Looks: Vintage Dress.
Hair & Makeup: Maria Alekseeva.
Representative: Svyatoslava Sotnikova.
Elizaveta Shichina and Pavel Drozd are Russian figure skaters, ice dancers. Pavel is a medalist of World Championships, international Grand Prix events and the Russian Championships and Nationals. Together, they are prize-winners of Russian Grand Prix stages. Their path in sports is full of victories, hardships and moments when everything had to be started from scratch. In our interview they talk about how they found each other, why trust and support became the foundation of their partnership, how they live through dramatic stories on the ice and much more.
Elizaveta and Pavel, I'm so happy to see you! I must say, this is my first time working with figure skaters, so I will remember you forever.
Pavel: Thank you for the invitation. It's a great pleasure on our side to be the first representatives of our sport and to stand alongside interesting actors and representatives of creative professions.
Let's start from the beginning: tell us how you became professional athletes? What path did you take? How did you meet each other?
Pavel: My path has been quite long, thorny and winding. It is full of wonderful, remarkable moments, emotions, victories, but at the same time, also a great many difficulties that had to be overcome.
Speaking of the origins: I started figure skating around the age of five. I took my first steps at the Yubileyny Sports Palace in my beloved hometown of St. Petersburg. For a long time, I skated and competed in singles. Around the age of 13, circumstances led me to switch to ice dancing.
I've now been competing in this discipline for about 17 years. To put it very briefly, my career has had many bright moments: medals at World Championships, international Grand Prix events, and the Russian Championships and Nationals. But at the same time, there were also moments when I had to start all over again, completely from scratch. That's never easy, especially given the specifics of our sport.
Lisa and I met in Alexander Zhulin's group. But, as you probably know, there's a big age difference between us. I was skating in the masters group, and Lisa was a junior. So we didn't really cross paths much.
Elizaveta: Yes, so we didn't really communicate. I started figure skating at age 4. I really wanted to — I watched «Ice Age» and dreamed of performing like that. Until I was 12, I skated at Moskvich. Then I switched to ice dancing because I preferred dancing, gliding... I was always afraid of jumping.
During my ice dancing career, I changed three partners. A year and a half before our partnership was formed, I moved from Alexander Zhulin to Ksenia Rumyantseva. Then Pavel returned to the group (he had trained in this team for many years before), and we formed our duo.
Pavel, you have a long career in sports behind you. In one interview, you said that perhaps your entire career unfolded the way it did in order to eventually lead you to Lisa. Tell us more about that. What, in your opinion, makes your partnership unique?
Pavel: Here the answer to the second question smoothly follows from the previous one. In my opinion, it's all inextricably linked and is a continuation of the conversation about my athletic path. As I said earlier, my path was indeed filled with many different moments, including situations where I had to start everything over.
When a partnership with my previous partners ended for one reason or another, it was always sad and difficult for both partners. The reasons could be completely different: health issues, changes in goals and vision of the shared path, and many other things.
This is exactly where my thought comes from: ice dancing is a discipline with a huge number of nuances. For success, so many circumstances, small details and nuances, hours of painstaking work must come together. And on top of that, fortune must definitely smile on you, so that at the right moment everything falls into place and yields a result.
Therefore, partnership is not only about how many hours you spend together on the ice or how many times you do a particular exercise. It's a deep interconnection and understanding of the small details necessary in our profession, a shared vision of the athletic path, and, of course, unconditional trust, understanding, support and respect for each other.
In my opinion, many of these things are present in our partnership, and I am very happy and grateful to Elizaveta for that. Of course, we are still in the process of improving, so I really hope and believe that it will only get better from here.
Lisa, you joined the partnership when Pavel was already a master. Were you afraid of letting him down? Or was it rather a desire to prove that you were exactly the right one who would handle it brilliantly?
Elizaveta: I had just broken up with Gordey (Elizaveta's previous partner) and was skating alone. I remember the coaches called me and said that a new athlete had joined the group and they would like to see us skate together. I never imagined it could be Pavel. And of course, when I found out, I was squealing with joy.
Before the tryouts and before our journey together began, I felt a little nervous, a bit of awe, and a wild desire to start training as soon as possible. And the natural desire to prove that I was «the one» was there then and still is now. I hope I'm succeeding.
