jpeach
04-26-2004, 01:59 AM
I'm so lucky. It took me ages to figure out whether I could go to this year's COI. And finally!! this morning I said yes, let me move some stuff around and I'm THERE. Bought my tix this a.m. and got the lower section (the upper section had hardly no one). I was about 20 rows from the ice, right in the center on the side. Perfect.
The pairs all seemed to have problems with their throws. Xue Shen had a hard fall to her stomach and slid into the boards. Finished the number ok; the audience was with her. When Shen & Zhao returned for the closing cast number, she landed her throws and the audience erupted in cheers. Even in this not-so-savvy skating crowd, they did recognize a beautiful split double (triple?) twist where Shen literally hung in the air for about a minute.
Rudy Galindo was a special guest and San Jose went wild for our special son. He didn't do one of those I'm soooo gay and everybody's gonna know it numbers. (Not that I don't like the silly gay numbers, but when Rudy just shakes his butt for much of the number, it gets old, imo.) Anyway...his number was the the Star Spangled Banner. His move, jumps, choreog. were perfect and respectful to the flag. Good going Rudy.
Dan Hollander did a funny number as a nun, then changed the a blond floozy in a blue dress (the number was "Devil with a Blue Dress On." He was great.
We had three stellar pairs this evening. Shen and Zhao as I mentioned who, despite the fall, were soooo fast across the ice and showed appropriate emotion to fit the music. Oksana Kazakova & Artur Dmitriev and cleaver with their moves (very interesting ones) and fast, and Oksana's smile is beautiful and reaches the rafters. Tatiana T & Maxim Marinin showed why they are World gold medalists. I noticed this last year and that is Tatiana is so relaxed and happy to skate. She's smiling and on-so-steady.
Irina Slutskava was her sunny, smiling self. Seems a little slower than ususal and that's to be expected. Still her face just grabbed you with her little cheeks and sparkly eyes.
Evgeni Plushenko sure can dance and move that body. And he certainly relates to the audience. He ripped of many steady triples and did some footwork and all the time I'm screaming (to myself of course) "I'm seeing Plushie's footwork LIVE!!"
Sasha Cohen performed to a "My Fair Lady" medley. Started out dressed as a charwoman selling flowers. Let me tell you, even in clothes like that there was arch to her back and precise lines. When she changed into her "I could have dance all night" costume, you really had the feeling she didn't want to stop. Her jumps were sooo quiet with a deeply bent knee. She did a beautiful and perfect falling leaf RIGHT in front of me. Her spins, Ina Baur, spiral, charlotte - well, she couldn't have done them any better.
Michelle Kwan was clearly the name most familiar to the crowd and they gave her the biggest reception of the night. This girl has choreography. She dances across the ice, incorporating ice moves with balletics moves. Her jumps were spot-on and her spins, man, when you see them live, they are fast and centered. She had a clear connection with the audience - the feeling was mutual - she loved us and we loved her. More, more, Michele!!
The pairs all seemed to have problems with their throws. Xue Shen had a hard fall to her stomach and slid into the boards. Finished the number ok; the audience was with her. When Shen & Zhao returned for the closing cast number, she landed her throws and the audience erupted in cheers. Even in this not-so-savvy skating crowd, they did recognize a beautiful split double (triple?) twist where Shen literally hung in the air for about a minute.
Rudy Galindo was a special guest and San Jose went wild for our special son. He didn't do one of those I'm soooo gay and everybody's gonna know it numbers. (Not that I don't like the silly gay numbers, but when Rudy just shakes his butt for much of the number, it gets old, imo.) Anyway...his number was the the Star Spangled Banner. His move, jumps, choreog. were perfect and respectful to the flag. Good going Rudy.
Dan Hollander did a funny number as a nun, then changed the a blond floozy in a blue dress (the number was "Devil with a Blue Dress On." He was great.
We had three stellar pairs this evening. Shen and Zhao as I mentioned who, despite the fall, were soooo fast across the ice and showed appropriate emotion to fit the music. Oksana Kazakova & Artur Dmitriev and cleaver with their moves (very interesting ones) and fast, and Oksana's smile is beautiful and reaches the rafters. Tatiana T & Maxim Marinin showed why they are World gold medalists. I noticed this last year and that is Tatiana is so relaxed and happy to skate. She's smiling and on-so-steady.
Irina Slutskava was her sunny, smiling self. Seems a little slower than ususal and that's to be expected. Still her face just grabbed you with her little cheeks and sparkly eyes.
Evgeni Plushenko sure can dance and move that body. And he certainly relates to the audience. He ripped of many steady triples and did some footwork and all the time I'm screaming (to myself of course) "I'm seeing Plushie's footwork LIVE!!"
Sasha Cohen performed to a "My Fair Lady" medley. Started out dressed as a charwoman selling flowers. Let me tell you, even in clothes like that there was arch to her back and precise lines. When she changed into her "I could have dance all night" costume, you really had the feeling she didn't want to stop. Her jumps were sooo quiet with a deeply bent knee. She did a beautiful and perfect falling leaf RIGHT in front of me. Her spins, Ina Baur, spiral, charlotte - well, she couldn't have done them any better.
Michelle Kwan was clearly the name most familiar to the crowd and they gave her the biggest reception of the night. This girl has choreography. She dances across the ice, incorporating ice moves with balletics moves. Her jumps were spot-on and her spins, man, when you see them live, they are fast and centered. She had a clear connection with the audience - the feeling was mutual - she loved us and we loved her. More, more, Michele!!