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KIDS' QUESTIONS

November 2007

Kids' Questions with Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov

Four-time U.S. silver medalists Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov have a new coach and new energy as they take the ice in 2007-08. The couple will compete at Skate Canada and Cup of Russia during the Grand Prix season.

I think you guys are great ice dancers and you put everything into each program. Why did you decide to change coaches and train with Priscilla Hill?
Stephanie Ene, 18, Stamford, Conn.

Melissa and Denis: Thanks for the compliment. After last season we were burned out and tired. When we were choreographing “Fallen Angels” with Johnny (Weir) and Priscilla Hill, we felt a joy and love for skating again. We went on tour, had a blast and loved performing and skating each day. That made us realize our situation wasn't working and we needed a change. We improved a lot with our other coaches. They are great coaches, but it just wasn't the right chemistry for us. We have rediscovered our love for skating, and Priscilla has helped us to grow in our careers and brought out a side of us that we never knew that we had. Skating should be a joy not stress all the time.

Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov

When choosing new music, how do you know when it's the right music for you?
Charlotte Hoover, 11, South Burlington, Vt.

Melissa and Denis: After each season, we take different kinds of music and listen to them on the ice and just skate and try to move to them. We like to see what we feel and if we can see ourselves skating to that particular piece. When the music is right, all the moves and emotions happen naturally. You should try any songs, even if it is just a warm-up CD. Play the music and just skate and see what you feel.

Since you ice dance, does that mean you have to take ballroom dancing classes?
Leeann Ji, 11, Wilmington, Del.

Melissa and Denis: Yes, we usually take ballroom dancing lessons to help us with our original dance rhythms. It teaches us the authenticity of the dance and gives us lots of ideas.

What is your favorite dance rhythm?
Kate Manzagol, 14, Clarkston, Mich.

Melissa and Denis: We like to skate to many different kinds. We try not to limit ourselves to one style or rhythm; we try to expand ourselves and be versatile. If we had to pick, it would be waltzes and classical romantic pieces. We loved the Latin dances like cha cha and rhumba when we performed them for the original dance.

Why did you become ice dancers? I love figure skating and really like jumping, so it seems like it would be hard to decide only to do dance.
Elise Hildebrandt, 7, Amherst, Mass.

Melissa: I was a singles skater as well as a dancer when I was younger. I decided because I thought dance was a bit more challenging and had more layers to it. I liked all the cool costumes and the music we could skate to. I think it is way cooler than singles skating, but you need to pick what you enjoy most or try to do both for as long as you can until you decide.

What are your plans after you retire from skating?
Francesca Tait, 14, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Melissa and Denis: At this point we are preparing and getting ready for competitions. We are focused on skating until the Olympics in 2010, and then we probably would like to go to school and study to find out what we want to do. We would eventually like to start a family.

I have been ice dancing for three years and looking for a partner for the past year. I am working on my novice free dance, pre-gold compulsories and senior moves. I am told I am a great ice dancer but won't be able to find a partner without moving to Delaware or Michigan. Do you have any suggestions? I am also on IcePartnerSearch.com.
Aimee Bolton, 15, Tigard, Ore.

Melissa and Denis: Yes, there are many places you can go in the country for ice dancing. You should try many different places and see which place you like the most. See which place you are the happiest and has the most opportunities. Good luck with your decision.

What do you do with the things people throw on the ice? What do you do with old costumes? Did you ever think of using some of the fabric from your old costumes for your new ones?
Emily Shuckler, 10, Knoxville, Tenn.

Melissa and Denis: We take our toys and stuffed animals and donate them to the children's hospital. We have visited the kids in the hospital and surprised them with the toys. It was a very humbling experience, and we were happy we could brighten their day. We also like to bring a few little ones home to our Weimeraner dog, Suede. He always enjoys a pink teddy bear to be his playmate. As for our old costumes, we like to sell them to other skaters that can use them and enjoy them as much as we did. We love to see other people skate and do well wearing our creations.

How did you both start figure skating?
An Vuong, 16, Reading, Pa.

Melissa: I started because I wanted to wear a pink tutu costume that they had for the local ice show. My mom told me that only people in the ice show could wear one, so I told her to sign me up for classes to be in the ice show. I got to wear the tutu and fell in love with skating once I started taking lessons.

Denis: A coach came to my school in Russia and picked 20 boys to go play soccer. I really liked playing and was having a lot of fun. Then two weeks later, she took away the soccer ball and gave me a pair of ice skates. She told me that we were going to skate. She then told me I was going to skate with a girl. I think that out of all those 20 boys, I am the only one still skating.

What do you think about the international judging system?
Grace Reid, 14, Houston, Texas

Melissa and Denis: I think that it has a lot of opportunity and is probably the future. They are still revising it every year, bit by bit, and trying to improve on it.

Who came up with the idea for your “Fallen Angels” program with Johnny Weir?
Jill Slattery, 16, Portland, Ore.

Melissa: Denis was the one who initiated the idea. On the long plane ride home back from Worlds in Tokyo, the three of us talked about it and decided to go for it. We all like to try new and exciting things and push the envelope a little.