2016 NATIONAL SOLO DANCE FINAL
representing the University of Del- aware Figure Skating Club, Emily Boas took home the bronze med- al. Boas last competed in the Solo Dance Series and qualified for the Final in 2014, but was unable to compete due to a back injury. When she learned that the Final would be hosted in her home rink, Boas decided to come back and compete another season. “With the support of all my
friends and family, it was the most special skating experience I’ve ever had,” she said. Coached by Karen Ludington,
Boas performed a 1940s-themed program. “I have always loved the 1940s
era and everything vintage, so when I was trying to find inspiration for a free dance, my mom and I imme- diately thought of doing ’40s-in- spired program,” Boas said. “When I heard ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,’ I knew it was what I wanted to
Kate Nuzzolo
‘Hard work pays off’ SEDAKA TAKES GOLD PATTERN TITLE
Ilana Sedaka from Te Skat-
ing Club of New York has compet- ed at every Solo Dance Final since the program’s inception in 2011. She had medaled every year since 2013, but hadn’t accomplished her ultimate goal — winning gold. “I had been giving it my all,
getting closer for the last few years, and sometimes I felt like it would never happen,” said Sedaka, who is a student at Great Neck Northern High School in Great Neck, New York, the same town that Olympi- ans Sarah and Emily Hughes call home. Skating in a black dress with
opera-length gloves that highlight- ed her elegant arm movements, Se- daka performed the Viennese Waltz with an ease that belied her initial reaction to the dance. “I was a little nervous at first
because it was my worst gold pat- tern dance at the time, and I knew I had to work on it,” she said. “During my skate, I was really fo- cusing on timing. I have a tendency to rush, and certain steps in the Vi- ennese are highlighted for timing.” Sedaka performed the dance
with good speed and precise foot- work, waltzing her way to her first title, in gold pattern dance.
“I’ve learned that when you
set your heart on something, you can get it if you really go for it. Hard work pays off.” Skating a waltz requires a
smooth, lilting skating style, and the Viennese highlighted Rachel Lynn Teets’ smooth, deep edges en route to her winning the silver medal. Wearing a salmon pink dress with a silver crystal neck- lace, Teets elegantly captured the smooth motion and light quality of the waltz. Teets has competed at every Solo Dance Final since 2013 and skates for the Dearborn Figure Skating Club. Amy Czuhajewski, a member
of the Greater Kalamazoo Skating Association, won the bronze med- al. Coached by Jennifer Miller and Jennifer Heurlin-Brenne, Czuha- jewski was also tentative about skating the Viennese Waltz for the final round. “I wasn’t very excited about it,
but it was better than the Westmin- ster,” she said. Like Sedaka, Czuhajewski has
competed in every Solo Dance Fi- nal since the series began. “I enjoy reconnecting with
old friends and making new ones,” Czuhajewski said.
Ilana Sedaka SKATING 17 Emily Boas
skate to.” Her upbeat performance high-
lighted her speed and difficult transi- tions in the edge element sequence. Te program was initially choreo- graphed by Ludington, and then updated by Team USA’s Anastasia Cannuscio and Colin McManus.
PHOTOS BY PROEVENT PHOTO
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