Pavel is a very responsible and reliable partner. He supported me and gave me advice, and I'm very grateful to him for that.
Watching your free dance, I noticed that it's set to very dramatic music. How do you manage to get so deeply into character every time?
Elizaveta: I don't think there's one single secret. Our dramatic music isn't just background. Pavel and I live this story the entire time we're working on the program.
I don't just get into character at the start. I start feeling it during training, at home, when I'm playing the music in my head. What helps is that in ice dancing, you're not just performing elements — you're telling a story. And our drama always has a personal, understandable emotion behind it: loss, pain, overcoming, hope, love.
I think we're just honest with our emotions. The audience always senses falseness. So we simply feel our story, feel the music, and trust each other. And then the character lives on its own.
Pavel: I completely agree with Lisa. When choosing music for our programs, it's very important for us that the story and emotions we want to convey to the audience arise within us as we listen to the music, as we prepare and create the program. Because if you feel nothing inside yourself, then, as Lisa rightly said, the audience senses the falseness, and it all becomes just empty skating to one theme or another.
What was the turning point in your career for each of you?
Elizaveta: The switch to ice dancing was a real turning point for me. That's when I realised that, despite all the difficulties, I can, I want to grow and develop here. I understood that this is mine.
Pavel: Speaking about the moment when you realise that figure skating is not just a hobby for you, but a profession, the work of your life — that's actually a difficult question.
I think the understanding that this is what you will devote most of your life to comes gradually, along with the confidence you start to feel when results and medals appear. When as a child you gradually see your skills improving. Despite the fact that it's very hard work, you ultimately take pleasure in what you do. Your first victories come, when you qualify and go to bigger and more important competitions, when you see many other strong athletes from different countries and cities.
Of course, the boundaries of what's possible expand greatly for you. It seems to me that this doesn't happen in one single moment when you say to yourself, «This is my profession!» I think it's a process that happens gradually, along with belief and desire, along with understanding your own abilities and talent, and, of course, along with the favour of fortune. All of this comes together at a certain moment in such a way that it truly becomes your profession, an important and integral part of your life.
You often travel between St. Petersburg and Moscow (training, competitions, work), as well as to other countries around the world. How do you manage to maintain balance and avoid burnout?
Pavel: An intense training and competition schedule has its pros, but also its cons. So being constantly on the move, leading an active life — it's hard.
The main driving force is always love for your profession, for your work. Because if you're doing what you love, what your soul is drawn to, then you have much more energy for it. There's a saying: «Find a job you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life». That's how it is.
Elizaveta: The body tells you itself. If I catch myself getting irritated over small things or feeling that even small tasks are hard — that means it's time to take a break. Sometimes the best way to recover is just to spend the weekend at home.
What quality in your partner helps you maintain such a wonderful partnership?
Elizaveta: It's hard to single out just one quality. Pavel is a very positive, very kind, very understanding, strong, reliable and responsible partner. He is a very multifaceted and versatile person. And it's precisely all these qualities that create that feeling of security and trust.
Pavel: It would be difficult to limit myself to just one quality. As I said earlier, our discipline itself consists of many nuances and small details. But still, I would probably highlight the ability to listen and hear. And of course, Lisa's unconditional dedication and hard work — these are very important qualities that help us in our shared, challenging work and activity.
Many athletes have their own «ritual» before stepping onto the ice. Do you have any kind of ritual?
Elizaveta: Speaking for myself, I always put on my silicone (skating tights), tights, and skates starting with my left foot. And I step onto the ice with my left foot too.
In general, Pavel and I always try to tune in to the same wavelength and feel each other before a performance: we hold hands, look at each other, hug.
Pavel: I don't really have any rituals as such. It depends more on my mood, and based on experience, I pick the right «settings» for myself: sometimes I listen to music, sometimes I need silence to avoid losing focus, and so on. And, of course, the shared rituals that Lisa mentioned.
This question is a bit cliche, but I really want to know the answer: what is your source of inspiration in your work?
Elizaveta: My inspiration comes from the love of what I do. When I step onto the ice and feel the music, my partner, the audience — that's real fuel. And of course, that little girl inside me who dreamed of performing. And she succeeded. I'm also inspired by results — seeing progress, development, understanding that everything I put my energy, emotions, and time into isn't wasted.
