Atlanta Figure Skating Club helping solo ice dance grow internationally

ATLANTA — This year marks the 50th anniversary of Ice Dance as an official medal sport at the Olympic Games, a discipline that traditionally requires a pair.

But a new version that requires only one skater is starting to make its debut on the international stage — including here in Atlanta.

“This is really a wonderful venue for people who, for dancers who don’t have a partner and who maybe don’t want to or just cannot do triple and quad jumps,” said Carol Wooley, national vice chair of solo dance for U.S. Figure Skating. “It’s all gender neutral. It’s very even. Everybody does the same steps of the prescribed dances, the guys and the gals.”

In March 2025, the Atlanta Figure Skating Club hosted the U.S. Solo Ice Dance International Competition, where skaters performed nearly all of the traditional ice dance elements — patterns, precision and performance — by themselves.

Wooley said the discipline is tougher on the basics than traditional singles skating.

“Our solo ice dancers are really, actually better skaters. Technically, our turns are better. All of the actual footwork type stuff is superior to many of our fine free skaters who are great jumpers,” she said. “It’s a great sport. It is athletic. It is very, very difficult.”

The individuality of solo ice dance also builds camaraderie among competitors. Altair Zentgraf, who competes for the United States, told 11Alive he enjoys the competition.

“It’s an incredible experience, honestly, because you get to meet all sorts of new people,” Zentgraf said. “You build friendships with a lot of people, and just cheering each other on is a big part of the sport.”

Layla Karnes of Great Britain said solo ice dance allows skaters to be themselves.

“I love it so much because it just allows people to express themselves and be who they are,” Karnes said. “Keeping that authentic, real side of yourself and being able to translate that on the ice is just so beautiful, because everybody’s different.”

Her goal was to make the audience dance and have fun.

“I just love getting out in front of a crowd and sharing a story,” she said. “I love the technical part of it too, like working through all the turns, making things like look good, but to me it’s about making people feel something and being authentic and true to yourself.”

Momentum is building for the discipline, with nine countries set to host international solo dance competitions this year. Wooley said she hopes that growth will eventually lead to the Olympics.

“Recently, it’s become an international sport,” she said. “Now, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be at the Olympics yet, but we’re hoping eventually it will be.”