How did Kurt and Sonia meet?

[Suzanne]

just watching Gotta Skate, and was wondering how Kurt and Sonia originally met. Anyone have the scoop on that?

[Lee]

Didn't they meet at some reception or something in TO?

[Tigger]

Close Lee. Right event, but wrong location. It was at a reception at the Royal Glenora that they threw for the National Ballet. Kurt wasn't even supposed to be there, but popped in. Sonia didn't even realize Kurt was...Well...Kurt, when she was talking to him. She just thought he was some cute guy who worked at the Glenora. Anyway, they got talking and.....The rest, as they say, is history. :)

[Blade1]

The rest is history and what a dazzling couple they do make. They've been married for quite a few years, my guess is about seven years? I'm just wondering when we will finally see little Kurt's & Sonja's running around. Wonder if they ever plan on starting a family? I'm sure with both of their CRAZY scheduals they don't have the time right now for that. But I wonder if it will ever be in their future??? I think Kurt would be a great Daddy. Just a thought that pondered my head ...

[smidge]

Weren't Sonia and Kurt married in 1996? Kurt did say in an interview once that he expected the first 5-7 years of their marriage at least to be their performing years, and that they probably wouldn't be considering a family before that. Also, Sonia is about 6 or 7 years younger than Kurt, isn't she? So she's got lots of years left to have kids. They are an adorable pair though. Watching them on Gotta Skate, their affection for each other is palpable.

But here's a piece of trivial confusion about their courtship -- what year was it when Kurt met Sonia? I thought I read early 90s once. But at the same time, as late as 1992, Kurt was dating a woman named Monique that he talked about quite a bit in the first edition of his biography. I remember lots of shots of Monique in the audience during the '92 Worlds. And in the book, Kurt even said that moving to Toronto and getting a fresh start with Louis Stong was good for his skating, and that it also made it better for his relationship to be closer to Monique. Was there an overlap time where Kurt was with Monique but had met Sonia already too? I'm not suggesting impropriety, just kind of curious when Monique was gone, and Sonia became The One. I also wonder if Kurt now regrets speaking so much about Monique in his book, now that he's married to someone else, and those words about an ex-girlfriend are still floating around out in print.

[catija]

i remember that sonija was 24 when she married kurt, and since she's a ballerina, along w/ their hectic schedule, they prob. wouldn't have kids until she retires.

and no...i havne't read the autobiography..and sorry for changin the subject :)

[Trillian]

Originally posted by smidge
But here's a piece of trivial confusion about their courtship -- what year was it when Kurt met Sonia? I thought I read early 90s once. But at the same time, as late as 1992, Kurt was dating a woman named Monique that he talked about quite a bit in the first edition of his biography.

I seem to recall reading one version of the story which made it sound as though Kurt and Sonia didn't actually begin dating until some time after they met. I have no idea, though--every media outlet seems to have a different version of the story and I've never bothered trying to figure out which one is true.

[jcspkbfan]

A few more twists to the "When Kurt Met Sonia" story:

...the Royal Glenora reception where Kurt first met Sonia took place in fall 1991. Actually, Kurt was invited, but originally didn't want to go (this was around the time he had his back injury, so maybe he just wasn't feeling well or something). Sonia wasn't supposed to go, but borrowed someone's dress and went anyway. ;)

...Kurt said in an article that Bram Stoker's Dracula was one of his favorite movies because he and Sonia went to see it on their first date. That movie originally came out around late 1992/early 1993, if I remember correctly. So it sounds like about a year had passed between the time Kurt and Sonia first met (Kurt was still living in Edmonton at that time, BTW) and when they actually began dating. ;)

...shortly after Kurt turned pro in 1994, Kurt appeared on the Dini Petty show and they started talking about his autobiography. Towards the end of the interview, Dini mentioned the photo of Kurt posing with ex-girlfriend Monique, Kurt pointed out the two of them weren't dating anymore, and Dini suggested taking that particular page out of the book. :lol: Kurt also said at the time it was difficult for him to decide how much of his personal life to put in the book, but since that was his life at the time, he thought it was the right thing. Kurt then joked he needed a new picture in the book for his new girlfriend (Sonia, of course) and quipped "Boy, I hope she's working right now!" :lol:

A recent Hamilton Spectator Kurt article also mentions the possibility of when the two of them might possibly start a family:

"Browning and his wife Sonia Rodriguez, a principal dancer with the National Ballet, would like to spend more time with each other, perhaps start a family, and lessen the impact that two top-notch professional performing careers can have on a relationship."

Kurt has also said several times he'd prefer to wait until he finishes touring on a long-time basis to start a family. And yes, I spend entirely too much time reading and watching old Kurt articles/interviews! :oops:

[Blade1]

So they were married for six years then? Close enough. Ya all remember the picture of Kurt & Sonja's wedding picture that was on the cover of the International Figure Skating Magazine ???? Such a dazzling photo !!!

