The flame burns: Milan 2026 has officially begun
The time has come. The atmosphere in the iconic San Siro stadium was truly electric last Friday. While Mariah Carey sang her heart out and our own King Willem-Alexander waved enthusiastically from the stands, I knew one thing for sure: the coming weeks will be all about pure passion and technique. For us as dance enthusiasts, there is of course only one discipline that really stands out, and that is figure skating. In my 30 years in the dance world, I have seen many floors, but the precision these athletes show on the ice continues to amaze me every time.
The opening ceremony was a beautiful spectacle where the Italian flair was clearly visible. According to a report from NU.nl, the Dutch athletes were welcomed at three different locations, which immediately makes the scale of these Games in Milan and Cortina clear. But now that the ceremonial part is over, the real work begins in the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
Historic moment for Dutch pair skating
What makes this year extra special for the Dutch dance and skating world is the participation of Daria Danilova and Michel Tsiba. It is the first time in history that the Netherlands is represented in pair skating at the Olympic Games. From my experience at Miss Salsa, I know how difficult it is to move perfectly in sync as a duo, let alone on a slippery ice surface with blades under your feet. The chemistry between those two is truly something to watch.
Daria and Michel will be in action on February 15 and 16. That means we have to be patient for a little while longer for their short program, but the tension is already building up. In a live blog from the NOS, it was already visible how the Dutch delegation entered the stadium with pride, and we all share that feeling of pride, of course.
The technique: Why we as dancers should watch
When you watch figure skating, you actually see an extension of what we do on the dance floor. The 'Ice Dance' events, which start tomorrow on February 9 with the Rhythm Dance, are technically very interesting. Where in Salsa we often focus on hip action and fast footwork, on the ice it's about the 'flow', the lines, and the enormous extension in the movements.
Specifically, you can pay attention to the following things:
- Musicality: How do they translate the accents in the music into their skating movements? This is exactly what we also try to achieve in dance class.
- Connection: Especially in ice dance and pair skating, the physical connection is crucial. One wrong move and the balance is gone.
- Presentation: The way they take the audience and the jury along in their story, also known as the 'performance face', is a lesson for every performing artist.
Practical information for the fans
Don't want to miss anything of the figure skating? The competitions take place in the Milano Ice Skating Arena (also known as the Unipol Forum) in Assago. Ticket prices were a much-discussed topic beforehand; for the popular finals, prices can rise to hundreds of euros, comparable to the prices we saw for gymnastics in the summer. But for the true enthusiast, it is worth every cent to see these world-class athletes live.
The schedule for the coming days is as follows:
- February 9: Ice Dance - Rhythm Dance
- February 10: Men - Short Program
- February 11: Ice Dance - Free Dance (Final!)
- February 13: Men - Free Skate (Final!)
In any case, I'll be ready with my notebook. There is always some choreographic masterpiece or an innovative transition that I can take into my own classes. It's simply beautiful to see how sport and art merge here. Whether you're a seasoned salsa dancer or just love the elegance on the ice, these Games will undoubtedly inspire us to move with more passion ourselves.