New Staff Sequence: Shira Ichilov & Dmitriy Kravchenko

Welcome to IDC’s New Staff Sequence! For this sequence, we interview athletes who will enter the upcoming 2023-24 season in a brand new partnership, or debuted final season. In our first interview, we examine in with Shira Ichilov (20) and Dmitriy Kravchenko (18) who characterize Israel on the senior degree.  New articles on this sequence will probably be posted each Monday.

Inform us about your particular person skating journeys, together with any early particular recollections.
Shira (SI): I began to curler skate after I was 3 yrs outdated. Once I was 12 yrs outdated, my father spoke to Boris Chait, the President of the Israeli federation, and he urged I attempt ice dancing. I attempted determine skating , and a 12 months later relocated to New Jersey to skate with my coach Galit Chait-Moracci .

Dmitriy (DK): after I was 4 years outdated on my birthday my dad and mom took me to the rink and one of many coaches there mentioned I ought to begin taking classes and that’s how I began.

What drew you to ice dance?
SI: I’ve all the time liked to bounce since I used to be a child. Once I was nonetheless a curler skater, all of us knew that leaping isn’t for me. I keep in mind as a child watching with my dad and mom the Olympics and watching my coach Galit competing for israel on the Olympics along with her Hava Nagila program. It’s one thing that may keep in my recollections ceaselessly.

DK: I’ve all the time liked skating, however as a child I didn’t wish to attempt jumps as a result of it scared me so my coach urged to go to bounce and I liked it from the primary second.

Inform us how your partnership began.
SI: Dmitriy was skating in Israel for a few 12 months earlier than we began skating collectively. I’ve cut up with my associate after Worlds 2022 and was searching for a associate. At Nationals, me and Dmitriy met, then me, Dmitriy, my coach and the federation have determined to check out.

What’s it that you simply already like most about dancing along with your new associate?
SI: Dmitriy is a tough employee and obsessed with skating and I believe if you love what you do every thing is feasible.

DK: Shira is a tough employee! Despite the fact that she is extra skilled than me, she by no means stops working and all the time pushing me and herself to the restrict and all the time wish to enhance.

What experiences do every of you convey to the partnership?
SI: Dmitriy is a bit youthful and fewer skilled than me. He hasn’t competed internationally but. I’ve competed internationally for the final 7 years and took part in 3 World Championships and a pair of junior.

DK: I don’t have a lot expertise, however I’m studying and enhancing with the assistance of my coach Galit and associate!

What has been the largest adjustment for every of you up to now within the partnership?
SI: I believe, for each of us, it’s a giant problem. Skating with a brand new associate is all the time a problem, however I believe we’re heading in the right direction.

DK: I believe for me my largest problem will probably be to compete within the increased degree, however I’m glad I’ve the very best individuals by my facet to assist me obtain our objectives collectively.

Inform us about your coaching web site.
We’re coaching with the Israeli staff in New Jersey. Our staff is like household.  We’ve three coaches in our staff: Galit Chait Moracci, Alexei Bychenko and Evgeni Krasnopolsky and we’ve our staff chief that takes care of us like we’re her personal youngsters. Additionally, Boris Chait offers us all of the alternatives doable to make us the very best we will presumably be. 

There are 2 dance groups: me and my associate Dmitriy and Maria [Nosoviskaya] and Mikhail [Nosovitskiy] and we even have a pair staff and singles skaters.

Who’re your coaches?  Did both or each need to relocate? If that’s the case, inform us in regards to the transfer(s).
SI: I’ve been with Galit since age 13 years outdated. She has been with me for each step of the best way (from studying easy methods to do a crossover to going collectively to the World Championships!) Dmitriy is initially from Ukraine and had moved to Israel a few 12 months in the past. Once we determined to skate collectively, he moved right here to New Jersey.

DK: I’ve moved to New Jersey about 3 months in the past. I find it irresistible! Everybody right here has made my change very clean and simple. I get pleasure from each second right here.

Who’s choreographing your packages. Is another person arranging your music? If that’s the case, please share these experiences.
Each: We went to Detroit to make our packages with Pasquale Camerlengo and Igor Shpilband. We had an incredible time making the brand new packages. We’re very excited to indicate our packages. For the music,  we’re working with Hugo Chouinard. 

What’s every of you trying ahead to most this skating season? What will probably be your largest problem(s)?
SI: I’m very excited to lastly be again after not competing final season. I believe our largest problem will probably be similar to some other new staff to get used to skating with one another and be capable of present our greatest each single time.

DK: I’m trying ahead to compete and present everyone our new packages and partnerships collectively.

Inform us about your program for this season.
Our SD this season will probably be Get down on it, Yesterday and It’s Raining Males. It’s a really enjoyable program! Our free dance is to a singer from Montreal. It’s a good looking tune.

Please share something you desire to our readers to find out about you as a staff?
Each:  I hope everybody will get pleasure from us this season we’re very exited for our journey collectively! Our aim is to characterize Israel on the Olympics and be a prime ice dance staff