Milla Ruud Reitan and Nikolaj Majorov: "We want to improve as much as possible"

November 28, 2024
By Reut Golinsky
Photo © Reut Golinsky, Eva Maria Jangbro (EMJO)

Milla Ruud Reitan and Nikolaj Majorov teamed up in the spring of 2023. In their first season, the duo debuted at the 2023 Nebelhorn Trophy, achieving scores that qualified them for the European and World Championships and became the first Swedish ice dance team to compete at Worlds since 1982.

We caught up with them at the beginning of the season in Oberstdorf, where they train, to discuss their new programs, costumes, goals for the season, and... stargazing.

The last time we met was in the mixed zone during the 2024 Europeans, after your rhythm dance. Even though you were in one of the earlier groups, quite a few journalists were present because of your team's story and it being your first major competition together. You sounded very enthusiastic, and things seemed to be going well. What has happened since then?

Nikolaj: After Europeans, we identified what we needed to work on and put in a lot of effort to improve and continue the process. I feel that this really showed at Worlds in Montreal. We scored over 61 points, which was a pleasant surprise for us. In our first season together, at our first Worlds, skating in an earlier group and achieving such a high score felt incredible - really cool. It also proved that the extra hard work we put in with the coaches - adding details, improving our musicality, and spending hours working in front of the mirror - truly paid off.

This season, we knew what we needed and stepped it up, even venturing a bit out of our comfort zone for the rhythm dance. For the free dance, we also aimed to take the next step by focusing on stronger connections, softer skating, better flow, and more energy. You know, ice dancing is hard because you need to skate in sync with your partner, follow the tempo, express emotions, and stay soft - all at the same time. But I think we're doing pretty well.

We're speaking during the Nebelhorn Trophy, but you're not competing here. Why didn't you start your season at this event?

Nikolaj: We wanted to, but with our competition schedule, it didn't really fit in. Otherwise, there would have been a long wait until the next competition. So we listened to our coach - we trust him completely - and he suggested going to the Denis Ten Memorial Challenge.
Milla: But we competed there last season. It was nice - we really enjoyed both the competition and the country.
Nikolaj: We really loved Kazakhstan, so it wasn't a hard decision to go there again.

You mentioned stepping up your programs - tell me more about them.

Nikolaj: It was during Worlds in Montreal that our coach told us to start searching for music for the free dance - something that would help us grow, stretch out more, and achieve more flow. We spent quite a while looking for the right piece. He sent us ideas, we sent him ideas, and Masha, our choreographer (Maria Tumanovska-Chaika), sent ideas too. So, as a team, we were all working together to find something that would suit us. When we proposed "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg," it didn't take long for them to say they liked it. By the end of June, we started working on it.

We created a bit of a mix: we start with the original version from the 70s, then transition to a more modern one performed by Mario Pelchat - a bit less conventional, you could say - and we also incorporated some tango from the same movie.

The concept is this love game between young people, a blend of different emotions, with a lot of soft music, and then, at the end, a powerful feeling. You can really interpret the program in your own way; we're not strictly following the story of the movie. Instead, we're offering our own interpretation, our own story.

Milla: For our rhythm dance, we're going with "Ballroom Blitz" by The Sweet and "Proud Mary" by Tina Turner. The music was Masha's idea.

Nikolaj: We were struggling to find something that we both felt comfortable with and could draw power from. Then, during our practice, Masha played "Ballroom Blitz." At first, we were thinking about ABBA, but many couples were planning to use it. Plus, it was harder to find something with the tempo changes required for the rhythm dance. But when Masha played "Ballroom Blitz," she said, "Wow, this is a cool song." For me, it's one of my favourite songs - it's among the first I ever started playing drums to. So, I asked Milla what she thought about it. It's a super fast song, from start to finish, but we loved it.

The feeling we want to convey is this crazy dance party: we start off with twizzles, full of power and energy. Then it slows down a bit with the "Proud Mary" section. And we finish it off with a forward step and a lift, bringing us back to the crazy part. So, we're both stepping out of our comfort zones here. For such fast, intense music, and as a fairly new ice dance couple, getting everything in sync - especially all the super-fast arm movements - was super, super hard.

It's rock and roll, and it's not easy. We both haven't done much with these kinds of themes before. So, it's been a lot of watching YouTube, doing our best while looking in the mirror. We couldn't afford to bring someone in for off-ice training, so we checked out a lot of YouTube videos and learned some parts ourselves.

