The millimeter maneuvers of luge
While we are working on our technique here in the studio, we are keeping a close eye on the Winter Olympics in Milan. Although you might not immediately link luge to a salsa or a tight choreography, as a dance expert, I see those very huge parallels in body control. Today we saw in women's luge how merciless sport can be. The German Julia Taubitz is currently in the lead with a total time of 1:45.188, but it was the mistake of her compatriot Merle Fräbel that was the talk of the day.
In my 30 years in the dance world, I've seen it often enough: one moment of inattention, one foot placed just wrong, and your entire routine is in shambles. Fräbel was in a fantastic position, but a major mistake at the start of her third run cost her a podium spot. That is the harsh reality of elite sport and elite dance. The tension is rising as we look forward to the decisive fourth run, which starts tonight at 6:30 PM. According to the latest reports from NOS, the group has since been narrowed down to the top twenty participants.
The 'Quad God' and kinetic art on the ice
When we talk about dance on ice, we cannot ignore Ilia Malinin. This 21-year-old American, who gave himself the far from modest nickname 'Quad God', will be in action tonight in the short program. At Miss Salsa, we look at his jumping power with admiration. What he does is technically almost impossible: the Quad Axel, a jump with four and a half rotations.
In practice, this is comparable to a dancer performing a perfect five-fold pirouette while hanging a meter and a half in the air. Malinin combines that unprecedented power with a huge dose of showmanship; he uses rap music and flamboyant costumes to draw the sport to a wider audience. It reminds me of how we in the dance world sometimes have to break traditions to stay relevant. He recently finished a surprising second behind the Japanese Yuma Kagiyama, which just goes to show that technique alone is not enough; the performance and presentation must be flawless.
Emotional victories and resilience
In addition to the technical feats, it is the human stories that give these Games color. The Norwegian biathlete Johan-Olav Botn won gold in the 20 kilometers, an achievement that commands deep respect. Botn recently lost his teammate and friend Sivert Guttorm Bakken, whom he found dead in their hotel room. That he comes back after such a trauma and points to the sky at the finish line shows that sport (just like dance) is a way to process grief and find strength.
The Dutch contribution is also special, albeit with a Belgian touch. The 28-year-old Tineke den Dulk, born in Leeuwarden, won bronze with the Belgian short track team in the mixed relay. As can be read on NU.nl, she is a wonderful example of choosing your own path. She made the switch to the Belgian selection years ago and is now reaping the rewards, while the Dutch team was eliminated prematurely.
What dancers can learn from the ice rink
What can we as dancers take away from this Olympic struggle? Specifically, it's about three things: core stability, focus and resilience. In luge, you see that the smallest muscle tension in the core makes the difference between a top time and a crash. That is exactly the same with dancing. Without a strong core, your balance is gone and you lose control over your movements.
In addition, there is the mental side. Look at Merle Fräbel: she makes a mistake, but has to keep going immediately. In a choreography, you can't dwell on a misstep; the music goes on and you have to go with it. The Games in Milan show that the absolute top does not only consist of people with the most talent, but of those who best handle the pressure of the moment. Whether you're lying on a sled at 130 km/h or dancing a solo for a full house, the art is to stay in that 'flow', regardless of what is happening around you.