Igor Shpilband is a former Soviet ice dancer and current ice dancing coach.

Personal life

Shpilband was born in Moscow

Moscow

Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...

. In January 1990, he and other skaters were part of a U.S. tour headlined by Jayne Torvill

Jayne Torvill

Jayne Torvill, OBE is a British ice dancer. With Christopher Dean, she won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics.-Early life:...

 and Christopher Dean

Christopher Dean

Christopher Colin Dean, OBE is a famous British ice dancer who won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics with his skating partner Jayne Torvill...

 when one of them, Gorsha Sur

Gorsha Sur

Georgi 'Gorsha' Sur is a former ice dancer who represented the United States and the Soviet Union. With Svetlana Liapina for the Soviet Union, he is a two-time World Junior medalist. With Renée Roca for the U.S., he is a two-time U.S...

, decided to defect

Defection

In politics, a defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state or political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. More broadly, it involves abandoning a person, cause or doctrine to whom or to which one is bound by some tie, as of allegiance or duty.This term is also applied,...

 and Shpilband, Veronika Pershina and Elena Krikanova

Elena Krikanova

Elena Krikanova is a former Soviet ice dancer. With former partner Evgeni Platov, she is a three-time World Junior champion . In January 1990, she defected to the United States along with Gorsha Sur and other skaters.-Results:...

 decided to join him. He got a coaching position in Detroit not long after. Shpilband became a naturalized United States citizen in 2000. He was formerly married to Veronica Pershina

Veronica Pershina

Veronica Pershina is a former Soviet pair skater. With partner Marat Akbarov, she was the 1985 European bronze medalist and 1979 World Junior champion. She was trained by Stanislav Zhuk and Irina Rodnina....

. Their daughter, Ekaterina Shpilband, competes on the national level in the United States. He is now married to an Arctic FSC coach Adrienne Lenda.

Competitive and coaching career

With partner Tatiana Gladkova

Tatiana Gladkova

Tatiana Gladkova is a former Soviet ice dancer. She won the 1983 World Junior Figure Skating Championships with Igor Shpilband.-Competitive highlights:-Navigation:...

, he won the 1983 World Junior Figure Skating Championships

World Junior Figure Skating Championships

The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion...

. They were coached by Ludmila Pakhomova. Shpilband retired from competitive skating following her death in 1986.

Following his defection, he began working as a coach at the Detroit Skating Club. He later began coaching in Canton, Michigan. Gorsha Sur recommended him as a coach to Elizabeth Punsalan

Elizabeth Punsalan

Elizabeth Punsalan or Swallow is an American ice dancer. With her partner and husband Jerod Swallow, she is a five-time U.S. national champion, two-time Skate America champion, and competed twice in the Winter Olympics.- Career :Early in her career, Punsalan competed with Christopher Rettstatt,...

 and Jerod Swallow

Jerod Swallow

Jerod Swallow is an American ice dancer. With his partner and wife Elizabeth Punsalan, he is a five-time U.S. national champion, two-time Skate America champion, and competed twice in the Winter Olympics....

, who were one of his first students.

Shpilband does most of his teams' choreography as well. He used to co-coach with Elizabeth Coates

Elizabeth Coates

Elizabeth Coates is a British ice dancer and coach. She grew up in south London, with her brother Gary, and trained at the ice rink in Streatham. As a competitive skater, she competed with Alan Abretti and was the 1985 & 1986 British silver medalist...

. He began coaching with Marina Zueva in 2001.

Among his current and former students and choreogaphy clients are
Alisa Agafonova

Alisa Agafonova

Alisa Agafonova is a Ukrainian ice dancer who currently competes for Turkey. She competes with Alper Uçar, with whom she won a silver medal at the 2011 Winter Universiade....

 & Dmitri Dun

Dmitri Dun

-External links:*...

,
Alissandra Aronow & Zachary Donohue

Zachary Donohue

- External links :...

