The Magic of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo
Today, February 6, 2026, is the moment that sports and culture enthusiasts worldwide have been waiting for. The Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo officially kick off. While the athletes prepare for their moment of glory, as a dancer, I view this spectacle with a completely different perspective. Over the past 30 years, I have seen how the line between elite sport and performing arts is becoming increasingly blurred, and nowhere is that clearer than during the opening ceremony and figure skating.
The Italian flair is palpable from the very first minute. Italy is known for style, passion, and a deep-seated sense of aesthetics. The fact that we are settling in Milan this year — the fashion capital of the world — and the picturesque Cortina, promises great things for the visual presentation of the games. According to the latest updates from Fox News, the opening ceremony is centered around connection and innovation, with dance playing a central role in telling the story of the Alps.
Figure Skating: The Ultimate Dance on Skates
Today, there is immediately a discipline on the program that makes my dancing heart beat faster: the Team Event in figure skating. According to the official schedule from ESPN, we kick off with the Rhythm Dance. For those not deeply involved in the skating world: this is the discipline that comes closest to ballroom dancing. The pairs must show mandatory dance patterns to a specific rhythm, and this year the energy on the ice in the Mediolanum Forum in Milan is truly electric.
What many people underestimate is the technical overlap between a salsa-on-1 and a routine on the ice. It's about 'frame', the connection with your partner, and above all, musicality. Looking at the pairs taking the ice today, I see the same focus in their eyes that I see in my advanced students just before a performance. The tension is just a bit higher when millions of people are watching.
The Program of February 6, 2026
The schedule for this first day is packed. For lovers of choreography and performance, these are the most important times to keep an eye on (keep the local time in Italy in mind):
- Figure Skating - Team Event: The Rhythm Dance opens the day, followed by the Short Program for the pairs and the women.
- Curling - Mixed Doubles: A tactical game where balance and calm are central, with matches such as Italy against Switzerland and the US against Canada.
- Alpine Skiing: The training sessions for the downhill for both men and women in the mountains of Cortina.
- The Opening Ceremony: The absolute highlight in the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan.
The Influence of the Opening Ceremony on the Dance World
The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games is traditionally one of the largest stages for modern dance and group choreography. In my experience as a dance expert, I know that the trends we see tonight in the San Siro stadium often trickle down to regular dance schools and theater productions. The way mass choreography is used to convey a national feeling is technically a masterpiece.
It is not just a performance; it is a logistical puzzle where hundreds of dancers must move exactly on the beat in a space many times larger than an average dance floor. The spatial orientation required for this is something every dancer, regardless of level, must admire. In Milan, it is expected that a lot of lighting technology and interactive elements will be used, giving the dance a futuristic touch.
What We as Dancers Can Learn from Olympic Athletes
Sometimes students ask me: "Vanessa, why do we have to repeat that technique so often?" The answer lies on the ice in Cortina and Milan. The figure skaters performing their Rhythm Dance today have repeated those steps thousands of times to make them look effortless. That is the essence of performance: having the technique so deeply embedded in your system that at the moment itself, you can focus on the emotion and the connection with the audience.
Moreover, the 'performance quality' of these athletes is unprecedented. Even after a fall, they get up with a smile and finish their routine as if nothing happened. That resilience is something we also strive for in the dance world. It's not about the perfect execution, but about how you take up the space and tell your story, even when circumstances are not ideal.
The Atmosphere in Cortina d'Ampezzo
Although the figure skaters shine in Milan, the atmosphere in Cortina d'Ampezzo is at least as impressive. This village in the Dolomites is the heart of snow sports these Games. There is a certain elegance associated with Cortina, a kind of 'old world' charm that fits perfectly with the grace of winter sports. For the athletes staying there, the environment is a source of inspiration. The combination of the rugged mountains and refined Italian culture creates a unique backdrop that we hopefully also see in the artistic expressions surrounding the competitions.
It is fascinating to see how an event like this transforms an entire region. Everywhere you look there is movement, rhythm, and passion. Whether it's the speed on the ski slopes or the precision on the ice, the common denominator is the mastery of the body. And that is exactly what we are working on every day at Miss Salsa.
In the coming weeks, we will witness incredible performances. I recommend everyone to look especially at the details: the position of the arms, the lines the skaters make with their legs, and the way they control their breathing during a heavy routine. There is so much to learn from these top athletes, even if you prefer dancing on a wooden floor rather than slippery ice.