Milla: But we like it - we like this crazy tempo. I think it brings even more energy, and we really draw that energy from the music.

And you did have quite a fast dance last season as well.

Nikolaj: Oh, that's slow compared to this!
People who enjoy this musical style will definitely like it. The Sweet were huge in the 70s, especially with this song. I hope people will enjoy it.

One of the classic questions to ask in a season leading up to the Olympic Games, and in the season where Worlds is the Olympic qualifier, is how much do you think about it and adjust your goals accordingly?

Milla: We're really focusing more on the season itself, on each competition, taking it step by step. We're still a very new couple...
Nikolaj: There are so many details still to work on, and there will be a lot of couples, as we saw at Worlds, who will be fighting for it. Right now, it's more important for us to get out there, to understand the discipline, and to take a big step forward with each competition. Then, after each competition, we'll go back and work, work harder. Right now, the Olympics are somewhere on the table, but...
Milla: ...we don't think about them too much. We just want to improve as much as possible.

So you were never "an Olympic project," but more of an "ice dance project" in general.

Nikolaj: Exactly! We have to remember that this is only our second season. Yes, I've competed in singles, but that has nothing to do with ice dance! So, our main focus right now is about taking small steps every day to improve - just fine-tuning, from getting the turns cleaner to improving our positions...

Milla: ...small details, like our arms and softness. Of course, sometimes we get a little excited, but then we have to calm down and remember that we've only skated one season together.

Nikolaj: Our biggest goal for now is getting closer to qualifying and making it to the free dance at major championships.

Sounds like you're setting realistic and achievable goals.

Nikolaj: Absolutely. And to get there, we first need to focus on all the small things. We're really perfectionists.

Well, in photography, Nikolaj, you're definitely a perfectionist.

Nikolaj: Oh yes, it's always something I want to improve. I always think, "Ah, this could have been a bit better!" And I think we're just the same on the ice. Sometimes after a run-through, we'll say, "This wasn't so good. That didn't feel right. There was a little hiccup there." Then we check the video, and you can't even see it! So, sometimes we take that extra step and are very self-critical.

I really liked your black and white costumes last year - they were very photogenic...

Nikolaj: My mom made our costumes, both last season and this season.
Milla: This season's costumes are really cool; we absolutely love them. The dress for the free dance is especially beautiful.

She also made your costumes in singles?

Nikolaj: Absolutely. Since my very first competition. She also made them for my brother. It's one of her many talents. And my father always sharpens the skates.

Talking about talents and other interests, you, Nikolaj, have this whole other world of photography. What about you, Milla?

Milla: I don't have that many hobbies, actually. I spend most of my time on all things ice dancing. But I really enjoy doing gymnastics because my mom did gymnastics when she was younger. So, I do that a lot with her when I'm in Norway. I also took ballet lessons with the National Ballet when I was in Norway, but not now that we've moved to Germany. Aside from that, I don't really have other hobbies.

Nikolaj and I really love to watch the stars. We usually take our bikes at night or in the evening and watch the Milky Way and other things. It's something we really enjoy doing. We also do some hikes when we have the energy. We bring coffee with us and go for a hike, or take a bike ride. We've been doing a lot of cool trips lately.

Nikolaj: Milla also didn't mention that she choreographs great programs for the skaters back in Norway.

Milla: Yes, I work a bit at the rink when I'm in Norway. I do choreography for single skaters, and I also love coaching when I'm there.

Why not here? There are a lot of younger skaters training here as well.

Nikolaj: Our schedule is pretty packed here: eat, run to the rink, get back. We don't have our parents here, and we don't have a car, so it's either walking or cycling. Then, we have to do all the groceries, cook, rest, and then go back to the rink again.

So, your life is pretty much centered fully around your own skating.

Nikolaj: Yes, and this is perfect. For us, it would be hard to skate somewhere else.
Milla: We really enjoy Oberstdorf; it's perfect for us. Everything is close, it's small. And our coaches are amazing.
Nikolaj: The coaches are fantastic. And there's not much to complain about.

As initially planned, Nikolaj and Milla competed at the Denis Ten Memorial Challenge, where they finished ninth. They then participated in two more Challengers - in Bratislava and Warsaw - finishing sixth and ninth, respectively. At the Nepela Memorial in Bratislava, they also improved all their personal best scores. We wish them the best of luck for the rest of the season!