About Us

KIDS' QUESTIONS

October 2001

2001 U.S. dance silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto answer your questions about what it's like to be an up-and-coming young team.

Tanith Belbin & Benjamin Agosto

Q: How did you two find each other? Do you have any advice for solo skaters looking for partners? Natalie Bos, 15, Orlando, Fla.

TB & BA: Ben and I were actually brought together by our coaches at the time, who had both been in contact with our current coach Igor Shpilband regarding our availability. Our tryout was arranged soon afterwards. This came at a time when I (Tanith) was close to giving up hope of finding my "skating soul mate." We were very lucky. Our advice to anyone searching for their match is to never give up hope. The right partner is out there searching for you, too. Attend the partner tryouts and try to get as much exposure as possible.

Q: What was it like going to the World Championships considering it was your first U.S. Championships at the senior level? Douglas Razzano, 12, Tempe, Ariz.

TB: I don't think we could have asked for more from this past season. We knew that there would be a lot of work involved in competing at both the junior and senior levels, and to be successful in both ranks was a dream come true. After nationals, we were selected as members of the World Junior, Four Continents and World Teams. The entire season was wonderfully overwhelming and Worlds was icing on the cake.

BA: There was no pressure on us to place anywhere special at Worlds, so we were able to experience the whole atmo-sphere of the competition and soak it up. It was a learning experience - we really saw firsthand how the best in the world compete.

Q: What is the hardest thing about working with a partner? Do you ever disagree? Arielle, 9, Boston, Mass.

TB: I would hate to say that working with a partner is hard, since I can't imagine skating without one. Of course, there is no such thing as a fairy tale relationship when dealing with the pressures of this sport, but I'd like to think that Ben and I come about as close as you can get. We were lucky enough to have not only found a partner but also a friend.

BA: I think the hardest aspect is communication. There are always disagreements among partners; the trick is to talk about these disagreements before they become a problem. Tanith and I sometimes disagree about steps we are doing or certain techniques, but we always try to find the one that works the best for both of us.

Q: How important do you think off-ice training is for ice dancers? Thea von Zabern, 12, Yorba Linda, Calif.

TB: Developing your style and strength off the ice is a very important part of any skater's training. Ben and I take regular ballet and modern dance classes, along with working with different ballroom instructors who help us create individuality in our dances. Of course cardiovascular training is necessary as well. I also take Pilates classes five times a week to increase control and flexibility in the muscles.

BA: Off-ice training is a must. Core and upper body strength are very important but hard to build on the ice. Good off-ice training will help you do all your moves on the ice better and bigger.

Q: Which compulsory dance was the hardest for you to learn? Stephanie Bundy, 14, Calabasas, Calif.

TB & BA: The Golden Waltz, which we learned for the first time this season, is probably the most challenging compulsory we've ever danced. The steps are intricate and the timing is extremely fast, so it's very important to stay controlled and in synch with your partner on each step.

Q: What are your typical days for skating practice? Victoria Cai, 11, Millis, Mass.

TB & BA: During summer training, our day starts at 8:15 a.m. with either ballet or modern dance class. Then we get straight on the ice and skate from 9:15-11:15 a.m. After that we take a short break until 2:30 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. when we have Pilates lessons (Tanith) or work out in the gym. We skate again from 4:30-7 p.m.

Q: Have you ever taken a really hard fall? If so, what motivates you to get up and keep on trying? Arielle Gottlieb, 15, Cleveland, Ohio

TB: This summer I suffered the most serious injury of my career so far, which was a skull fracture in the back left side of my head. We lost our balance in a new lift and I fell backwards, hitting my head on the ice and knocking myself unconscious. By the time I was allowed back on the ice, I was so anxious to start skating again that I didn't even think about the accident.

BA: Hard falls don't happen often, but when they do you have to try to shake it off and keep moving. I always try to get up and skate around until it doesn't hurt so badly. Then when I get home, I ice it like mad.

Q: There is so much to remember in dance, like posture, timing and expression. How do you remember everything and still make it look fun? Michelle Pennington, 11, Elkton, Md.

TB: The goal we're trying to reach through training hard each day is to make it so that those things you mentioned come naturally without having to be conscious of them. It's ironic that we train this hard to make it look easy when we compete, but that's the main idea. As much as we all hate the word, repetition is the key.

BA: You have to start out with the steps and timing, then the posture and expression. It takes a great deal of repetition, even just repeating little parts over and over again to get it just right. After a while, it's fun.

Q: Is it hard for you to get motivated to compete at the U.S. Championships and all the other competitions this year knowing that you can't compete in the Olympics yet? Roberto Flynn, 15, Beverly, Mass.

TB: The fact that we are ineligible to compete at the Olympics this year is something that Ben and I have been aware of from the day we agreed to become partners. The reality of it has already had time to sink in over the past few years we've been together. We are just as motivated to train every day as any other team. The only difference is our sights are set on a more long-term goal.

BA: Not really. I love to compete and perform. My motivation comes from that love and from wanting to become the best I can be. Not being able to participate in the Olympic Games this year doesn't make me not want to do my best at all the other competitions that I can participate in.

Q: How do you deal with all the pressure from the press and other competitors around competition time? Cloe Revrey, 12, Sun Valley

TB: Performing well at competitions requires a lot of physical training and mental preparation. Every athlete deals with pressure in their own way. Some prefer to completely block out their surroundings and focus only on their performance. Others really feed off the atmosphere at competitions and use the pressure to their advantage. Personally, the only thing I think about is skating as best I can. The rest is out of my control.

BA: I try not to think of it as pressure, but as energy. When there is lots of press or a full arena, I try to feel that energy and use it in my performance. It helps to focus on warming up – jogging, stretching and walking through my program can help calm my nerves. Being nervous is natural. I just try to remember that I really like what I'm doing and that it's only four minutes of my life. I can do it ... and so can you.

Q: Do you have any good luck charms that help you stay focused or do better at a competition? Mary Rebecca, 13, Arlington, Va.

TB: I travel with a few little things for good luck when I compete. I never leave home without packing a few special photos and a stuffed animal given to me by my best friend. My only other superstition is that I need to rub my stomach before our names are called to compete. I've been doing this for years so I'm too nervous to break the habit.

BA: I don't have any physical charms that I carry with me; however, I do like to warm up in the rink that I will compete in. I usually try to jog around the arena before the event, taking in the atmosphere and getting comfortable with my surroundings. Tanith and I usually do this together.

Q: If you were not skaters, what else would you be doing right now in your lives? Adrian, 15, Euclid, Ohio

TB: I can't imagine myself not being involved in some type of athletics. I'm sure I'd be living my life as an average teenager, going to school full-time and keeping myself busy with different activities. Even off the ice, I love to dance, so I would probably be involved in some hip hop or modern dance classes as well.

BA: If I were not skating, I would be attending a university (which one, I don't know) and would definitely be more involved in music. I have been into music my whole life, and I'm sure that it would be the main focus of my life if I had not become hooked on skating. I like to think that I would be in a band with dreams of a record contract.

Q: Is it hard for you to keep up with the music while doing all that difficult footwork? Stacy Cho, 9, Silver Spring, Md.

TB & BA: You hit the nail on the head. Keeping up with the music is one of the hardest aspects of ice dancing. We have had to work very hard at moving together as one in order to keep up with our very fast music. It takes a lot of repetition, starting out slowly to get the steps, and then increasing the speed to insanity.