{"id":45459,"date":"2026-11-05T01:28:10","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T06:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/?p=45459"},"modified":"2026-11-05T12:33:43","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T17:33:43","slug":"lukanin-obrien-finding-their-rhythm-in-juniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/lukanin-obrien-finding-their-rhythm-in-juniors\/","title":{"rendered":"Lukanin & O\u2019Brien: Finding Their Rhythm in Juniors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Anne Calder | Photos by Daphne Backman<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rylen Lukanin and Patrick O\u2019Brien have shared the ice arena at Montclair State University in New Jersey for more than a decade. First it was the Learn to Skate<\/em> program beginning when they were three and four years old and then as partners two years later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neither actually recalls the first time they laced up a pair of skates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t remember, but I\u2019ve heard many stories,” Lukanin said. “My mom spent hours putting me in layers so I was warm. Then she laced up my skates. I skated for five minutes, didn\u2019t think much of it, and said I was done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy memory is pretty much the same,\u201d O\u2019Brien added. \u201cI do remember chasing people around. It was really fun, and it felt really good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team is coached by Rylen\u2019s parents, Kristen Frazier-Lukanin and Igor Lukanin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE BEGINNING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The youngsters first competed as a pre-juvenile team at the 2019 Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships. Unfortunately, Covid-19 interrupted their skating schedules. Rinks were closed and competitions were cancelled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After two years, Lukanin & O\u2019Brien finally made their official juvenile debut at the 2021 Dallas Cannon Classic. The team completed on the Intermediate level for one season (2023-2024) prior to moving to Novice. At the 2026 Ice Dance Final in Henderson, Nevada, the team earned the novice ice dance title. They followed it up with another win at the 2026 U.S. National Championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MOVING ON UP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The duo launched their 2026-2027 season move to Juniors in July at the Dallas Classic. Two weeks later they competed at the Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In late August, the couple traveled to Riga, Latvia for their first ISU Junior Grand Prix competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was more excited than nervous because it was our first time, so I was enjoying the experience,\u201d Lukanin said. \u201cWe always go sightseeing, and that\u2019s one thing that helps because I\u2019m not trapped in the hotel room overthinking it. We got lots of souvenirs, went to dinner, then saw all the local scenery.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Brien added, \u201cI was pretty nervous because it was our first JGP.  Most of the guys in the locker room were fun to be around. I\u2019m friends with them all now. I also went to the old town and shopped.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately their luggage was lost, so they needed to purchase some extra new outfits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team\u2019s next challenge is to compete at the U.S. National Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah, in January. First, they must qualify at the Ice Dance Final in Bloomfield Hills, MI in mid-November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lukanin shared her thoughts about the challenges they\u2019ve faced moving to the higher level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn juniors, it\u2019s getting used to the longer programs. The Rhythm Dance is different compared to the Pattern Dances. Otherwise it\u2019s the same, and I still love both dances.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MUSIC & PROGRAMS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rylen usually joins the group conversation that discusses and chooses the music for the team. She suggested the final piece for Wicked,<\/em> the team\u2019s 2025-2026 Free Dance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaitlyn Weaver choreographed this season\u2019s Rhythm Dance that features a Ragtime theme set to the track \u201cNew Music\u201d from the musical Ragtime.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Free Dance music is from the movie, Titanic,<\/em> choreographed by Igor Lukanin. Since the dancers are thirteen and fourteen, the movie\u2019s love focus was changed to a more appropriate age-level theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the film, the leading characters sneak down to the third level to enjoy adult social dancing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the free dance, Lukanin and O\u2019Brien instead ask, So Do You Want to<\/em> Go to a Real Party<\/em> and invite all the<\/em> young passengers to happily dance together on the Titanic\u2019s deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Choreographic Step Sequence includes an upbeat, traditional Irish jig that further accents youth and innocence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur Choreo Step is like the highlight of the program,\u201d smiled Lukanin. \u201cDoing the Irish step dancing is supposed to be all the kids dancing and enjoying a new Titanic while having a wonderful, happy experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program reaches an emotional climax with the dancer\u2019s choreographic slide across the ice into their own final Titanic pose as Lukanin holds O\u2019Brien and looks up to the heavens one final time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WATCHING SENIORS COMPETE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both Lukanin and O\u2019Brien enjoy watching senior dance teams and learning from them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI love watching the competitions,\u201d Lukanin said. \u201cMy dad and I sit on the coach and watch all the seniors together. I like Madison Chock and Evan Bates \u201cthread the needle\u201d move.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Brien added, \u201cI watch the senior competitions by myself on the couch, too. My favorite senior move is Olivia Smart and Tim Dieck\u2019s overhead lift from the Dune<\/em> program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If given the opportunity, both would choose Madison Chock & Evan Bates to give them a private lesson. Lukanin says they\u2019re her favorite team; O\u2019Brien likes their artistry<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SCHOOL \/ HOBBIES  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Brien is homeschooled and his favorite subject is ELA (English Language Arts). Currently his prime hobby is playing video games. After skating, he thinks he\u2019d like to be a doctor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lukanin switched to a new private school last year. Like her partner, English Language Arts is her favorite class subject. She enjoys writing and reading if it\u2019s a really good book. Her hobbies include baking, cooking, drawing, painting and bedazzling. So far there\u2019s no dream career, even though coaching runs in the family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EXTRA POINTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rylen Lukanin<\/strong> has a dog named Louisiana who runs away every chance she gets. If she goes to doggy care, she runs home. In Riga, Rylen was really excited to try Latvian cuisine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patrick O\u2019Brien<\/strong> has three older sisters. Anna is an ice dancer and represents Azerbaijan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brooke Tufts,<\/strong> international solo gold medalist recorded the interview from questions supplied by IDC. Afterwards, she made a prediction:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRylen is going to be a food connoisseur one day. She\u2019s going to be writing about all the new restaurants in NYC, and she\u2019ll take me with her so I can try them too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FUN QUESTIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Why?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Brien:  \u201cCookie Dough<\/em> because I like the cookie chunks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lukanin:  \u201cChocolate<\/em> because it\u2019s a good classic, and vanilla is boring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have a favorite sport other than skating? Do you cheer for a favorite team?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Brien: \u201cMy favorite other sport is American football. I\u2019ve been a New York Jets fan for 12-13 years –  since I\u2019ve been alive. I live near them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you weren\u2019t training inside an ice rink, what would be your favorite thing to do?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lukanin: \u201cMy favorite thing would be eating, but that\u2019s really not an activity. I love food because it\u2019s so good. So maybe it could be baking.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Brien:  “I would play American Football\u2026and also fish.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What place that you\u2019ve never been would you like to visit?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lukanin: \u201cFrance! France! France! I\u2019m learning the French language in school. I\u2019ve always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower. Also, everybody says the food is so good there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Brien: \u201cSpain! I just like all the tourist spots, so I want to go there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What famous person would you like to meet? What question would you like to ask them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lukanin: \u201cI would ask Witney Carson from Dancing With The Stars<\/em> why she took up dancing and what made her fall in love with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Brien: \u201cMine is going to be a football one. I would ask Antonio Brown why he ran into the punter with his cleats and hit him in the face.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Describe your partnership with one word.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u201dBrien:   Hard – \u201cA<\/em>ll the training we do is really hard. I really can\u2019t elaborate on hard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lukanin: \u00a0 Rollercoaster – \u201c<\/em> It\u2019s always exciting and fun. We make each other laugh. We like to experience everything together – like going to new places.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Anne Calder | Photos by Daphne Backman Rylen Lukanin and Patrick O\u2019Brien have shared the ice arena at Montclair State University in New Jersey for more than a decade. 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