,
Tanith Belbin

Tanith Belbin

Tanith Jessica Louise Belbin is a Canadian-American ice dancer. Though born in Canada, she holds dual citizenship and has competed for the United States since she began skating with Benjamin Agosto in 1998. With Agosto, Belbin is the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, four-time World medalist,...

 & Benjamin Agosto

Benjamin Agosto

Benjamin Alexandro Agosto is an American ice dancer. With partner Tanith Belbin, Agosto is the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, a four-time World medalist, the 2004–2006 Four Continents champion, and 2004–2008 U.S. champion....

,
Becky Bereswill

Becky Bereswill

Rebecca Ann "Becky" Bereswill is an American figure skater. She is the 2008 Junior Grand Prix Final champion., she was ranked 105th in the world by the International Skating Union .-Personal life:...

,
Madison Chock

Madison Chock

- External links :...

 & Greg Zuerlin,
Katherine Copely

Katherine Copely

Katherine Leigh Copely is an American ice dancer who competed internationally for Lithuania...

 & Deividas Stagniūnas

Deividas Stagniunas

Deividas Stagniūnas is a Lithuanian ice dancer. Since 2010 Stagniūnas has been dancing with Isabella Tobias.- Career :Stagniūnas arrived in the U.S...

,
Meryl Davis

Meryl Davis

Meryl Davis is an American ice dancer. With partner Charlie White, she is the 2011 World champion, 2010 Olympic silver medalist, the 2010 World silver medalist, a two-time Grand Prix Final champion, two-time Four Continents champion and three-time U.S...

 & Charlie White

Charlie White (figure skater)

Charlie White is an American ice dancer. With partner Meryl Davis, he is the 2011 World champion, 2010 Olympic silver medalist, the 2010 World silver medalist, a two-time Grand Prix Final champion, two-time Four Continents champion and three-time U.S...

,
Margarita Drobiazko

Margarita Drobiazko

Margarita Aleksandrovna Drobiazko is a Lithuanian ice dancer. She began competing for Lithuania in 1992 when she teamed up with Povilas Vanagas, whom she married in June 2000...

 & Povilas Vanagas

Povilas Vanagas

Povilas Vanagas is a Lithuanian ice dancer. He competed with wife Margarita Drobiazko, whom he married in June 2000. They are the 2000 World bronze medalists, three-time Grand Prix Final bronze medalists, two-time European bronze medalists , 1999 Skate Canada champions and competed in five Winter...

,
Grethe Grünberg

Grethe Grünberg

- External links :...

 & Kristian Rand

Kristian Rand

-External links:...

,
Jessica Joseph

Jessica Joseph

Jessica Joseph was an American figure skater.She won the silver medal in ice dance at the 1998 U.S. Figure Skating Championships with Charles Butler and competed in that year's Winter Olympics. After that partnership ended, she skated with Brandon Forsyth and won a bronze medal at the 2001 Nationals...

 & Charles Butler

Charles Butler (figure skater)

Charles Butler is a retired American competitive ice dancer. He won the silver medal in ice dance at the 1998 U.S. Figure Skating Championships with Jessica Joseph and competed in that year's Winter Olympics. He attended New York University Medical School. He graduated in 2010 and is now currently...

,
Jessica Joseph

Jessica Joseph

Jessica Joseph was an American figure skater.She won the silver medal in ice dance at the 1998 U.S. Figure Skating Championships with Charles Butler and competed in that year's Winter Olympics. After that partnership ended, she skated with Brandon Forsyth and won a bronze medal at the 2001 Nationals...

 & Brandon Forsyth

Brandon Forsyth

Brandon Forsyth is an American ice dancer. During his career, he skated with Lydia Manon, Emilie Nussear, and Jessica Joseph, with whom he captured a bronze medal at the 2001 U.S. Figure Skating Championships...

,
Siobhan Karam

Siobhan Karam

Siobhan Karam is a Canadian ice dancer. She competes with Kevin O'Keefe, with whom she teamed up in May 2007. They placed 4th at the 2007 Ondrej Nepela Memorial and 6th at the 2008 Canadian Figure Skating Championships....

