Local Ice Dance Team Celebrates
Season Debut and Bright Future
TheJournalNJ.com | APRIL 2020 31
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Alexandria Loughlin, 16-year-old from Rumson and sophomore
at Ranney School, and Danila Iudin, 17-year-old
from Russia, have recently become Monmouth County’s
most formidable ice dance team. While their skating journeys
began differently and on opposite sides of the world, their
passion and drive has allowed them to excel far beyond their
expectations as international competitors.
After meeting through coaching connections, Loughlin and
Iudin ofcially began their partnership at the end of October
2019. Since then, they have been training for six days a week at
Floyd Hall in Montclair, where they dedicate four hours to skating
and two hours to off-ice training. In addition to being coached by
Igor Lukanin and Kristen Fraser, they also work with a personal
trainer, receive unique choreography, and participate in hip hop
and rhythmic gymnastic stretching. As a non-American, Iudin is
constantly learning new things at practice and nds each lesson
to be a “new and interesting experience.”
In just a few short months, Loughlin and Iudin have already
demonstrated their on-ice talent to the world. This past season,
they have traveled to Poland and Germany to compete at the
Junior International level where they represent the country Azerbaijan.
Loughlin said she loved the experience of competing in a
new cultural environment, and this exposure has allowed her to
“develop a new perspective on how people see things.”
The pair was required to perform both a rhythm dance and
a free dance. Having two programs allowed them to showcase different
skills and talents, especially their favorite elements which include rotational
lifts and footwork. Loughlin admitted that lifts were scary at rst,
but she has always felt “very safe” knowing that Iudin “will never drop
her.” Intricate footwork provided an additional outlet to display their
technique, choreography and deep edges.
Loughlin and Iudin immediately bonded as both skaters and people,
and they consider each other best friends both on and off the ice.
“Skating-wise, I love how Iudin can make me feel so comfortable
and safe,” Loughlin said. “As a person he’s so friendly and funny.”
Iudin echoed this positive sentiment, explaining how he admires
Loughlin’s mental strength and how she “never gives up.” He said he also
initially had trouble performing artistically due to his deep concentration,
but Loughlin’s ability to make funny faces and crack jokes helped put him
at ease.
Both skaters are drawn to the thrill of competition, and they seek to
leave their mark in the world of ice dance. Next season they are assigned
two Junior Grand Prix where they hope to qualify for Junior Worlds. They
also plan to eventually move up to the Senior Level and possibly compete
in the Olympics.
In addition to meeting their personal goals, Loughlin and Iudin enjoy
sharing their love of the sport with others. They recently performed
at the Navesink Country Club where they showcased their progress to
the community and helped motivate the next generation of skaters. The
team understands how competitive and stressful the sport is, and they
encourage other skaters to “just breathe” and be assured that “everything
happens for a reason.” They hope others can gain inspiration from their
journey as “all the craziness is truly worth it.”
To stay up-to-date with the team and its latest accomplishments, follow
@loughliniudinofcial on Instagram.
BY EMILY CHANG
/TheJournalNJ.com
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