sequence and finally determined to completely commit. I bear in mind one in all my first solo dance competitions in 2015 on the Ice Dance Championships in Lake Placid and seeing simply as many males to ladies skaters and feeling like I lastly belonged. After that was after I first partnered.
What drew you to ice dance?
Emily: In 2021, I injured my decrease again with a stress fracture and was not allowed to leap. Since I needed to proceed coaching by way of my harm, I requested the dance coach, Igor Lukanin, to provide me a couple of classes. (I had been doing sample dances since I used to be 8 years previous and was scheduled to check my ultimate 5 dances a couple of days after the rinks closed down.)
Will: There are two the reason why I began ice dancing. The primary is I really most well-liked ice dancing to freestyle as a result of I actually didn’t like leaping. The second motive is I preferred skating and competing with a companion and never on my own.
What are your earliest skating recollections?
Emily: At 3 years previous, I started classes in Study To Skate. I cried and acted like I didn’t know find out how to skate. At some point my coach supplied me a cookie to do a trick and her jaw dropped when hastily I knew find out how to skate.
Will: My earliest skating recollections had been of my first competitors after I was 5 years previous. It was a Primary Abilities competitors. I gained in opposition to a 4 yr previous.
Inform us about how your partnership started?
Emily: Igor had plans! I assumed I used to be taking edge courses and ending my sample dances. Igor was growing a brand new ice dancer. He requested me if I might tryout with William. We really did 2 tryouts as a result of I wasn’t prepared to surrender singles after the primary. I certain am glad I mentioned sure!
Will: Emily’s and my partnership started with my mom reaching out to my companion’s mother, asking if Emily ever thought of ice dancing as a result of Emily is a former pairs skater. (Emily is homeschooled like I’m and skates full time as a freestyle skater on the similar rink with Julia Lautowa.) We had a couple of tryouts and at first, Emily wasn’t able to decide to ice dancing. After a couple of extra occasions collectively on the ice although, she agreed to companion with me.
Who’re your coaches? Coaching location?
Our coaches are Kristin Fraser-Lukanin and Igor Lukanin. We practice at Montclair State College Ice Enviornment in Little Falls, New Jersey. It’s fairly cool there because it’s on the campus of the faculty so we now have athletic fields and a monitor we get to make use of for off ice coaching.
Are you able to give us background in your applications this season?
Our program is Trendy Cinderella with items of music from the brand new live-action Cinderella film on Amazon.
When you might have a lesson with any ice dancer, previous/current, who would it not be?
Emily: I might like to have a lesson with Charlie White and Meryl Davis. Ever since I used to be little, I loved all of their applications.
Will: I would really like a lesson from Zachary Donohue as a result of he’s a really highly effective skater and one in all my favorites, as nicely.
Inform us about your coaching challenges through the pandemic?
Emily: Through the pandemic, I used to be fortunate to be a part of the Nationwide Improvement Workforce. They supplied nice courses. There was not plenty of ice however I skated each time I received the prospect. I did conditioning, stretching, and ballet courses at house to maintain myself in form.
Will: Through the pandemic, all of the rinks had been shut down so for a really very long time I used to be not in a position to skate. Nonetheless, I did some off-ice courses and I used to be even fortunate sufficient to take each day Zoom classes with Zachary Donohue and Jean-Luc Baker.
What’s it that you simply already like about your companion?
Emily: William is humble and keen to work. He at all times exhibits up with a constructive perspective. William is educated in regards to the sport and has launched me to plenty of new folks.
Will: I already like Emily’s aggressive drive. She pushes me to go additional and work more durable than what I feel I can do, and I actually respect and recognize it.
What do you want most about skating together with your companion?
Emily: I like that William desires to succeed and does no matter is requested of him. He at all times tries his hardest and makes me really feel higher after I’m having a foul day. William is humble and keen to work. He at all times exhibits up with a constructive perspective. William is educated in regards to the sport and has launched me to plenty of new folks.
Will: I like the facility and velocity Emily has on the ice. She’s a really highly effective and expressive skater and it makes it enjoyable to go all out in our applications. I already like Emily’s aggressive drive. She pushes me to go additional and work more durable than what I feel I can do, and I actually respect and recognize it.
What are you trying most ahead to this season?
Emily: I’m trying ahead to hopefully incomes a spot on the Nationwide Improvement Workforce and touring all through the season for my competitions. I can’t wait to carry out at Bryant Park this December!
Will: I’m trying ahead to constructing a greater skating connection and friendship with Emily that might actually take us to the following stage with our skating abilities as a group.
Is there something you prefer to our readers to find out about you as a group?
We’re working as laborious as we are able to as a result of we wish to succeed. Our dream is to turn into a part of Workforce USA and compete internationally. We’re keen to do no matter it takes to realize our aim.
