“It’s a soap opera; it’s a live-action soap opera,” is the way former US Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon describes the world of ice dancing.
Ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Glitter & Gold: Ice Dancing offers an intimate look at the high stakes of one of the most dramatic and artistically demanding events in the Olympic Games. Premiering Feb. 1, the new series from the team behind the award-winning Simone Biles Rising highlights a trio of teams who have golden aspirations on the world’s biggest sports stage.
From intense training on the ice to year-round international travel demands to the always-present drama and controversy of the ice dancing community, Glitter & Gold: Ice Dancing showcases the sacrifices these duos — both romantic and platonic — make to chase their Olympic dreams.
“Early on in this project, I put a thesis statement on the top of all my outlines that read ‘relationships, relationships, relationships,’” Glitter & Gold: Ice Dancing director Kate Walsh told Tudum. “This sport hinges on relationship-building: with your partner, your coaches and even the judges. In addition to showcasing the beauty and drama of the sport itself, we really focused on developing our characters and the relationships between partners. I wanted to give the audience a better understanding of who they are and why they dedicate their lives to this sport.”
Partners since 2011 — and married since 2024 — the artistic, powerful and fashionable Madison Chock and Evan Bates are one of the greatest teams in ice dancing history, and also the favorites to win gold at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. The three-time reigning World Champions won a team gold medal at the 2022 Olympics, but they’re still looking for their first medal together as a duo. “I think our chemistry as a couple is really unique to us,” Chock said in the docuseries. Together, they must balance the all-time high expectations on the ice with their marriage — and two toy poodles — off the ice.
Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier enter their third Winter Olympics together looking for their first medal. The decorated team has earned five straight Canadian titles and four World Championship medals, but has yet to make it onto the Olympic podium. Gilles, who previously competed for the United States as a youth before gaining Canadian citizenship, has overcome family tragedy and her own health challenges to compete at the highest level. “Paul and I are not cookie-cutter at all,” Gilles said in the docuseries. Together, they form a powerful duo with flash, flair and amazing musical selections.
The drama is real with French team Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron. Considered one of the greatest ice dancers of all time, the previously retired Cizeron — who split with his long-time partner after winning five World Championships plus Olympic gold in 2022, and silver in 2018 — has returned to the ice with a new teammate in Fournier Beaudry. "Winning the Olympics was never going to be easy, but now the path to gold has become harder," Bates said, upon learning Cizeron would return for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Fournier Beaudry — who previously competed for Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics — gained French citizenship in order to partner with Cizeron after her boyfriend and former partner was handed a six-year suspection for sexual maltreatment. Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron will be a force to be reckoned with in the hunt for gold in Milan.
“Ice dance is the unspoken language of two bodies and souls creating magic,” Fournier Beaudry poignantly described.
Ice dancing, which features rhythm dance and free dance events, is centered on styles similar to ballroom dance, with partners at no more than two arms’ length apart. Unlike ice skating, no jumps are allowed outside of single or assisted leaps.
“Ice dance is such a unique sport,” added Bates. “It’s the only sport in the Olympics where we feel like we are creating a piece of art.”
Beyond the technical elements, ice dancing is famous for the costumes, music, and of course, drama.
Religion of Sports and the Olympic Channel — the team behind the award-winning Simone Biles Rising — return with director Katie Walsh and showrunner Giselle Parets at the helm to bring Glitter & Gold to life ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
“Ice dancing is a very subjective sport and that adds a layer of complication for the skaters,” shared Walsh. “They know that not only will they be judged for what they do on the ice; they also need to be aware of their public image off the ice. I think all the years I’ve spent in the skating world helped me be sensitive to this dynamic, which in turn helped the skaters feel more comfortable opening up and being honest with their feelings.”
The stars of Glitter & Gold: Ice Dancing begin their quest for gold at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics with the team competition on Feb. 6 and 7, followed by individual rhythm dance and free dance events on Feb. 9 and Feb. 11.
“The series gives viewers context — who the athletes are, what’s at stake, and why the moments at the Games will matter,” Parets added. “It sets the stage emotionally and competitively, turning the Games into a continuation of a story viewers already care about.”
To further prepare for the Winter Olympics, check out other Netflix sports series such as Court of Gold, Sprint and Simone Biles Rising, which were made in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee.
