Hana Maria Aboian & Daniil Veselukhin (USA) danced into the lead in what was an exciting battle for the top places in the Junior Rhythm Dance as the  ISU Junior Grand Prix Final continued Friday in Nagoya (JPN).

Hana Maria Aboian & Daniil Veselukhin sparkle 

Hana Maria Aboian & Daniil Veselukhin (USA) had three points to spare over Iryina Pidgaina & Artem Koval of Ukraine. France’s Ambre Perrier Gianesini & Samuel Blanc Klaperman  are currently ranked third.  

Aboian & Veselukhin danced to “Vogue” by Madonna and impressed with their fast twizzles and rotational lift as well as with a level-three Rhumba pattern dance sequence. The JGP Abu Dhabi Champions achieved a new personal best of 66.77 points to take the lead. 

Hana Maria Aboian and Daniil Veselukhin (USA) finished top of the leaderboard in the Junior Rhythm Dance at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final in Nagoya © ISU

“I'm very proud of what we delivered on the ice today and we gave our performance which is the most important thing to us,” Aboian commented. “It feels amazing (to be in the Junior Final for the first time), it's really incredible to be able to compete with such incredible athletes who have worked incredibly hard, I can say incredible multiple times, but it's true.”

The young team worked with a dancer from Madonna’s Super Bowl performance in 2012. “We really worked on refining every movement and keeping special moments that were in her performances. For example, in the footwork we have a sequence of hand movements that are directly from the show,” Aboian explained. 

Coincidentally, Laurence Fournier Beaury & Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) skate to the same piece of music in the Rhythm Dance. “It just feels nice to have to share same music or same style although it's different in some arms and movements and we do have our interpretation they have their own,” Veselukhin noted.

Pidgaina & Koval entertained the crowd at the IG Arena with their Backstreet Boys medley that was highlighted by difficult twizzles and a rotational lift. The JGP Ankara Champions scored 63.43 points. 

Iryna Pidgaina and Artem Koval took second place in the Junior Rhythm Dance at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final in Nagoya © ISU

“It was not good enough,” Koval said. “But we skated as we could. That was due to the jet lag, we came here Tuesday afternoon.” 

Nevertheless, the couple enjoyed performing on the big stage. “It’s our first time in Japan, and our first impressions are just wonderful. Many people are cheering and shouting, we are not used to it. However, this is amazing,” Koval continued. 

Perrier Gianesini & Blanc Klaperman chose the Backstreet Boys as well and delivered a strong performance to net 62.35 points. 

Ambre Perrier Gianesini and Samuel Blanc Klaperman (FRA) finished in third place in the Junior Rhythm Dance  at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final in Nagoya © ISU

“I was impressed by the people there so I was a little bit stressed but I was trying my maximum to enjoy the presence of the crowd,” Perrier Gianesini noted. “Then at the end of the program I was feeling really better because people were cheering.” 

“It's very impressive (to see the senior teams) because usually we look at them on our small screen now we can see them live. It's very motivating and inspiring,” Blanc Klaperman said.

Jasmine Robertson & Chase Rohner (USA) placed fourth with 60.44 points followed by Dania Mouaden & Theo Bigot (FRA) on 59.90 points. Layla Veillon & Alexander Brandys (CAN) are currently ranked sixth (52.70 points). 

ISU Junior Grand Prix Final schedule:

Thursday, December 4: Junior Pairs, Junior Men’s & Junior Women’s Short Programs
 Friday, December 5: Junior Rhythm Dance, Junior Men’s & Women’s Free Skating
 Saturday, December 6: Junior Pairs Free Skating, Junior Free Dance
 Sunday, December 7: Exhibition Gala

Where to Watch

All the Junior events will be live-streamed on the  Skating ISU YouTube channel.

ISU Junior Grand Prix Standings

Check out the road to the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final:

Men       Women            Pair Skating      Ice Dance

Full entry lists, results and further information are available on the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series page.