Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko are entering the 2026 competition season as one of the most promising rising ice dance teams in the United States. The promising ice dance team has represented the United States at multiple international championships, including the 2026 Winter Olympics. This week, the pair, known for their chemistry and emotional connection, previewed their upcoming free dance. Fans are already calling it the “program of the season,” and summer isn’t even over yet.
Skating to the soundtrack of the ballet Manon, Carreira, 25, and Ponomarenko, 26, showcased their upcoming free dance, a stunning story of desire, love, and tragedy, while rehearsing in Sun Valley, Idaho. As the pair effortlessly glide across the ice, spinning and twisting as if the two have become one, they seamlessly capture the emotion of the music, leaving fans stunned and eagerly awaiting the upcoming competitive ice skating season.
@christina.carreira Manon 2026-2027✨ This season our Free Dance will be to the soundtrack of the ballet Manon. A story of love, desire, and tragedy. Can’t wait to bring this to life on the ice! We’re so excited, we love the music, the story, and the program🥰 🎥@On Ice Perspectives @Anthony Ponomarenko #teamusa #figureskating #icedance #olympics #iceskating
♬ sonido original – Nan
“Gorgeous,” gushed one fan. “I cannot wait.”
“OMGG this is going to be THE program of the season,” added another.
One more shared, “This gave me goosebumps, I’m so ready!!!”
Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko’s Rise in Ice Dance
Skating together since 2014, Carreira and Ponomarenko combine her expressive style with his powerful skating skills to create routines built around connection and emotion rather than just technical precision.
Carreira and Ponomarenko have steadily climbed the international rankings, earning medals at major competitions and becoming consistent contenders on the Grand Prix and championship circuits. Their growth has positioned them as one of the country’s leading ice dance teams heading into the 2026-2027 competition season.
Why Their Manon Free Dance Has Fans Excited
The early preview of their 2026 free dance suggests a program designed for the sport’s biggest stage. Set to music from Manon, the routine gives Carreira and Ponomarenko the opportunity to showcase what has become their greatest strength: storytelling.
The ballet’s dramatic themes and expressive soundtrack allow the pair to lean into the qualities fans already love about their skating — elegance and the ability to make the choreography feel like a story unfolding in real time on the ice.
Related: Olympic Skating Legends, Who Captivated the World With ‘Boléro’ at the 1984 Winter Olympics, Honored by King Charles
Could Carreira and Ponomarenko Create an Olympic Moment?
@christina.carreira So excited for worlds next week👀 #teamusa #figureskating #icedance #worldchampionship #olympics
♬ Dracula (JENNIE Remix) – Tame Impala & JENNIE
The greatest Olympic skating performances are often remembered because they make audiences feel something before the scores appear. Torvill and Dean’s “Boléro” may have happened decades ago, but the excitement and awe people felt watching the iconic routine for the first time never goes away.
Carreira and Ponomarenko’s Manon free dance preview has that same early feeling. This pair isn’t just executing technically challenging moves; they’re making the audience feel every emotion captured in the music and their choreography.
The next Winter Olympics will be in the French Alps in 2030, but expectations are already rising. If their preview is any indication, Carreira and Ponomarenko may have created a free dance designed not just to compete, but to leave a lasting impression.
Related: Olympic Skating Legend, 62, Who Created Magic at the 1988 Winter Games, Can Still Make the Ice Sing
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