The Magic of Milan: Dancing on the Thin Line Between Sport and Art
The atmosphere in the Milano Ice Skating Arena at this moment is nothing less than electric. As a dancer with over 30 years of experience, I look at figure skating during these Winter Olympics with a very specific eye. For many, it is a sport of jumps and points, but for us in the dance world, it is the ultimate form of expression on an impossible surface. What we saw yesterday during the men's short program was not only a technical masterpiece but also a shift in how we look at spectacle and rules.
While the world looks at the medal table, I see the passion, the tension, and the enormous pressure resting on these athletes. It is a world where a fraction of a second makes the difference between gold and a painful fall. We saw that very clearly yesterday with the favorites, where one sparkled and the other had to pay for a costly mistake.
Ilia Malinin: The 'Quad God' Lives Up to His Reputation
The absolute star of the evening was the 21-year-old American Ilia Malinin. He is not called the 'Quad God' for nothing. With a score of 108.16, he left the competition far behind. According to the reporting by the NOS, he performed two quadruple jumps flawlessly. But what really touched me as a dancer was his daring to seek out the boundaries of the sport.
Malinin brought the backflip back to the Olympic ice. For years, this jump was banned and was seen as 'circus entertainment' that did not belong in the classical figure skating world. Since this season, the International Skating Union (ISU) has relaxed the rules, however. Although the backflip technically earns no points, it does wonders for the artistic score and the connection with the audience. It is a 'flourish' that shows the sport is modernizing. Besides his jumps, he impressed with his own 'raspberry twist', a move that underscores his technical superiority.
The Artistic Battle with Yuma Kagiyama
His biggest competitor, the Japanese Yuma Kagiyama, showed that technique alone is not everything. Kagiyama is known for his fabulous skating quality and musicality. Unfortunately, he made a mistake on his triple axel, which cost him precious points. Still, with a score of 103.07, he is still within striking distance of Malinin. The difference between these two skaters is fascinating: where Malinin seeks out power and acrobatics, Kagiyama brings a refinement that you almost only see in the classical ballet world. It promises to be a thrilling conclusion during the free program this coming Friday, February 13.
The Minion Issue: A Lesson in Music Rights for Every Dancer
One of the most discussed moments of these Games was the program of the Spaniard Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabaté. He appeared on the ice in a yellow shirt and blue overalls, completely in the style of the popular Minions. Although he did not make it to the free program with a score of 69.80, his story is an important lesson for everyone in the dance and entertainment world.
In the run-up to the Games, there was great uncertainty as to whether he could use his music. Universal Studios, the owner of the rights, initially objected. Only after a storm of protest on social media and mediation through the ClicknClear system did he receive permission at the very last moment. This is something we also often emphasize at Miss Salsa: music rights are not an afterthought. Whether you are on an Olympic stage or creating a choreography for a local dance school, arranging the correct licenses is important to be able to share your artistic vision.
Why We Miss the Dutch Flag in This Discipline
It is a recurring theme in Studio Olimpico: the success of countries like Italy and the lack of a strong Dutch delegation in figure skating. Savine Wielenga, record international of the Dutch ice hockey team, noted that the Netherlands excels in many winter sports, but that we often miss the connection in artistic disciplines on the ice. In an interview with the NOS, this absence was discussed.
At Miss Salsa, we see that the passion for dance in the Netherlands is enormous, but the translation to the ice requires a specific infrastructure and early specialization. Still, we see that icons like Jutta Leerdam put the sport of skating on the international map through their charisma and presentation. As Marianne Timmer already indicated, such personalities attract new audiences and encourage young people to lace up their skates as well. It would be wonderful if this popularity eventually trickles down to figure skating as well.
What Dancers Can Learn From the Olympic Elite
When I look at these athletes, I see more than just sport. I see the discipline that we also bring to the dance studio every day. There are a few concrete points that every dancer can take from these Olympic performances:
- Mental resilience: Look at Kagiyama. Despite a major mistake in his short program, he stayed in his performance and managed to limit the damage. In the dance world, things also go wrong sometimes, but the show must go on.
- Innovation within the rules: Malinin's backflip shows that you can challenge traditions without losing the essence of your art form.
- Authenticity: Guarino Sabaté's 'Minion program' might have been technically less demanding, but the audience loved him because he brought something unique and personal.
As we prepare for tomorrow's free dance, Wednesday, February 11, where pairs let their creativity run wild, the message remains clear: technique is the foundation, but the passion and daring to color outside the lines make you a true champion. We are keeping a close eye on developments in Milan, because in my eyes, the line between the ice rink and the dance floor is razor-thin.