Welcome to the third installment of The Finer Sports’ 2019 US National Championships preview! In this one, I’ll take a deep dive into the 12 ice dance teams competing at the senior level this year. For more information on how these previews are structured, see Part 1 of my Ladies’ Preview. Ice dance is the… Continue reading 2019 US Nationals Preview: Championship Ice Dance
Tag: Manta and Johnson
Karina Manta Keeps Ice Dance Queer
A deeply adorable thing happened on Instagram on Sunday night. It was also a deeply important thing. Karina Manta, a member of the USA National Team in ice dance, came out as bisexual in a bedroom spoken-word-and-guitar confessional that resounds with the kind of baby queer girl purity that would make all of Autostraddle instantly… Continue reading Karina Manta Keeps Ice Dance Queer
Ice Dance Roundup: Twelve Recent Programs to Watch
It’s hard to explain to the casuals that September is the busiest part of the figure skating season. September 13-15 was the annual “hell weekend” for dedicated fans, with two Challenger Series competitions and a Junior Grand Prix event. There was another Junior Grand Prix the weekend before, and two more Challenger Series the weekend… Continue reading Ice Dance Roundup: Twelve Recent Programs to Watch
Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships Recap: All Aboard the Rhumba Train
Skating fans are used to busy weekends, especially in the era of live streams and YouTube. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a weekend in July so crammed with skating, though. Between July 27 and 30, fans had to choose among the Glacier Falls Classic, a high-profile American club competition; a South Korean test event… Continue reading Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships Recap: All Aboard the Rhumba Train
2017 US Nationals Field Guide: Championship Ice Dance
The United States has the strongest ice dance program in the world. Even the Just Happy to Be Here contingent is terrific.