Hannah Pfeifer & Alexander "Sasha" Petrov:
"Creativeskaters", for July/Aug. 2009
By: Elizabeth Hollett Shackett

Meet Hannah Pfeifer and Alexander “Sasha” Petrov. At 13 and 11 years old, this duo brings together two very diverse backgrounds into one promising ice dance team. Hannah was born in China and was adopted into an American family that has since lived in Illinois, California, and New Jersey. Sasha was born in England and has lived in Russia, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Sasha speaks both English and fluent Russian.

The dance team has been skating together since January 2009 and immediately “clicked” because of their perfectly matched skating style and their complimentary personalities. Hannah can be described as a determined, meticulous and detailed skater who seems very reserved at times, that is, until she skates with her partner.  Sasha is also persevering and brings a fun spirit to the ice. He enjoys expressing the different music rhythms and character. His natural smile is contagious. 

They have already had much success. They’ve won 2 golds and 1 silver medal in their first two competitions. They both feel that their best dance is the 14 Step and coincidentally, it is the dance that they have scored the highest on so far. Hannah and Sasha’s short-term goal is to place in the top 4 at the Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships this summer and the U.S. Junior Championships in December. They both envision the ultimate goal of the Olympic games too.

The duo trains 15-20 hours per week that includes on and off-ice training. I coach them in tandem with World & Olympic Coach, Robbie Kaine and with Sasha’s parents, Oleg Petrov & Maria Pocheykina. Brian Helgenberg, former US National Junior Pairs Champion, also works on their spins. Ironically, the team of coaches is from 3 different countries: United States, Canada, and Russia.

Their time apart is spent very differently. Hannah is a ninth-grade student with many accolades
namely: Superintendents List all Academic Year, President’s Award for Academic Excellence,
and the School’s Best Social Studies Student. Her teachers and administrators not only foster her
educational needs but also her love for ice dancing. For instance, they allow early dismissal for
training and at times, give her extra attention before classes. Sasha’s time off the ice differs
immensely. He has recently begun a homeschool curriculum and is now in the 5th grade. Since
switching to homeschooling, he has more opportunity to skate since most ice time available to him
is during school hours. His mother balances all the subjects out with additional time spent on
Russian, the native language to Sasha’s family.

Hannah and Sasha bring two worlds together to their figure skating relationship. Ice dancing is an
art form of cultural awareness through athleticism, choreography, costume and skating skills.
Perhaps their diversity in backgrounds will bring a unique advantage to the sport? In any case,
it is an out of the ordinary relationship that carries on and continues to develop.

2009-2010 SEASON:
Free Dance Music:
“Tango in Ebony” by Julian Kershaw,
 Maksim & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Show Music:
“I Got You Babe” by Sonny & Cher

Hannah & Sasha's Upcoming Events:
     Sept. 2009:     Challenge Cup, Ardmore, PA
     Nov. 2009:     Eastern Sectional Championships, Newark, DE.