Helena Carhart and Volodymyr Horovyi Focus on Musicality and Storytelling Ahead of U.S. Championships

Helena Carhart didn't initially set out to be an ice dancer. In fact, she considers herself an "accidental ice dancer." Well, it's a happy accident and was meant to be because she and her partner of three years, Volodymyr Horovyi, are making a name for themselves at the junior level.
 
Carhart made it to intermediate in singles skating when she suffered an injury. She nearly hung up her skates, but was inspired by her older sister who is an ice dancer to try another discipline of the sport. And, it clicked.
 
"I really like the artistic part of figure skating. Part of the reason I switched to ice dance is that it is less about the jumps," she said. "It is more about skating the programs and the choreography."
 
At the age of 14, Carhart relocated to Naples, Florida, from New York City to move in with her to train with renowned coach Marina Zoueva at Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida. Their parents and other sisters remained in the Big Apple for a while and their mom would come visit them in the Sunshine State often. The entire Carhart family has since relocated to Florida to be together again.
 
"Out of nowhere, I had only been ice dancing for a couple of months, and Volodymyr said he wanted to try out with me," Carhart said. "We became partners really quickly. It all just worked. It all fit together perfectly. We're very lucky we work really well together. We've improved so much. Our coaches are amazing. I think that our programs have gotten better as our season's gone on. We've been really lucky to get on the podium sometimes."
 
For their rhythm dance, they are skating to a medley of "Careless Whisper" by George Michael and a song by Wham!, a pop duo that consisted of Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, this season.
 
Their free dance is set to Romeo and Juliet, but a more obscure piece of music from the Shakespearean tragedy than what we typically hear. Carhart and Horovyi put a lot of focus on every little nuance in their skating. 
 
"We're trying to improve moments," the Ukrainian-born Horovyi said. "We want to show more emotion in each movement and show the topic of the dance."
 
Carhart added, "We want to have an intention for every arm and head movement that we do. We want to express the actual Romeo and Juliet story and make it like you're reading a book as you're watching [our routine]. You see it all unfolding."
 
Their deep blue costumes will help tell the story of the star-crossed lovers. "We wanted to keep it really minimal to make the story and the movements more front and center," Carhart said. "We thought that even though the color blue embodies emotions of sadness and tragedy, it also is a thought color. It has a youthfulness to it. Romeo and Juliet were young kids, so we wanted to embody that and include that in the costumes."
 
To help with their character portrayal skills, they've gotten help from theatrical dancers.

"They've helped us come up with a character, a whole side story, a backstory, for each of our characters, and then, when we go to compete it or perform it, we have to embody that character fully in order to really live that character's life and actions truthfully on the ice," explained Carhart. The duo has also taken ballroom and ballet lessons as part of their off-ice training.
 
The ice dancers who Carhart and Horovyi think hands down has mastered the art of captivating an audience with their connection and movements are two-time Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. Carhart also gives major props to the incomparable Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.

"They are just so magical. Their Olympic program is so beautiful," Carhart said in reference to their legendary "Boléro" number. "I think they are probably who I most aspire to be. They just flow so naturally on the ice. It's just so gorgeous to watch."
 
Carhart and Horovyi hope to one day twizzle their way to the top of the podium at the senior level at the U.S. Championships and Grand Prix of Figure Skating, as well as compete at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships and the Grand Prix Final. They've also got their eye on Olympic glory.
 
When they aren't training, Carhart and Horovyi coach Learn to Skate USA© lessons at their rink. Horovyi plans to pursue coaching as a career and is currently taking college courses in coaching through a Ukrainian university.
 
Carhart is taking virtual classes with Stanford Online High School. She loves math, but also likes talking to people and staying active, so she is considering becoming a psychiatrist or a stuntwoman. She spends her spare time now enjoying a much calmer and safer hobby—knitting.

"My grandma taught me a little bit about how to knit and we started going to a knitting store. That woman taught me a lot and then over quarantine I knit a big blanket," she said. "I have about five unfinished projects at the moment. Hopefully I can knit a little infinity scarf that I can wear on the ice to warm up. I'll make that my New Year's resolution because I need to get those done."
 
Be on the lookout for Carhart and Horovyi at the 2022 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Nashville, Tennessee, from Jan. 3-9. Tickets are available at 2022uschampionships.com and fans can watch the action live on NBC, USA Network and Peacock Premium.