Pavel: First and foremost, it's love for my profession, for my craft. Also, our dear fans, the audience, lovers of figure skating. Because when you give your all, your emotions at competitions, you receive the audience's love and feel their energy in return. When people come up to you and thank you for what you do, say that your performance touched their hearts and reached them — that is priceless and gives you a lot of strength to keep working and moving forward.
Another source of inspiration is the feeling that you still have something to say in sport. As well as the images and potential that you want to bring to life.
What do you like to do in your free time? Do you have any hobbies?
Elizaveta: I have many hobbies, many interests… if I have the energy for them, of course. For example, I like playing billiards with friends, drawing, playing musical instruments, having my photo taken. Also, developing in dance — learning new choreography, mastering new styles, exploring different directions.
Pavel: Unfortunately, I don't have much free time. But when we have a vacation (usually in May, when the season ends), before starting preparation for the new season, I love to travel — if that can be called a hobby.
I try to get away to see other cultures, other places — it's a huge source of inspiration and energy to keep moving forward. Because any trip isn't just about lying on the beach. It enriches you from within. You meet new people, see their worldview. Our planet is beautiful. There are so many interesting places created by nature or by human hands, so many wonderful people with their traditions and culture. So it's always a huge source of inspiration and a push for further self‑development.
I also really love learning foreign languages. I speak several: Spanish, English. Thanks to travelling, I managed to learn a basic level of Italian and French. Last summer I took a beginner's course in Greek. It needs more time, but unfortunately, with the start of the season, I have less and less of it. Still, I haven't given up my attempts to learn Greek.
I also love art, history and, of course, theatre. Theatre of all kinds. It could be classical ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre, which I treat with reverence and love, especially performances featuring Oksana Skorik (because watching how she controls her hands and her overall dance technique is pure pleasure), as well as wonderful performances at our BDT, which I try to attend whenever possible. I also really love the Maly Drama Theatre, where I always go with great pleasure to see performances starring Elizaveta Boyarskaya.
St. Petersburg's cultural life is beautiful and multifaceted.
Elizaveta: Thank you for this opportunity! It was a real pleasure to answer all your questions and to collaborate.
Pavel: Let me say right away that I always find it very difficult to answer questions about favourites (whether in books, music, or films). There are so many worthy works, and it's hard to single out just one. I'll give a few answers, but even that is far from everything.
Favorite movie?
Elizaveta: 7 Lives.
Pavel: Life is Beautiful, The Proposal, The Prince of Egypt, Midnight in Paris, Happiness in an Envelope.
Favorite TV series?
Elizaveta: Sherlock.
Pavel: Isabel, Made in Italy, Se quien eres.
Favorite game?
Elizaveta: Mafia.
Pavel: Civilization.
Favorite book?
Elizaveta: The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Pavel: Great Expectations, The Red and the Black, The Fountainhead, We the Living.
Favorite quote?
Elizaveta: «It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye».
Pavel: Silencio (Fuel Fandango), Jalla (Antigoni), Per Sempre Si (Sal da Vinci).
What's your house from Game of Thrones?
Elizaveta: Haven't watched it.
Pavel: Haven't watched it.
What's your Hogwarts House
Elizaveta: Gryffindor.
Pavel: Ravenclaw.
Marvel or DC?
Elizaveta: Marvel.
Pavel: I'm not a fan of comic book films, but if I have to choose between them, then rather Marvel.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Elizaveta: Laughter, perseverance, tenderness.
Pavel: Empathetic, creative, Petersburger.
Do you have an idol and if you do, who is it and why?
Elizaveta: Victoria Sinitsina. For me, she's that rare case where incredible beauty, strength, femininity and perseverance are all combined in one person. Back when we were training in the same group, I remember deliberately going out to watch the senior ice. I would just freeze and watch that art. You see a fragile girl, but at the same time you feel a steel core. For me, then and now, she is the perfect balance between struggle and grace.
Pavel: I don't have specific idols. In our profession, in sport, there have been many outstanding athletes at different times, from whom there is something to learn and who have influenced the development of our sport.