I was really quite happy I got the chance to see Sonja perform at Kurt's Gotta Dance Show in Hamilton ..... it was a rather unique and great show.

I sensed the people around me kinda were zzzzzz when Sonja was performing "Swan Lake" but I absolutly enjoy Ballet .. and quite enjoyed it.

[Tigger]

I wasn't one of those people Blade1. I wasn't breathing during it, but I wasn't snoozing. My first time ever seeing live ballet and...Sigh!!! So incredably beautiful. Brought tears to my eyes as a matter of fact.

As for being able to feel how much Kurt and Sonia love one another, when I was watching that duet of theirs and then especially at the end.....I was reminded of watching another husband and wife performing duo who while watching you could feel waves of love coming from them and that was Sergei and Katia. They really are a cute couple and Sonia's one very lucky lady!!

[Blade1]

Wasn't it breathtaking though ???? Such a beautiful piece. Was glad that I was able to see her perform - especially "Swan Lake" And I must add that her partner wasn't bad looking either .. hehehe !!!

You definitly can see the love between these two. I agree during that one number, with the "chair" at the end when he kissed her forehead. Also with the rain running down on them ... such a cute moment ....

Definitly two that are very much in love ...

[jcspkbfan]

After Sonia and Alex's performance, my mom remarked, "If I were Kurt, I'd be a little worried!" but after seeing how Kurt and Sonia performed together in their own duet, I'd have to say Kurt has nothing to fear! ;) I still can't decide whether I like this Gotta Skate show better than last year's, but I must say they did a better job incorporating Sonia into the show than last year. I certainly hope we'll see Kurt and Sonia perform more numbers like this in the near future (and I can only imagine how much more emotional it must have been live!)

BTW, Kurt has said several times he'd love to perform Singin' In The Rain in front of a live audience someday (but hasn't done it because the special effects of the TV performance would be impossible to duplicate). After seeing the end of his duet with Sonia, I wonder if that idea might not be so far-fetched after all...

[Blade1]

Originally posted by jcspkbfan
BTW, Kurt has said several times he'd love to perform Singin' In The Rain in front of a live audience someday (but hasn't done it because the special effects of the TV performance would be impossible to duplicate). After seeing the end of his duet with Sonia, I wonder if that idea might not be so far-fetched after all...

Its funny you mentioned this jcspkbfan because after the show when Kurt was thanking all the Sponsor's and stuff and thanked Copps Collisum for the great job and staff they have etc.... he mentioned about the rain falling down ..... how when they were putting the show together, he wanted "rain" but I guess they thought it would be impossible for rain to fall "indoors" however apparently Copps Collisum made it happen for them, and he thanked them .... so I just thought I'd add that little "insite" to the whole "rain" talk. I have to say it was actually a nice little added tough to end the program.

[Tigger]

Oh good grief...It's called *acting*. People can have chemstry and not be in love. Underhill and Martini are the perfect examples of that.

Blade1.....I've given up trying to find the right words to describe both Swan Lake and the trio number they did. Fabulous, amazing and incredable just doesn't seem to do it completely, but it really has to do. ;)

[Blade1]

ITA Tigger .. and I am sure there are others out there too who have that perfect chemstry on the ice but are not a couple by any means off the ice ... its just like anything else really, dancing , acting etc......

But still though I just *sigh* when I see both Kurt & Sonja together on the ice. Just beautiful !! Was so happy again I attended this show .. and to have it on tape, makes it even more memorable.

[Angelfish]

And for those of us :cry: who will never get to see this (:cry: :cry: ) because we live in Australia (:) - hey it's not too bad!!), did Sonia and Kurt both skate or was one skating and one dancing?

[Tigger]

Sonia danced and Kurt skated. In the trio they did w/Sonia's dance partner Alex, at the end Kurt lifted Sonia and it was an actual *lift*, w/her balanced on her hand. Pretty impressive to see. Sonia can't skate very well from all reports. In fact, I read in an article sent to the Kurt list last week in the leadup to the broadcast that Kurt gave Sonia an animation cell from Bambi where Bambi goes splat on the ice as an Anniversary present. Apparently when she went on ice w/Kurt for the first time, she did the splits and Kurt made some comment about her being just like Bambi on the ice. :)

They do make one very cute couple.

[Blade1]

I read the exact same article Tigger ..... actually that number that was performed by Kurt , Sonja and Alex was pretty neat if you ask me. Kurt acting as "Alex" in a sense on the ice - like his shadown, trying to get to Sonja. Was rather neat, and well of course at the end of the program, Sonja was with Kurt on the ice, she was sitting in a chair however, but he lifted her up and just skated with her. She was still in her ballet shoes. Overall a very good production ....

[Artemis]

Sonia and Alex's Swan Lake, and the blues trio with Kurt, Sonia, and Alex, were the definite highlights of the show for me (along with Brian's "Halleluja").

