The magic of San Siro: A stage for the world
Today, Friday, February 6, 2026, the moment has arrived. As I write this, the iconic San Siro stadium in Milan is filling up for the official opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Games. In my 30 years in the dance world, I have seen many spectacles, but the scale of an event like Milan-Cortina remains impressive. It is not just a sporting event; it is a giant choreography where sport, art, and culture merge in a way that directly appeals to us as dancers.
Italy is pulling out all the stops. With performances by world stars such as Mariah Carey and the legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli, the bar is set high. For a choreographer, a stadium like San Siro is both a dream and a nightmare. The enormous distances and the need to touch both the people in the top tier and the millions of viewers at home require a very specific way of moving and staging. This is not about the subtle foot movements we see in the salsa club, but about the power of the collective.
Dance on ice: More than just sport
What touches me personally the most about these Games is the role of the flag bearers. For Great Britain, figure skater Lilah Fear has the honor of carrying the flag in Milan. When you see Lilah move, you don't see an 'athlete' in the traditional sense of the word; you see a dancer. Figure skating, and specifically ice dance, is the purest form of our discipline within winter sports. The technique required to convey emotion while gliding across the ice on a thin iron blade is phenomenal.
In the dance world, we often talk about 'flow' and 'grounding'. On the ice, that flow is literally visible, but grounding is a constant struggle against gravity and slipperiness. The fact that a dancer like Fear is given this stage shows how deeply the artistic value of movement is rooted in the Olympic ideal. Source: BBC
The reality behind the scenes
Of course, it's not all glitter and glamour. The preparations in Italy have not gone without a hitch. There have been protests against the impact of the Games on local infrastructure and the environment, and the construction of the ice hockey stadium in Milan (Milano Santagiulia) was a source of concern until the very last moment. According to the latest reports, the stadium was not yet fully completed as of last Sunday, although the organization guarantees that all matches can be played there. Source: The Guardian
Sporting integrity is also under pressure. Italian biathlete Rebecca Passler was removed from the team just before the start after a positive doping test. For us as dancers, this is a reminder of the harsh side of elite sports. While we in the dance world often strive for aesthetics and expression, here it is about numbers, times, and unfortunately sometimes also about the wrong means to achieve them. The contrast with the pure passion we will see on the San Siro stage tonight could hardly be greater.
New disciplines and forms of movement
Interesting for those who love physical challenges: this year 'skimo' (ski mountaineering) makes its debut in Bormio. Although at first glance it is far removed from dance, the coordination required to quickly strap your skis to your back and conquer a slope on foot is a lesson in efficient movement. It reminds me of the speed and precision we expect from professional dancers during a costume change or a complex formation change on stage.
In addition, we see new events such as the 'dual moguls' in freestyle skiing. The rhythm these skiers maintain while thundering over the moguls is almost musical. There is a beat in their movements that any dancer would recognize.
What we as dancers can learn from Milan-Cortina
Watching these Winter Games is more than just passive entertainment for me. It is a study in performance under extreme pressure. Whether you are dancing a solo in a packed theater or making a descent in front of the whole world, the mental preparation is the same. The focus of the athletes, their ability to get back up immediately after a fall and continue in their rhythm, that is the essence of what we do on the dance floor as well.
Specifically, I see three points we can take away:
- Spatial awareness: The way the choreography in San Siro uses the enormous space forces us to look beyond our own square meter in the dance studio as well.
- Resilience: The stories of athletes who spend years recovering from injuries to be here today are an inspiration for every dancer who knows physical setbacks.
- The power of presentation: Even in the cold, wrapped in thick suits, these people radiate an energy that fills the entire stadium. That is the 'performance factor' that distinguishes a good dancer from a great dancer.
For the next 16 days, the world will stand still for the performances on ice and snow. Whether you watch for the technical perfection of the figure skaters or for the pure adrenaline of the bobsledders, don't forget to look at the movement behind it. The 2026 Winter Games have begun, and I will be watching closely with my dancer's eye.