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 2006 Torino Olympics three couples i had worked with from Azerbajian, Japan and the USA competed 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.
2022-26 Updates
My 3 time Olympians Denis & Melissa brought me in three years ago 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.
Jan 2025 Update- After placing 2nd in the Hungarian Championship, Ilias and Lucy ended their partnership, Ilias now with Lara Luft and Lucy with Aiden Dotzert. Noah, now representing Italy won his Junior national Championship and the World Junior Championship with Noemi Maria Tali! Hana Marie Aboian and Danil Veselukin won the US Junior National Championships in Wichita and went to Worlds as well! Ben Agosto announced that all the buzz is about these two! Sammi Udell & Zach Churton medaled at the Australian Junior Championships.
Jan 2026 Update. Hana & Danil went undefeated in 2025 winning their first event by 30 points,, every Gran Prix they entered, nationals by 12, and the Gran Prix Final. Next up the World Junior Championship. Aneta Vaclikova skating for Slovakia, joined William Lissauer and in one year just missed third at nationals by less than a point after being 12 in the rhythm.
Junior USA Champions
Hana-Maria Aboian & Danil Veselukin
Hana-Marie & Danil won their first competition in 2025 by 30 points! The won both their Gran Prix assignments and are qualified for the Gran Prix Final and the upcoming USA Championships and World Championships.Thank you to our dance coach and choreographer Enio Cordoba for adding the spice and perfecting every movement.
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Italian & World Junior Champions-
Noemi-Marie Tali & NoahLaFornara
Noemi and Noah train in both Connecticut and Italy. After winning the 2025 Worlds, they developed some incredible programs in Ct, but due to some ill-timed injuries did not qualify for the Milano Olympics
The New Kids on the Block
After the 2006 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. After winning the 2025 US Junior Championship, they won each of the three Grand Prixs and look for them to continue to do great things in the upcoming World Championships! Newest couple Aneta Vackalikova & William Lissauer have qualified for the Gran Prix final as well. Lastly, Noah returned from Italy with new partner Noemi-Maria Tali and won the World Junior Championship! Senior skater Lucy is now skating in Toronto with new partner Aiden Dotzert, while Ilias is now skating with German skater Lara. 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. I also worked with Ladies Junior Champion Sophie-Jolene Von Felten on her short.
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 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 HanrEtty & Christina ChitwoodE
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.
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