In the world of dance, we always say: it’s not about how you fall, but about how you get back up. That lesson became painfully clear this week in the Milan ice rink. While the world prepares for the opening ceremony of the Winter Games, all of the Netherlands held its breath for a moment when our own Suzanne Schulting hit the ice hard during a training lap.
Shock in the Milan ice rink
It was a moment every dancer recognizes. You’re in the flow, you focus on the technique, and in a fraction of a second you’re on the ground. The Olympic ice rink in Milan went completely silent for a moment. According to reports from NOS and Sportnieuws.nl, it happened Monday during her first introduction to the Milanese ice.
Suzanne herself called it "a bit crazy" afterwards. She didn’t even know exactly what happened; did she get caught in a crack or did she go over her points? In my 30 years in the dance world, I have seen this countless times with professionals. Sometimes your body is so finely tuned that the smallest irregularity throws you off balance. But what makes Suzanne a true champion is her down-to-earth reaction: "Can happen." That is exactly the mentality we try to impart at Miss Salsa as well.
The choreography of short track
People sometimes ask me what short track has to do with dance. If you look closely at the way Suzanne goes through the turns, you see pure choreography. The deep crouch, the weight shift, the hand touching the ice for balance—it is a technical dance at high speed. It requires a core stability that many a ballet dancer would be jealous of. Suzanne starts Monday, February 9th, first on the 1,000 meters long track, then joins the short track team for the 1,500 meters and the relay. That transition between different disciplines is comparable to a dancer switching from classical ballet to an explosive salsa; it requires enormous physical and mental flexibility.
The Minions and the battle for the music
In addition to Suzanne's fall, there was another story that made my dance heart beat faster. Spanish figure skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabaté almost got into trouble because of his choice of music. He wanted to do his routine to a mix of the Minions, including the iconic yellow-blue costume. Just before the Games, he was told that Universal Studios did not give permission due to copyrights.
Every dance school owner knows how frustrating music rights can be. You build an entire choreography on that one specific beat, and then suddenly it’s not allowed. Fortunately, there is good news: after a huge wave of support on social media, Universal gave in. Sabaté is allowed to show his 'Minion routine' on February 10th. This proves once again how important the connection between music, costume, and movement is for an artist, whether on the dance floor or on the ice.
Resilience as a common thread
When we look at the other athletes in Milan, we see that same resilience everywhere. Take American ski great Lindsey Vonn. She is 41 years old and starts this coming Sunday in the downhill with a completely torn ACL and a brace. That is quite extreme, and from my experience as a dancer, I know how dangerous it is to push past your limits. But it characterizes the passion of these top athletes.
Friday evening is the grand opening in the San Siro stadium. Jens van 't Wout, the leader of the short trackers, is allowed to carry the Dutch flag. He honestly admitted that he has never seen a football match and has no idea what that famous stadium looks like. He is fully focused on his own 'dance' on the ice. That focus is admirable. Whether you are in a full stadium with a flag or on a stage in front of a jury, you need that tunnel vision to perform.
What we can learn from Suzanne
What can we as dancers take away from this Olympic week? Concretely, it is about three things:
- Acceptance of the fall: Suzanne didn't worry about the reason for her fall. She accepted it as part of the process.
- The power of repetition: Despite the fall, she was back on the ice the next day to find her rhythm.
- Stay close to yourself: Just like Sabaté who fought for his Minions music, as a performer you must always stay true to what makes you unique.
In the coming weeks we will see if Suzanne definitively puts her fall in Milan behind her and goes for gold again. At Miss Salsa, we will certainly be watching with a professional eye at the beautiful lines and the explosiveness on the ice. Because in the end, top sport is simply art in motion.