Photos by Arnauld Girerd
In this Solo Q&A, learn more about Eurydice Ennique, a junior ice dancer who represents France. Eurydice trains with Deborah Watelier and Angela Tamburino in Wasquehal, France. Follow Eurydice’s ice dance journey via her Instagram @eurydice.enq.
Tell us about how your skating journey began. What drew you to the ice? Do you have any special memories?
I started skating at the age of 4, thanks to my grandmother who enrolled me in recreational lessons. From my very first day on the ice, I completely fell in love with the sport and never wanted to stop.
I quickly loved making friends at the rink and sharing those moments with them. I was not really afraid of falling, which helped me progress quite fast at the beginning. Very soon, I enjoyed the feeling of gliding, the sense of freedom on the ice, and being able to express emotions through movement and dance.
A very special memory for me is my very first competition, which I still remember clearly. I skated to a Dalida program, and it was a moment that truly made me want to keep skating and keep improving in this sport.
When and why did you choose to do solo dance?
I did not really choose solo dance at the beginning, as I was guided toward ice dance very early on by my coach Deborah. She quickly noticed that I had qualities suited for this discipline, especially good skating skills and glide, which are very important in ice dance.
It therefore developed naturally for me, and the more I progressed, the more I enjoyed working on musicality, expression, and the specific technical aspects of ice dance.
What do you like most about Solo Dance? What kind of music to you like to skate to the best? Why?
What I like most about solo dance is being alone on the ice and having to carry the entire interpretation of the program. I enjoy skating in harmony with the music, staying on rhythm, and expressing emotions all by myself.
My favorite skating element is spins, because there are many different variations, and I enjoy working on their technique and quality.
For a long time, I skated to soft music, because I love the graceful and expressive style it allows me to develop. However, for next season, I want a complete change of style and to explore something different with a disco theme that I am currently developing.
Tell us about your training site.
I have always trained at the Wasquehal ice rink. I train about 12 hours per week on the ice.
In addition, I do off-ice physical preparation with a physical trainer, Caroline Courouble, to improve our physical conditioning on the ice. For this, we have access to dojos as well as the rink’s changing rooms.
We are also lucky to have outdoor areas nearby for off-ice training, such as a canal where we run, as well as a park, which makes physical preparation very enjoyable and varied.
Sometimes, our on-ice training sessions do not match our school schedule, so I sometimes train early in the morning, around 6:40, before going to school.
Who choreographed your programs. What do you like best about dancing them?
My programs are choreographed by my coaches. They work with me to create routines that suit my personality, my strengths, and the chosen music.
What I enjoy most about performing them is being able to truly interpret the choreography on the ice and bring the program to life. I especially like the moment when everything comes together: the music, the movements, and the emotions.
Please share some of your solo dance accomplishments.
Over the past two seasons, I have had the opportunity to qualify for the French Championships in ice dance two years in a row. It has been a very important experience for me, allowing me to improve and compete at a higher level.
Throughout the season, my main goal is to continue improving my scores, my consistency, and my progression at every competition. These experiences help me gain confidence and competitive maturity.
Solo Dance is now an international discipline. Have you competed internationally?
Two months ago, I had the opportunity to compete in my first international competition in Hoorn, in the Netherlands. It was an exceptional experience for me.
I was able to discover a new competitive environment, meet skaters from other countries, and talk with them. I also realized that the way ice dance is experienced and approached can be different from what I know in France, which I found very interesting.
This experience gave me even more motivation for what comes next.
What are you most looking forward to this season? What will be your biggest challenge(s)?
This season, what I am most looking forward to is continuing to improve, bettering my results, and performing better at each competition.
My main goal is to stay consistent throughout the season and continue developing my technique and expression on the ice. Another important goal for me is to qualify for the French Championships again.
What is your favorite pattern dance and why is it your favorite?
My favorite pattern dance is waltz in general, and more specifically the Starlight Waltz. I really like this type of dance because it requires fluidity, grace, and good skating skills.
Waltz also allows me to work on musicality and expression while maintaining elegance on the ice.
What do you think makes solo dance a special discipline?
I think ice dance is a special discipline because of the skating skills it requires, especially the quality of glide, as well as the technical difficulty of steps and turns.
It is a discipline that combines technique, precision, and artistic expression, which makes it very complete and unique.
What are you short-term and long-term goals in solo dance?
In the short term, my goals are to keep improving, increase my scores and consistency in competition, and qualify again for the French Championships.
In the long term, I want to continue progressing in ice dance, further develop my technique and artistic expression, and gain more experience through competitions.
What are some of the challenges in solo dance?
One of the main challenges in ice dance is staying focused on your own progress while competing against skaters from different clubs, who may sometimes have different training conditions.
It requires consistency, perseverance, and the ability to give your best in competition regardless of the circumstances.
Do you participate in any other skating-related activities?
Yes, I also practice figure skating with my coach Camille Zuitta, in addition to ice dance.
This helps me develop technical and artistic qualities, especially skating skills and glide, which are very important in both disciplines.
If you could have a lesson with any ice dancer past/present, who would it be? Why?
If I could take a lesson with an ice dancer, it would be Laurence Fournier Beaudry. I admire her skating skills, her musicality, and the way she skates with great fluidity and expression.
I would like to learn from her in order to improve these aspects, which are essential in ice dance.
What are your favorite off-ice activities?
My favorite off-ice activities are mainly general physical preparation (off-ice training). I especially enjoy going running and skipping rope, as it helps me improve my endurance and physical abilities for skating.
Please share anything else you would like our readers to know about you as a skater?
I am very motivated to keep improving in ice dance and to give my best in every training session and competition. I especially enjoy the training process, building a program step by step and seeing progress over time.
Ice dance is a very important part of my life, and I try to fully commit myself to evolving in this discipline that I really love. Each season is a new opportunity for me to learn, challenge myself, and gain experience.
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