 & Joshua McGrath

Joshua McGrath

Joshua McGrath is a Canadian retired ice dancer. With former partner Siobhan Karam, he is the 2005 Canadian junior national champion. They placed 7th at the 2005 World Junior Figure Skating Championships and competed on both the Junior Grand Prix and the senior ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating...

,
Naomi Lang

Naomi Lang

Naomi Lang is an American ice dancer. With partner Peter Tchernyshev, she is the 1999-2003 U.S. national champion.-Biography:...

 & Peter Tchernyshev

Peter Tchernyshev

- External links :* *- Navigation :...

,
Lee Dong-Whun

Lee Dong-Whun

Lee Dong-Whun is a South Korean figure skater. He is the 2004-2008 South Korean national champion....

,
Caitlin Mallory

Caitlin Mallory

Caitlin Mallory is an American ice dancer who competes internationally for Estonia. She began competing internationally for Estonia in the 2008–2009 season with partner Kristjan Rand.-Career:...

 & Kristian Rand

Kristian Rand

-External links:...

,
Lydia Manon

Lydia Manon

Lydia Manon is an American ice dancer. She won the bronze medal at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and at the 2005 Four Continents with Ryan O'Meara, but the duo ended their partnership shortly thereafter. Through mid-2006 she skated with Brandon Forsyth, but retired to pursue academic...

 & Ryan O'Meara

Ryan O'Meara

Ryan O'Meara is an American ice dancer. With partner Jamie Silverstein, he is a 2006 Olympian. Following his retirement from competitive skating, he began working full time as a coach and an interior designer.-Biography:...

,
Elizabeth Punsalan

Elizabeth Punsalan

Elizabeth Punsalan or Swallow is an American ice dancer. With her partner and husband Jerod Swallow, she is a five-time U.S. national champion, two-time Skate America champion, and competed twice in the Winter Olympics.- Career :Early in her career, Punsalan competed with Christopher Rettstatt,...

 & Jerod Swallow

Jerod Swallow

Jerod Swallow is an American ice dancer. With his partner and wife Elizabeth Punsalan, he is a five-time U.S. national champion, two-time Skate America champion, and competed twice in the Winter Olympics....

,
Jamie Silverstein

Jamie Silverstein

Jamie Silverstein is an American former ice dancer. With Justin Pekarek, she is the 1999 World Junior champion and U.S. silver medalist. With Ryan O'Meara, she is the 2006 U.S. bronze medalist and competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics.- Biography :Silverstein grew up in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania,...

 & Ryan O'Meara

Ryan O'Meara

Ryan O'Meara is an American ice dancer. With partner Jamie Silverstein, he is a 2006 Olympian. Following his retirement from competitive skating, he began working full time as a coach and an interior designer.-Biography:...

,
Jamie Silverstein

Jamie Silverstein

Jamie Silverstein is an American former ice dancer. With Justin Pekarek, she is the 1999 World Junior champion and U.S. silver medalist. With Ryan O'Meara, she is the 2006 U.S. bronze medalist and competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics.- Biography :Silverstein grew up in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania,...

 & Justin Pekarek

Justin Pekarek

Justin Pekarek is an American former competitive ice dancer. He had the most success in his eligible career with Jamie Silverstein. They won the 1999 World Junior and U.S. Junior titles. The next season, they moved up to the senior level. They won gold at the 1999 Nebelhorn Trophy, silver at the...

,
Lauren Senft

Lauren Senft

Lauren Senft is a Canadian retired ice dancer.She competed on the junior level with Andrew Hallam before teaming up with Leif Gislason in 2002. The two are the 2004 Canadian junior national silver medalists. Senft and Gislason split after the 2007 Four Continents Championships...

 & Leif Gislason

Leif Gislason

Leif Gislason is a Canadian ice dancer. He previously competed with Lauren Flynn, and the pair had some success on the junior level. He then teamed up with Lauren Senft in 2002. The two are the 2004 Canadian junior national silver medalists...

