by Maria Bagdasarova | On-Ice Photos by Daphne Backman & Yoriko Suzuki
Competing of their eighth senior season and eleventh total collectively, Canadians Marie-Jade Lauriault & Romain Le Gac proceed to enchant audiences with their distinctive storytelling on the ice. On 14-19 January 2025, they may take part within the Canadian National Skating Championships within the hope to safe a spot on the nation’s staff for the World Championships in Boston.
The duo started their 2024/2025 season with a robust begin, claiming victory on the Lake Placid International Ice Dance Competition in late July. They adopted up with two seventh-place finishes at their Grand Prix occasions, Skate America and Grand Prix de France. Wrapping up the primary half of their season, they earned a fifth-place end on the ISU Challenger Warsaw Cup in November.
Despite not reaching their desired podium placements on this 12 months’s Grand Prix sequence, Lauriault & Le Gac keep a constructive outlook, viewing the expertise as a chance for progress. “We were expecting a lot from this season,” Marie-Jade admitted. “But even though we didn’t meet our goals, we’re proud of the efficient work we did between the two competitions.”
Romain echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the significance of studying from their performances. “We started early this season in Lake Placid and got great feedback. Unfortunately, we left some points on the table at the Grand Prix events, but we’re proud of the preparation and training we’ve done,” he mentioned. For the rest of the season, the staff is concentrated on refining their packages and reaching consistency. “It’s about understanding why certain levels weren’t achieved and making sure we don’t leave any points behind,” Marie-Jade defined.
Lauriault & Le Gac are identified for his or her fastidiously crafted packages with creative storytelling. This season, their rhythm dance attracts inspiration from the Sixties quantity known as “The Rich Man’s Frug” from the musical movie “Sweet Charity”. The program incorporates quirky actions, reflecting the colourful and carefree essence of the period.
“We chose Rich Man’s Frug knowing it would require a lot of work, but also recognizing the fascinating story behind Bob Fosse’s choreography. His style is full of little quirks, and yet it all ties back to the basics of social dance – connecting with someone and dancing together. If you watch the video clip from Sweet Charity, the movements show people enjoying themselves, creating a sense of fun and connection. At the same time, there’s an eccentric edge to the choreography, as if the dancers are a bit arrogant but not taking themselves too seriously. We loved that vibe, and it perfectly captured what social dance should be about: having fun with others and dancing freely without caring what the others think. For us, the goal in the rhythm dance was to reflect that connection and playful, slightly weird energy in our movements,” Marie-Jade explains.
In distinction, their free dance takes audiences to the Wild West, showcasing a cinematic narrative impressed by iconic Western movies. From the sheriff to the outlaw, this system juxtaposes the themes of regulation versus freedom. “Marie-Jade brought up the idea,” Romain revealed. “At first, I wasn’t sure, but as we explored more Western music, it started to come together.”
The program brings collectively stereotypical Western imagery of a superb man, unhealthy man, and a sheriff with fashionable parts. “We used those familiar images as the foundation to create a story with various characters and elements people associate with Westerns. We also wanted to modernize the vibe, especially in how women are portrayed. We wanted the woman to be powerful,” Marie-Jade mentioned, referencing her pantsuit costume and dominant function in some lifts. “In some of the lifts, I’m positioned higher than Romain. These subtle touches allowed us to maintain the Western aesthetic while introducing a fresh perspective.”
Lauriault & Le Gac’s 11-year partnership has been a journey of creative exploration and pushing the boundaries with their daring decisions of characters they create to the ice. Whether evoking humor in Pink Panther or gothic appeal in Corpse Bride, their packages persistently stand out for his or her creativity. “It’s easier to work by theme,” Marie-Jade defined. “The idea takes form as we develop the program, from costumes to choreography.”
Their inventive course of begins with music choice. “We start with a four-hour playlist of music,” Marie-Jade defined. “It builds throughout the season, and then we filter it, because some music isn’t made for skating. We also think about the elements – the lifts, spin, and the cues we want when listening.”
Romain added, “We pick music we’ll enjoy the whole year. Sometimes we choose too quickly and realize it’s not right, but when we really like it, we can push through the season.”
Once the music and theme are chosen, the duo works with their coaches at Ice Academy of Montreal to refine their imaginative and prescient.
“We always try different ideas and themes,” Marie-Jade shared. “For the Western free dance, we didn’t just listen to movie scores; we explored Western show music and Cirque du Soleil to broaden our horizon. The music evolves continuously on the ice as the coaches bring their perspectives.”
