April Sargent & Russ Witherby
2 US Championships & Olympians
You were always an amazing talent, energy and dancer…very fortunate to have this working experience with you!!! Great memories- Russ Witherby
20* Years of Excellence, Ice Dancing & Pairs
Eight couples in 5 Olympics, 2 Professional World Championships
Parents: "Do you know how to skate?" Me: "Uh, not really"
In 1990 I was invited to the US Olympic Training Center for an elite skaters camp. Although I did not even skate, I was there based on a recommendation from a pro world skate champion, I didn’t know the difference between Pairs and Dance. By the end of two days, the top three training teams and camps were vying for my services. That year I worked with the top three teams on the podium. The top three went to the Olympics. Although our teams that year could not break through the Russian top couples, the ABC commentator stated “our couples technique may not be the equal of the Russians, but boy do they have inventive choreography!” (As they highlighted a trick I had given our top couples, and soon was being done by the Russians the following season) At the 1995 San Jose- US Nationals US, World & Olympic Champion Dick Button said on the ABC Broadcast: “The two hottest choreographers in skating today are Enio Cordoba and (Twyla Tharp & Drew Carey show choreographer) Keith Young
Although I was based in Los Angeles, I was being flown into the Colorado Springs/Broadmoor/World Arena camps of Sandra Hess, the University of Delaware camp of Ron Luddington, the Philadelphia camp of Robbie Kaine and the Southern California camps of Darlene Gilbert and John Nicks. Although my first work was developing a ballroom dance frame and creating the true character of the dances for the compulsories, I was soon choreographing the entrances, exits, tricks and Original Dance pieces. In 2012 Torino three couples i had worked with from Azerbajian, Japan and the USA competing in the Olympics. And to keep from freezing during long mornings on the ice, I learned how to skate (well at least- not fall down or get out of the way) from Russian Singles coach Victor Yelchin to help me understand what could and couldn’t be done on ice. Upon the retirement of Sandy Hess I stopped coaching until I moved to Dallas in 2017. Finally a winning piece that I helped choreography for Russ Witherby and Lia Trovati for the US Pro Skaters comp on ESPN we jokingly dubbed the “Wifebeater Tango” you can see in the header above.
Previous
Next
2022-24 Update
My 3 time Olympians Denis & Melissa brought me in last year to work with their future stars in Hartford, Connecticut. I just helped choreograph both the free and Rhythm dances for Hungarian representatives Lucy Hancock & Ilias Fourati. In 2022 Romy Malcolm & Noah Lafornara. danced their first Grand Prix in Gdansk, Poland and did remarkably well! UK’s Skating with the Stars on Ice star Mark Hanretty calls the action and performance and compliments my work at 3:55. Noah is now the Junior Italian Champion and recently won the Latvian & Thailand Grand Prixs.
The New Kids on the Block
After the 2012 Torino Olympics, Sandy Hess retired. I thought I was done with skating. But in 2021 my last Olympians Melissa Gregory Petukhova and Denis Petukhov called and asked me to work with the new teams of kids they were developing. Skating for Hungary, Lucy Hancock and Ilias Fourati, Romy Malcolm and Noah LaFormara for Italy, and juniors Hana Aboian and Danil Veselukhin. Hana & Danil, shocked everyone by winning 3 straight comps (beating much older and established couples) in Southwest Florida, Dallas and their first International in Lake Placid. They have been assigned Grand Prixs so look for them to continue to do great things! Newest couple Sammy Udell and Zak Churton from Australia just teamed and already look wonderful. Lastly, Noah returns from Italy soon with a new partner, and am already hearing amazing things. The real credit goes to the fantastic work being done by coaches Melissa and Denis. The technical level of their skating allows me to do things that I otherwise could not do.
SOME Of the Star Couples I Worked With
Renee Roca & Gorsha Sur
2 US Championships & World Pro Champions
A change in the rules allowed Rene & Gorsha the ability to skate. A collision with another team on the warmups, kept them from winning their 3rd US Gold. Only a citizenship holdup prevented them from skating the 94 Olympics. “To Enio: Thanks for all your great work”
Melissa Gregory & Denis Petukhov
This fairy tale partnership started with an ad looking for a partner. A 6AM call asking me to fly in that morning to evaluate the boy coming in from Russia. 2006 & 2012 Olympics US Silver Medalists. “To Enio: Thanks for giving us your magic!” Melissa “To the best-Thanks!”-Denis
Liz Punsalan & Jerrod Swallow
Five US Championships, 3 Olympics -8 National Podium finishes, World Pro Champions
“To Enio, You’ve been a great inspiration to us! Thanks so much, Elizabeth & Jerrod XO”
Rachel Mayer & Peter Breen
This team leap frogged over the previous US #1 to capture Silver and an invitation to the 1992 Albertville Olympics.
Mark Hanratty & Christina Chitwood
Mark from Scotland returned to the UK after a brief partnership and did very well in competition. Now he’s a regular pro on Skating with the Stars UK version. Mark is the color commentator for the ISU Gran Prixs series.
Christina retired from competition and taught professionally.
