The Magic of Milan: Sport Meets Pure Art
If, like me, you've been in the dance world for more than 30 years, then you recognize that one special feeling immediately: the moment when sport transforms into pure art. That is exactly what is currently happening in the Forum di Milano during the 2026 Winter Games. While the world watches the clock, we as dancers look at the lines, the expression, and the daring on the ice. The atmosphere in Milan is electric, and that's not just because of the athletes. Even greats from other sports, such as tennis legend Novak Djokovic, are on the edge of their seats.
It is wonderful to see how the worlds of top-level sport and entertainment merge here. Milan, the city of fashion and elegance, forms the perfect backdrop for what is already one of the most discussed editions of figure skating ever. We see an evolution here that we also know in salsa and ballroom: the constant struggle between technical perfection and artistic freedom.
The Backflip That Stunned the World (and Djokovic)
The absolute highlight of the past few days was the performance of 21-year-old Ilia Malinin, also known as the 'Quad God'. During the team competition, he helped the United States to gold with a routine that defied the laws of gravity. But it wasn't just his technical score of 200.03 points that impressed; it was that one deliberate move: the backflip.
In the stands sat Novak Djokovic together with his wife Jelena. The images of a stunned Djokovic, with his hands on his head after Malinin's landing, are going around the world. Source: ATP Tour reports that Malinin himself was also impressed by the presence of the tennis star. For a young athlete, it's a 'once-in-a-lifetime' moment to see such a legend react to your choreography.
What makes this so interesting for us as dancers is the history behind that backflip. For decades, this move was banned in official competitions. It was seen as too dangerous and not fitting with the 'aesthetics' of skating. Only in June 2024 did the International Skating Union (ISU) decide to adjust the rules. They recognized that modern athletes have the strength and technique to perform this safely. It is a parallel with the dance world: what was 'not done' yesterday is today's new standard of spectacle.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates: A Masterclass in Storytelling
Alongside the brute force of the jumps, we saw an absolute masterclass in Ice Dance from Madison Chock and Evan Bates. This married couple, who have dominated the top for years, showed why they are the reigning world champions. Their routine to an orchestral version of 'Paint it, Black' by The Rolling Stones was a lesson in connection and emotion. Source: Milano Cortina 2026 describes how they laid the foundation for the American team gold with a score of 133.23 points.
From my experience at Miss Salsa, I look at their performance with a different eye. I see the influences of flamenco and paso doble in their movements. The way Madison uses her arms and the intense gaze between the two; that is exactly the passion we try to capture in Latin American dances. They don't just skate a program, they tell a story. For everyone doing performance training, this is required study material.
The Technical Figures at a Glance:
- Location: Forum di Milano, Milan
- Team Final Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026
- Score Chock/Bates (Free Dance): 133.23
- Score Ilia Malinin (Free Skate): 200.03
- Final Standings Team Event: 1. USA (Gold), 2. Japan (Silver), 3. Italy (Bronze)
What We as Dancers Can Learn from These Athletes
You might wonder: what's in this for me on the dance floor of the local dance school? Actually, a lot. The focus of someone like Malinin, who knows that one misstep can cost him the victory, is admirable. But it is especially the daring to step off the beaten path that should inspire us.
Concretely, you can take away three things from this:
- The power of surprise: Just as Malinin's backflip woke up the audience (and the jury), you can build moments into a choreography or improvisation that no one expects. It doesn't have to be a somersault, but an unexpected tempo change works wonders.
- Connection is everything: Chock and Bates show that technique only really comes to life when the connection between partners is genuine. Without that emotional layer, it remains 'just' sport.
- Mental resilience: Malinin made a small mistake at the beginning of his routine but recovered immediately. In the dance world, we call that 'continuing as if nothing happened'. The show must always go on.
The History of the Forbidden Jump
Let's dive a little deeper into that backflip. The first to dare this at the Olympic Games was Terry Kubicka in 1976. The ISU banned it immediately afterward. In 1998, the legendary Surya Bonaly became world-famous for doing the jump anyway as a protest against the jury, knowing she would receive a point deduction. That Malinin is now performing this legally and with such perfection in 2026 feels like a tribute to all those rebels from the past.
It shows that rules in art and sport are organic. They change along with the capabilities of the people practicing the sport. In the 30 years that I have been teaching dance, I have seen salsa change from a social dance to an almost acrobatic discipline in some competition classes. Innovation cannot be stopped; you can only embrace it.
What’s Next in Milan?
The team competitions are over, but the real individual fireworks are yet to begin. The coming days are all about the individual titles. This is the schedule you should keep an eye on:
- Tuesday, February 10: Men's Short Program
- Wednesday, February 11: Ice Dance Free Dance (Individual)
- Friday, February 13: Men's Free Skate (The big finale for Malinin)
- Thursday, February 19: Women's Free Skate
Ticket prices at the Forum di Milano vary greatly, from about 80 euros for the early rounds to well over 400 euros for the grand finals. If you are in the area, it is more than worth the investment to see these athletes at work live.
It is a reminder for all of us: whether you are on the ice or on a wooden dance floor, it's about that connection with your audience. If you can make a world star like Novak Djokovic stand up from his seat, then you know you've created something special. Let's take that energy into our own training sessions. Dance with daring, dance with passion, and who knows... maybe that 'backflip' in your own dance style is closer than you think.