Their storytelling features depth from the specialists they work with. “Emilie [Josset], our theater coach, is great at creating characters and backstories,” mentioned Marie-Jade. “Eva [Airapetian], our ballet teacher, helps us dig deeper into themes. For this year’s free dance, she explored the law versus freedom theme: Is the law always right, or is freedom sometimes?”.
Romain elaborated, “Marie-Jade is the sheriff, representing law, and I’m the bad guy, representing freedom. But is he really bad?”
“When we build a program, we know the tools and team we have,” Romain concluded. “Each person brings their expertise to add another layer, making the story richer and more complete.”
Their inventive method extends past their performances. “We try to share this process with young skaters we coach now,” mentioned Marie-Jade. “It’s important for them to bring something to the table. It’s hard to skate on something imposed on you. Researching and believing in the music makes a difference. It helps you connect to the program and bring out that deeper performance, especially when the technical part is already there.”
After the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted their routines in 2020, Marie-Jade and Romain made the choice to modify from representing France to Canada. The transfer grew to become a catalyst for reigniting their ardour for skating. Reflecting on the transition, Romain defined, “During the pandemic, everybody questioned themselves because we had time; everything stopped. We had already done five or six seasons together, every competition we could have done – Europeans, Worlds, Olympics. We looked at that and saw that something was missing at that point. We were not aligned with our values.”
Logistically, the fixed journey between France and Canada was pricey and left little time for high quality interactions with their household in France. Marie-Jade defined: “When you train in a country you don’t represent, it’s incredibly challenging. Making the switch really allowed us to feel the values we were talking about. Everything was in place. One of our core values is family and now we see our family in France with more quality time. Before, it was always on the go: competition, maybe one day to visit, and then back. Now we’re more relaxed and can truly enjoy those moments.”
The sources accessible in Canada additionally performed a key function of their progress as athletes and people. “The team around us – physios, mental coaches, physical trainers – we have access to so many great resources,” mentioned Marie-Jade. “It’s not just about becoming better skaters; we’re becoming better people. They’re building the whole picture, giving us skills beyond skating, which helps prepare us for life after the sport.”
For Romain, the choice to symbolize Canada has been transformative. “We’re proud of what we achieved skating for France; it’s part of our story,” he acknowledged. “But what keeps us competing now is the support we’ve found in Quebec and Canada. We’re still learning so much from the incredible people we’re surrounded by. That’s why we’re still here today, and as long as we’re learning, we’ll keep going.”
As Marie-Jade Lauriault & Romain Le Gac proceed their journey as skilled ice dancers, their off-ice priorities mirror a balanced and considerate lifestyle past competitors. “For now, at the beginning of the year, we both took a break – me from my studies and Romain from osteopathy – to fully immerse ourselves in the off-ice training opportunities we had access to,” Marie-Jade shared. “I’ll go back to school in December, but coaching remains an integral part of our daily routine. It’s important to us to give back and share what we’ve learned, as it’s also a way for us to keep learning.” Both emphasize the significance of getting a “plan B”, not only for themselves but in addition for the youthful skaters they mentor.
Romain echoed this sentiment, reflecting on how their households instilled the worth of preparation. “Both of our families were aligned in ensuring we have a plan B. That’s why we’re still here today; knowing there’s something after skating gives us peace of mind,” he mentioned. He additionally highlighted their openness to new experiences, recalling a post-pandemic collaboration with Montreal’s “Circus des 7 doigts de la main”. “It was a great experience, and we’re open to shows like Cirque du Soleil in the future. For now, though, we’re living fully as professional athletes for the first time, with a schedule that’s aligned with recovery, nutrition, and training.”
This resolution to focus totally on skating is a shift from their traditional steadiness of athletics and different commitments. “It was a bit of a change for us,” Romain admitted. “We’ve always had something on the side, but we realized this might be our only chance to go all in as full-time athletes. We want to look back and say, ‘We gave it everything.’”
For Marie-Jade, this method ensures they will skate with out worry of the long run. “Knowing we have something waiting for us after skating means we’re not here because we have to be; we’re here because we still find joy in it,” she defined.
For Lauriault & Le Gac, this season’s main purpose is to safe a spot on the Canadian world staff. The duo takes it one season at a time, reevaluating their priorities often. “Each year, we ask ourselves, ‘Where am I in my life? Is this where I want to be?’” Marie-Jade mentioned. “It’s an exercise that has allowed us to keep skating longer while staying true to our evolving goals.”