I was actually disappointed with much of the rest of it. Partly because they set the bar so high with last year's show that this one suffered by comparison. The music was pretty terrible, esp. the live performers, and the Anti Gravity troupe looked like guys who weren't talented or creative enough to make it into Stomp! or Cirque du Soliel (or a regional gymnastics championship, for that matter). Scott's "Don Quixote" was as entertaining as always, but we've seen it a hundred times before. Ditto for B&S's "The Kid." Steven's number was ok -- at least it was new! -- but nothing special. Josée's music didn't suit her at all, did nothing to display her strengths. And as much as I love Brasseur and Eisler, their number was same old same old.

Ok, now I'm going to duck the flames! ;)

[Blade1]

Just going to voice my opinion tis all ....

First of all I was VERY DISAPOINTED that they did not show Elena's & Anton's "Elvis Presley / Marilynn " Number. VERY DISAPOINTED !! That was just a really wonderful program, and very very new one as well as compaired to "The Kid" which we've seen quite a bit. I absolutly LOVE that number, but their new number was so refreshing .. and seeing Anton as Elvis was entertaining itself. Sideburns and all ..... so I am very disapointed in NBC for cutting that number out all together.

The Anti Gravity dudes were very entertaining. Maybe more so entertaining on their good looks than anything - LOL however the audience seem to be impressed with them .. and they did perform at the Closing Ceremonies in Salt Lake City .. perhaps seeing it LIVE was more entertaining than sitting at home watching them ... it was one of those things were you've got to be there to really get the feel of what they are really doing ???

Scott's "Don Quixote" number was hilarious. I never had the chance to see him perform it live when he was on tour ... just I don't think I'd ever get use to that costume ..... my gosh !!

[Tigger]

A few comments from me about the show...

Brian's Hallaluja (I know...I know...I just butchered that word. Sorry!!) was the other big highlight of the show for me. I have been wondering who would pick this to skate to and was hoping the right skater would end up w/it. I could not have dreamed for a more perfect skater for this song. In fact when I heard the first note, I let such a loud gasp out that my friend asked if I was okay...LOL!!! I will also never get tired of seeing that gorgeous delayed single axel of his. Simply beautiful.

I didn't mind the guys being rock stars number as much as everyone else seems to. Yes, it was cheesy, but I've had a really rough six months and was in dire need of a good laugh. Seeing the guys in those wigs more than lived up to that need. Oh and my friend leaned over to me laughing about Steven's wig and I couldn't figure out which one was Steven. Just then, the guys did their split jumps and I instantly knew which one was Steven. :) The height he gets on his Russian splits is amazing.

Can someone please explain to me how on earth Deborah Cox was able to dance in those toothpicks she had for heels!?! I'd be dead just by taking a teeny tiny step in them. I kept waiting for her to trip, but it didn't happen. I know...Mean, but I really was amazed she could do anything but stand in those things.

As for Anti Gravity.....I don't think they translated too well over the TV. In person, they blew me away. So maybe they aren't Cirque, but I thought they were great and enjoyed them thorughly.

As for everything else....I really feel bad for Kurt. He was obviously going for a different look and feel for this show than last year and it didn't work. That's a shame and a half too. I did enjoy the show and had a good time, but I have to agree w/everyone else it wasn't as wonderful as last year's special.

[Blade1]

that I didn't get the chance to see Kurt's last "Gotta Dance" Show that was aired on TV last year when it was filmed in Vancouver??? So maybe that is why I can't really quite compaire this show as to last years show, since I have nothing really to compaire too, so overall I really quite enjoyed the show. And I guess also too that I haven't seen Kurt nor Izzy & Lloyd, Scott Hamilton, Lu Chen skate LIVE for quite sometime. Last Stars On Ice Show I attended was back in 1999 and I haven't been able to make the trips since then to see the shows.

I didn't mind the guys being rock stars number as much as everyone else seems to.

I too thought it was a rather cute and funny number. Kinda reminded me of Scott Hamilton's "Hair" number he did back in 1996.

Can someone please explain to me how on earth Deborah Cox was able to dance in those toothpicks she had for heels!?!

I was thinking the same thing Tigger .... I don't even think I could make one step in a pair of those .... those are killer heals - LOL

[Artemis]

Originally posted by Tigger
Brian's Hallaluja ...

Do you (or anyone else!) happen to know whether that was the Jeff Buckley version Brian was skating to? I think it was, but since I have the song on my computer at work and the video at home, it's really hard to compare!

BTW, and getting more and more off track ... I love it when someone else records a Leonard Cohen song. Cohen is such a brilliant song writer, but a terrible singer!

[Artemis]

Originally posted by Blade1
... the guys being rock stars ... I too thought it was a rather cute and funny number. Kinda reminded me of Scott Hamilton's "Hair" number he did back in 1996.

Well, you may have noticed, Scott was actually wearing the same costume as from Hair! I don't know whether or not that was the inspiration, though.

[Tigger]

Artemis....I'm almost positive it was the Jeff Buckley version. Don't quote me on it, but I'm pretty sure it was.