,
Lauren Senft

Lauren Senft

Lauren Senft is a Canadian retired ice dancer.She competed on the junior level with Andrew Hallam before teaming up with Leif Gislason in 2002. The two are the 2004 Canadian junior national silver medalists. Senft and Gislason split after the 2007 Four Continents Championships...

 & Augie Hill

Augie Hill

Augie Hill is an American ice dancer who has competed with Flo Steed, Kirsten Frisch, and Kimmerly Lauten. With Steed, he is the 2005 U.S. national junior bronze medalist. With partner Frisch during the 2004 season, he earned the bronze medal in the ISU Junior Grand Prix event in Gdansk, Poland....

,
Maia Shibutani

Maia Shibutani

Maia Harumi Shibutani is an American ice dancer. She competes with her brother Alex Shibutani. They are the 2011 World bronze medalists, 2011 Four Continents silver medalists, 2009 World Junior silver medalists, 2011 U.S. national silver medalists, 2011 NHK Trophy champions and 2010 U.S...

 & Alex Shibutani

Alex Shibutani

Alex Hideo Shibutani is an American ice dancer. He competes with younger sister Maia Shibutani. They are the 2011 World bronze medalists, 2011 Four Continents silver medalists, 2009 World Junior silver medalists, 2011 U.S. national silver medalists, 2011 NHK Trophy champions and 2010 U.S...

,
Tessa Virtue

Tessa Virtue

Tessa Virtue is a Canadian ice dancer who competes with Scott Moir. Virtue and Moir are the 2010 Olympic champions, the 2010 World Champions, the 2008 Four Continents Champions, the 2006 World Junior Champions and the 2008–2010 Canadian national champions.At the 2009 Skate Canada competition, they...

 & Scott Moir

Scott Moir

Scott Moir is a Canadian ice dancer. He ice dances with Tessa Virtue. Moir and Virtue are the 2010 Olympic champions, the 2010 World Champions, the 2008 Four Continents Champions, the 2006 World Junior Champions and the 2008–2010 Canadian national champions.They were the first ice dance team to...

,
Megan Wing

Megan Wing

Megan Wing is a Canadian ice dancer.Wing began skating at the age of five and took up ice dancing at 14. She joined forces with Aaron Lowe in 1986. The duo captured six bronze medals and four silver medals at the Canadian National Championships and competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics, where they...

 & Aaron Lowe

Aaron Lowe

Aaron Lowe is a Canadian ice dancer, competing with Megan Wing from 1986-2006.Lowe began in hockey at the age of seven and switched to figure skating when he was nine. He began skating with Megan Wing in 1986. They won six bronze medals and four silver medals at the Canadian Figure Skating...

,
Yu Xiaoyang

Yu Xiaoyang

Yu Xiaoyang is a Chinese ice dancer. She competes with Wang Chen. They are the 2006 Chinese national champions.-Results:-External links:...

 & Wang Chen

Wang Chen (figure skater)

Wang Chen is a Chinese ice dancer. He competes with Yu Xiaoyang. They are the 2006 Chinese national champions.-Results:-External links:...

,
and Zhang Dan

Zhang Dan

Zhang Dan is a Chinese pair skater. With her partner Zhang Hao, she is the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, 2005 & 2010 Four Continents champion, and three time World silver medalist.-Biography:...

 & Zhang Hao

Zhang Hao

Zhang Hao is a Chinese figure skater. With partner Zhang Dan, he is the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, 2005 & 2010 Four Continents champion, and three time World silver medalist.-Biography:...

.

Competitive highlights

(with Gladkova)

Event	1981-1982	1982-1983	1983-1984
World Junior Championships World Junior Figure Skating Championships The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion...	2nd	1st
Golden Spin of Zagreb Golden Spin of Zagreb The Golden Spin of Zagreb is an annual senior-level figure skating competition, held yearly in Zagreb, Croatia. Skaters compete in four disciplines: men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing, although, in some years, not every discipline was included in the program.The 2001...			2nd