Milan is buzzing and the San Siro stadium is shaking to its foundations. The 2026 Winter Games have officially begun with an opening ceremony that breathes exactly the Italian flair we love so much in the dance world. While the world watched the parade of athletes, there was one moment that immediately went viral: the arrival of Italian President Sergio Mattarella. He did not arrive in an armored limousine, but in a classic orange tram from the 1930s. And the driver? None other than motorsport legend Valentino Rossi.
The 'Doctor' on a different kind of circuit
It was a brilliant move by the organization. In a pre-recorded video, we saw how Rossi, normally accustomed to hundreds of horsepower on the asphalt, steered a historic Carrelli tram through the streets of Milan with extreme precision. For us as dancers, this is beautiful to see; it’s about timing, about the theatrical presentation and the connection with the audience. Rossi, also known as 'The Doctor', proved that he can play an audience even without a motorcycle. He opened the doors of the tram for the president at the San Siro stop, a symbolic gesture that connected Italy's sporting history with official protocol.
In my 30 years in the dance world, I have seen many opening ceremonies, from the technical perfection in Beijing to the artistic chaos in Paris. What the Italians are presenting here in Milan is a lesson in 'sprezzatura' – that typically Italian art of making something very difficult look completely effortless. That is exactly what we always try to impart to our students at Miss Salsa: technique is the foundation, but the presentation makes it unforgettable.
Musical greats and choreographic highlights
The ceremony was not complete without a world-class line-up. We saw performances by Mariah Carey, who can still fill stadiums with her voice, and the legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli. Also, the world-famous pianist Lang Lang took his place behind the grand piano. The direction was in the hands of Marco Balich, a man who now has 16 Olympic productions to his name. He chose the theme 'Harmony', a message that is needed in today's world more than ever.
What struck me about the choreography of the more than 1,200 volunteers and professional dancers was the way they used Leonardo da Vinci's 'knots' as inspiration for their formations. The patterns they formed on the San Siro field were technically complex but flowed together beautifully. That is pure art on a large scale.
Lilah Fear: Dancing on the ice
For the dance world, there is one athlete we are keeping an extra close eye on these weeks: Lilah Fear. Together with her partner Lewis Gibson, she carried the flag for Great Britain in Milan. Lilah is not just any skater; she is an ice dancer who has transformed the sport in recent years with her energetic and often unconventional routines.
Lilah and Lewis are eight-time British champions and recently won bronze at the World Championships. Their style is unique because they dare to play with rhythms that we normally see in the salsa or disco scene. In 2019, they had a routine based on Studio 54 that still serves as a frame of reference for how to bring entertainment to the ice. The fact that she is now allowed to carry the flag is a recognition of the artistic side of the sport. At Miss Salsa, we see that same passion for expression every day on the dance floor.
New sports and dynamic movement
In addition to the familiar sports, Milan-Cortina 2026 is also introducing something new: Ski Mountaineering, or 'Skimo'. In the resort of Bormio, athletes compete in a way that seems physically almost impossible. They sprint uphill on skis, then strap the skis to their backs to continue on foot, and then ski down at a breakneck speed.
Although it seems far removed from a salsa step, the core of the movement is the same: weight transfer and efficiency. The way these athletes control their center of gravity during the transition from climbing to descending requires a body control that many professional dancers would envy. It is that same 'core stability' that we train to make that perfect spin on the dance floor.
What we can learn from these world-class performers
Watching such a ceremony and the start of the Games reminds us why we do what we do. Whether you are driving a tram like Valentino Rossi, singing an aria like Bocelli, or carrying a flag like Lilah Fear: it’s about the courage to show yourself.
In practice, for us, this means that we don't just look at the technique of a step, but at the story we are telling. The Winter Games of 2026 show that sport and art are inextricably linked. The emotion released by a perfectly executed routine on the ice is the same emotion we feel when a dance couple is completely absorbed in the music.
The next 16 days will be dedicated to this top-class sport, spread over locations such as Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo, and Livigno. More details about the program and the athletes can be found via the official channels of the Olympic Games and the extensive coverage by the BBC. We will continue to follow Lilah Fear's performances closely, because if anyone bridges the gap between the ice and the dance floor, it is her.